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Residence hall director salary
Average residence hall director salary
$47,193
Understanding the Salary of a Residence Hall Director
The average salary for a Residence Hall Director is approximately $47,193 per year, translating to around $23 per hour. This figure reflects the critical responsibilities associated with overseeing student housing, including managing staff, ensuring student safety, and fostering community engagement.
Salary ranges vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific institution. For instance, residence hall directors in metropolitan areas may command higher salaries due to increased living costs. Additionally, those with advanced degrees or extensive experience often see a boost in earnings.
In states like California and New York, salaries tend to be higher, reflecting both the demand for skilled professionals and the cost of living. The job market remains competitive, with opportunities for advancement in larger institutions. By understanding these dynamics, aspiring residence hall directors can make informed decisions regarding their career paths.
Where to Find Opportunities
Utilizing job platforms like Zippia can help candidates locate positions that fit their qualifications and salary expectations. Continuous professional development and networking can further enhance career prospects in this vital educational role.
Let Zippi find your next residence hall director job
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Where can a Residence Hall Director earn more?
Residence hall director salary estimates from across the web
Average residence hall director salary by state
The highest-paying states for residence hall directors are Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Michigan. The lowest average residence hall director salary states are Mississippi, Missouri, and North Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for residence hall directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $57,404 | $27.60 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $54,458 | $26.18 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $57,112 | $27.46 |
| 4 | Michigan | $54,974 | $26.43 |
| 5 | Washington | $53,075 | $25.52 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $54,701 | $26.30 |
| 7 | District of Columbia | $54,597 | $26.25 |
| 8 | Illinois | $49,852 | $23.97 |
| 9 | Montana | $51,557 | $24.79 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $46,917 | $22.56 |
| 11 | New York | $51,448 | $24.73 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $48,668 | $23.40 |
| 13 | California | $50,894 | $24.47 |
| 14 | Oregon | $48,452 | $23.29 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $50,668 | $24.36 |
| 16 | Alaska | $47,925 | $23.04 |
| 17 | Nevada | $49,605 | $23.85 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $49,543 | $23.82 |
| 19 | Iowa | $47,371 | $22.77 |
| 20 | Georgia | $47,077 | $22.63 |
| 21 | Maryland | $52,691 | $25.33 |
| 22 | Vermont | $47,312 | $22.75 |
| 23 | Florida | $49,046 | $23.58 |
| 24 | Maine | $49,687 | $23.89 |
| 25 | Alabama | $42,419 | $20.39 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $50,016 | $24.05 |
| 27 | Ohio | $44,747 | $21.51 |
| 28 | Idaho | $47,693 | $22.93 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $46,645 | $22.43 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $44,629 | $21.46 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $45,264 | $21.76 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $45,652 | $21.95 |
| 33 | Colorado | $42,708 | $20.53 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $44,631 | $21.46 |
| 35 | Texas | $41,884 | $20.14 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $37,258 | $17.91 |
| 38 | Delaware | $44,318 | $21.31 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $35,971 | $17.29 |
| 40 | Arizona | $40,398 | $19.42 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $39,525 | $19.00 |
| 42 | Utah | $40,452 | $19.45 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $39,564 | $19.02 |
| 44 | Virginia | $40,359 | $19.40 |
| 45 | Indiana | $38,465 | $18.49 |
| 46 | North Carolina | $36,630 | $17.61 |
| 47 | Kansas | $38,110 | $18.32 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $35,640 | $17.13 |
| 49 | Missouri | $36,791 | $17.69 |
| 50 | New Mexico | $38,069 | $18.30 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $35,688 | $17.16 |
Highest paying cities for residence hall directors
The highest-paying cities for residence hall directors are Newark, NJ, Mount Pleasant, MI, and Hamden, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark, NJ | $57,231 | $27.51 |
| 2 | Mount Pleasant, MI | $55,511 | $26.69 |
| 3 | Hamden, CT | $54,709 | $26.30 |
| 4 | Milwaukee, WI | $54,325 | $26.12 |
| 5 | Albany, NY | $52,037 | $25.02 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $50,089 | $24.08 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $49,429 | $23.76 |
| 8 | Gainesville, FL | $48,543 | $23.34 |
| 9 | Kent, OH | $46,015 | $22.12 |
| 10 | Saint Paul, MN | $45,293 | $21.78 |
| 11 | Bismarck, ND | $44,349 | $21.32 |
| 12 | Bowling Green, KY | $43,715 | $21.02 |
| 13 | Boulder, CO | $42,867 | $20.61 |
| 14 | San Marcos, TX | $42,636 | $20.50 |
| 15 | Norfolk, VA | $40,134 | $19.30 |
| 16 | Flagstaff, AZ | $39,372 | $18.93 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $38,231 | $18.38 |
| 18 | Salisbury, NC | $36,484 | $17.54 |
Residence hall director salary details
A residence hall director's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $70,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a residence hall director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| Average | $47,193 | $3,933 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying residence hall director jobs
The highest paying types of residence hall directors are chairperson, vice chairperson, and committee chairperson.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dean | $86,317 | $7,193 | $41.50 | 1,183 |
| Co-Chair | $89,375 | $7,448 | $42.97 | 2,878 |
| Admissions Officer | $33,833 | $2,819 | $16.27 | 58,782 |
| Chairperson | $125,944 | $10,495 | $60.55 | 5,178 |
| Registrar | $40,632 | $3,386 | $19.53 | 12,723 |
| Director Of Student Affairs | $74,804 | $6,234 | $35.96 | 22,875 |
Top companies hiring residence hall directors now:
Which companies pay residence hall directors the most?
