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Residence life director salary
Average residence life director salary
$52,520
Understanding the Salary of a Residence Life Director
The average salary for a Residence Life Director is approximately $52,520 per year, translating to about $25 per hour. This position is essential in managing student affairs and ensuring a positive living experience for residents. Salary figures are influenced by various factors, including years of experience, educational background, and geographic location.
For instance, states like California and New York offer higher salaries, reflecting the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. In addition, urban areas often provide greater compensation compared to rural settings. Job seekers can explore opportunities in major cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago, where salaries may exceed the national average.
Salary Trends Over Time
As the demand for quality student housing continues to rise, the need for competent Residence Life Directors is expected to grow. Staying informed about these trends can help prospective directors make more strategic career decisions.
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Where can a Residence Life Director earn more?
Average residence life director salary by state
The average residence life director salary in Connecticut, Maryland, and Arizona are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average residence life director salary states are Illinois, New Mexico, and Kansas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for residence life directors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $69,191 | $33.26 |
| 2 | Nevada | $59,575 | $28.64 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $66,170 | $31.81 |
| 4 | New York | $62,413 | $30.01 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $54,788 | $26.34 |
| 6 | Arizona | $62,635 | $30.11 |
| 7 | Louisiana | $54,781 | $26.34 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $58,840 | $28.29 |
| 9 | Oregon | $57,689 | $27.74 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $58,141 | $27.95 |
| 11 | Indiana | $59,066 | $28.40 |
| 12 | Maryland | $63,682 | $30.62 |
| 13 | California | $59,407 | $28.56 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $53,922 | $25.92 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $52,306 | $25.15 |
| 16 | Idaho | $52,728 | $25.35 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $55,549 | $26.71 |
| 18 | Ohio | $56,209 | $27.02 |
| 19 | Montana | $55,308 | $26.59 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $54,581 | $26.24 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $54,391 | $26.15 |
| 22 | Michigan | $53,210 | $25.58 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $52,411 | $25.20 |
| 24 | Alabama | $48,840 | $23.48 |
| 25 | Maine | $55,039 | $26.46 |
| 26 | Vermont | $52,543 | $25.26 |
| 27 | Alaska | $50,018 | $24.05 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $51,565 | $24.79 |
| 29 | Iowa | $47,168 | $22.68 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $51,503 | $24.76 |
| 31 | Missouri | $50,437 | $24.25 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $47,418 | $22.80 |
| 33 | Texas | $48,798 | $23.46 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $47,478 | $22.83 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $52,230 | $25.11 |
| 36 | Delaware | $53,661 | $25.80 |
| 37 | Washington | $49,672 | $23.88 |
| 38 | Florida | $50,180 | $24.13 |
| 39 | Colorado | $47,433 | $22.80 |
| 40 | Georgia | $48,815 | $23.47 |
| 41 | Mississippi | $43,080 | $20.71 |
| 42 | Virginia | $48,232 | $23.19 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $40,847 | $19.64 |
| 44 | Kansas | $43,235 | $20.79 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $41,155 | $19.79 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $50,358 | $24.21 |
| 47 | Utah | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| 48 | Tennessee | $45,725 | $21.98 |
| 49 | Illinois | $43,982 | $21.15 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $47,291 | $22.74 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $43,714 | $21.02 |
Highest paying cities for residence life directors
The highest-paying cities for residence life directors are New Haven, CT, Washington, DC, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Haven, CT | $69,361 | $33.35 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $66,137 | $31.80 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $63,546 | $30.55 |
| 4 | Frederick, MD | $63,415 | $30.49 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $62,700 | $30.14 |
| 6 | Valparaiso, IN | $59,629 | $28.67 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $58,752 | $28.25 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $58,262 | $28.01 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $57,504 | $27.65 |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | $54,066 | $25.99 |
| 11 | Dover, DE | $53,435 | $25.69 |
| 12 | Duluth, MN | $52,994 | $25.48 |
| 13 | Madison, WI | $51,917 | $24.96 |
| 14 | Gainesville, FL | $50,767 | $24.41 |
| 15 | Redmond, WA | $49,980 | $24.03 |
| 16 | Fairbanks, AK | $49,774 | $23.93 |
| 17 | Houston, TX | $49,603 | $23.85 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| 19 | Montgomery, AL | $48,642 | $23.39 |
| 20 | Dubuque, IA | $47,872 | $23.02 |
Residence life director salary details
A residence life director's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $84,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a residence life director's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $84,000 | $7,000 | $40 |
| 75th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| Average | $52,520 | $4,377 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
Highest paying residence life director jobs
The highest paying types of residence life directors are chairperson, vice chairperson, and committee chairperson.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Chair | $89,375 | $7,448 | $42.97 | 2,878 |
| Dean | $86,317 | $7,193 | $41.50 | 1,183 |
| Chairperson | $125,944 | $10,495 | $60.55 | 5,178 |
| New Member Educator | $34,187 | $2,849 | $16.44 | 12,866 |
| Admissions Officer | $33,833 | $2,819 | $16.27 | 58,782 |
| Registrar | $40,632 | $3,386 | $19.53 | 12,723 |
Top companies hiring residence life directors now:
Which companies pay residence life directors the most?
Residence life director salaries at Point B and Silicon Valley Bank are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average residence life director salary at companies like Emory Healthcare and Saint Xavier University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Point B | $88,000 | $42.31 |
| 2 | Silicon Valley Bank | $87,301 | $41.97 |
| 3 | Emory Healthcare | $78,602 | $37.79 |
| 4 | Saint Xavier University | $72,602 | $34.90 |
| 5 | Mount Aloysius College | $70,760 | $34.02 |
| 6 | Emory University | $70,448 | $33.87 |
| 7 | Gilbane Building Company | $68,155 | $32.77 |
| 8 | Guidehouse | $65,978 | $31.72 |
| 9 | The University System of Maryland Foundation | $62,389 | $29.99 |
| 10 | Portland State University | $60,890 | $29.27 |
| 11 | Hood College | $60,286 | $28.98 |
| 12 | CBRE Group | $59,779 | $28.74 |
| 13 | Houston Baptist University | $59,042 | $28.39 |
| 14 | Valparaiso University | $58,647 | $28.20 |
| 15 | Wipro Limited | $57,358 | $27.58 |
| 16 | New York Institute of Technology | $57,032 | $27.42 |
| 17 | Dickinson College | $56,412 | $27.12 |
| 18 | North Central College | $56,199 | $27.02 |
| 19 | Loras College | $55,337 | $26.60 |
| 20 | OAC Services | $55,069 | $26.48 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Residence life director salary trends
The average residence life director salary has risen by $7,121 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average residence life director earned $45,399 annually, but today, they earn $52,520 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for residence life directors over the last decade.
Compare residence life director salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average residence life director salary over time
Compare residence life director salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Residence life director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,500 | $25.25 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $51,400 | $24.71 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $50,800 | $24.43 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $49,800 | $23.92 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $48,900 | $23.50 | +2.4% |
Recently added residence life director salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic University | Director, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life | Boca Raton, FL | 06/30/2025 | $75,000 |
| The University of Chicago | Community Director, Residence Life | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $48,000 |
| Erickson Senior Living | Director of Resident Life | Catonsville, MD | 06/27/2025 | $110,000 |
| Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Denver | Resident Life Navigator-Overnight | Lakewood, CO | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Jackson College | Director of Residence Life | Jackson, MI | 06/22/2025 | $57,000 |
| Erickson Senior Living | Director of Resident Life | Glenolden, PA | 06/20/2025 | $110,000 |
| Grand Valley State University | Community Director-Housing and Residence Life | Allendale, MI | 06/18/2025 | $43,888 |
| Peakmade | Director of Residence Life | Chicago, IL | 06/17/2025 | $72,000 |
| North Dakota University System | Residence Life Hall Director | Valley City, ND | 05/31/2025 | $15,000 |
| Servicenow | Client Director-Life Sciences | Chicago, IL | 05/28/2025 | $154,080 |
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