Residence hall director salaries at School of Visual Concepts and Cornell University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average residence hall director salary at companies like Mercy College and University of Connecticut are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | School of Visual Concepts | $72,238 | $34.73 |
| 2 | Cornell University | $55,702 | $26.78 |
| 3 | Mercy College | $55,286 | $26.58 |
| 4 | University of Connecticut | $54,614 | $26.26 |
| 5 | State University of New York College at Cortland | $54,426 | $26.17 |
| 6 | Highgate Hotels | $54,351 | $26.13 |
| 7 | Michigan State University | $54,268 | $26.09 |
| 8 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | $54,134 | $26.03 |
| 9 | The Culinary Institute of America | $50,600 | $24.33 |
| 10 | Illinois Institute of Technology | $49,232 | $23.67 |
| 11 | Baylor University | $48,320 | $23.23 |
| 12 | University at Buffalo | $47,709 | $22.94 |
| 13 | University of Mary | $47,581 | $22.88 |
| 14 | University at Albany | $47,528 | $22.85 |
| 15 | SUNY College at Old Westbury | $47,468 | $22.82 |
| 16 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $45,711 | $21.98 |
| 17 | Marquette University | $44,891 | $21.58 |
| 18 | Livingstone College | $43,786 | $21.05 |
| 19 | Quinnipiac University | $42,406 | $20.39 |
| 20 | The Ohio State University | $42,190 | $20.28 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Residence hall director salary trends
The average residence hall director salary has risen by $6,398 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average residence hall director earned $40,795 annually, but today, they earn $47,193 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for residence hall directors over the last decade.
Compare residence hall director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average residence hall director salary over time
Compare residence hall director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Residence hall director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $47,200 | $22.69 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $46,200 | $22.20 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $45,700 | $21.95 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $44,700 | $21.49 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $43,900 | $21.12 | +2.4% |
Recently added residence hall director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Board of Regents | Residence Hall Director | Brookings, SD | 06/30/2025 | $39,131 |
| Columbia University In The City of New York | Residence Hall Director | New York, NY | 06/28/2025 | $64,350 |
| Central Michigan University | Residence Hall Director | Mount Pleasant, MI | 06/26/2025 | $43,888 |
| Midas Hospitality | Houseperson for Residence INN | Lancaster, CA | 06/18/2025 | $35,479 |
| Baylor Scott & White Health | Residence Hall Director | Waco, TX | 06/10/2025 | $52,500 |
| Minnesota State | Residence Hall Director | Saint Cloud, MN | 06/10/2025 | $47,788 |
| Title IX Coordinator & Non-Discrimination Officer In St. Paul, Minnesota | Residence Hall Director | Saint Paul, MN | 06/10/2025 | $41,941 |
| St. Cloud State University | Residence Hall Director | Saint Cloud, MN | 06/09/2025 | $47,788 |
| Suny Oswego | Residence Hall Director | Oswego, NY | 06/07/2025 | $47,000 |
| Iona University | Residence Hall Director | New Rochelle, NY | 06/06/2025 | $48,950 |
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