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Resident assistant salary
Average resident assistant salary
$14.41
Average Resident Assistant Salary
The average salary for a Resident Assistant in the United States is approximately $29,971 annually, translating to around $14.41 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, experience level, and specific job responsibilities.
Factors Influencing Salary
In addition to geographic location, experience plays a vital role in salary determination. For instance, entry-level Resident Assistants typically earn less, while those with several years of experience can earn significantly more. Locations with higher living costs often offer higher salaries to attract talent.
Salary by State
Salaries for Resident Assistants vary by state. For example, states like California and New York tend to offer higher compensation compared to states with lower living costs. Understanding these trends can help prospective employees gauge their earning potential more accurately.
Opportunities for Advancement
Many Resident Assistants find opportunities for advancement within their organizations. Gaining experience can lead to roles with higher responsibilities and better pay, making this an attractive entry point into the healthcare field.
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Where can a Resident Assistant earn more?
Resident assistant salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level resident assistant | $20,800 | $10.00 |
| Mid-level resident assistant | $29,500 | $14.19 |
| Senior-level resident assistant | $33,900 | $16.29 |
Resident assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average resident assistant salary by state
The highest-paying states for resident assistants are California, Connecticut, and North Dakota. The lowest average resident assistant salary states are Arkansas, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for resident assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $33,888 | $16.29 |
| 2 | Alaska | $32,819 | $15.78 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $30,830 | $14.82 |
| 4 | Wyoming | $30,410 | $14.62 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $33,924 | $16.31 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $31,355 | $15.07 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $32,474 | $15.61 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $29,501 | $14.18 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $29,148 | $14.01 |
| 10 | California | $34,915 | $16.79 |
| 11 | Oregon | $32,643 | $15.69 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $33,248 | $15.98 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $28,945 | $13.92 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $26,791 | $12.88 |
| 15 | Maine | $29,815 | $14.33 |
| 16 | New York | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| 17 | Delaware | $30,016 | $14.43 |
| 18 | Nevada | $28,429 | $13.67 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $28,395 | $13.65 |
| 20 | Colorado | $29,045 | $13.96 |
| 21 | Idaho | $29,815 | $14.33 |
| 22 | Iowa | $27,751 | $13.34 |
| 23 | Washington | $30,485 | $14.66 |
| 24 | Indiana | $26,928 | $12.95 |
| 25 | Illinois | $28,753 | $13.82 |
| 26 | Michigan | $26,379 | $12.68 |
| 27 | Arizona | $28,813 | $13.85 |
| 28 | Maryland | $28,483 | $13.69 |
| 29 | Kansas | $27,776 | $13.35 |
| 30 | Ohio | $26,567 | $12.77 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $25,482 | $12.25 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $26,752 | $12.86 |
| 33 | Rhode Island | $28,257 | $13.59 |
| 34 | Vermont | $27,860 | $13.39 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $26,041 | $12.52 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $24,410 | $11.74 |
| 37 | South Dakota | $24,573 | $11.81 |
| 38 | Missouri | $26,141 | $12.57 |
| 39 | Florida | $24,434 | $11.75 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $25,237 | $12.13 |
| 41 | Utah | $24,870 | $11.96 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $25,465 | $12.24 |
| 43 | Texas | $25,533 | $12.28 |
| 44 | Virginia | $25,625 | $12.32 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $23,267 | $11.19 |
| 46 | Montana | $25,125 | $12.08 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $24,800 | $11.92 |
| 48 | Georgia | $21,689 | $10.43 |
| 49 | Alabama | $22,702 | $10.91 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $21,559 | $10.36 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $22,835 | $10.98 |
Highest paying cities for resident assistants
The highest-paying cities for resident assistants are Roseville, CA, Portland, OR, and Duluth, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roseville, CA | $35,909 | $17.26 |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $32,672 | $15.71 |
| 3 | Duluth, MN | $32,107 | $15.44 |
| 4 | Watertown, NY | $30,537 | $14.68 |
| 5 | Oshkosh, WI | $29,947 | $14.40 |
| 6 | Fort Collins, CO | $29,156 | $14.02 |
| 7 | Rockford, IL | $28,945 | $13.92 |
| 8 | Prescott, AZ | $28,898 | $13.89 |
| 9 | Indianapolis, IN | $26,819 | $12.89 |
| 10 | Grand Rapids, MI | $26,451 | $12.72 |
| 11 | Columbus, OH | $26,259 | $12.62 |
| 12 | Columbus, MS | $26,122 | $12.56 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $25,532 | $12.28 |
| 14 | Hastings, NE | $25,184 | $12.11 |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $25,166 | $12.10 |
| 16 | Sioux Falls, SD | $24,529 | $11.79 |
| 17 | Murfreesboro, TN | $23,251 | $11.18 |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $21,756 | $10.46 |
Resident Assistants are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Resident assistant salary details
A resident assistant's salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $39,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a resident assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 75th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
| Average | $29,971 | $2,498 | $14 |
| 25th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
Highest paying resident assistant jobs
The highest paying types of resident assistants are resident, addictions counselor assistant, and assistant program coordinator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident | $60,589 | $5,049 | $29.13 | 14,186 |
| Resident Advisor | $25,324 | $2,110 | $12.17 | 44,792 |
Top companies hiring resident assistants now:
Which companies pay resident assistants the most?
Resident assistant salaries at Mount St. Mary's University and Waters are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average resident assistant salary at companies like Grand View Health and University of Nevada, Reno are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount St. Mary's University | $53,801 | $25.87 |
| 2 | Waters | $48,998 | $23.56 |
| 3 | Grand View Health | $48,091 | $23.12 |
| 4 | University of Nevada, Reno | $41,878 | $20.13 |
| 5 | Northwell Health | $41,224 | $19.82 |
| 6 | Good Shepherd Lutheran School | $38,925 | $18.71 |
| 7 | Nebraska Medicine | $38,830 | $18.67 |
| 8 | Hackensack Meridian Health | $38,156 | $18.34 |
| 9 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | $35,526 | $17.08 |
| 10 | Holzer Health System | $35,210 | $16.93 |
| 11 | Legacy Health | $34,925 | $16.79 |
| 12 | ACC Health | $34,564 | $16.62 |
| 13 | Kisco Senior Living | $34,385 | $16.53 |
| 14 | Washington County | $34,069 | $16.38 |
| 15 | Bank of America | $33,851 | $16.27 |
| 16 | Minnesota State Fair | $33,594 | $16.15 |
| 17 | Five Points Washington | $33,322 | $16.02 |
| 18 | Aspirus | $33,312 | $16.02 |
| 19 | SIERRA HEALTH SERVICES INC | $32,882 | $15.81 |
| 20 | Fairview Health Services | $32,846 | $15.79 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Resident assistant salary trends
The average resident assistant salary has risen by $6,018 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average resident assistant earned $23,953 annually, but today, they earn $29,971 a year. That works out to a 13% change in pay for resident assistants over the last decade.
Compare resident assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average resident assistant salary over time
Compare resident assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Resident assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,000 | $14.41 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | $29,200 | $14.05 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $28,100 | $13.52 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $27,600 | $13.27 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $26,500 | $12.75 | +3.1% |
Recently added resident assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford Health | Resident Assistant-Days-Assisted Living | Estes Park, CO | 06/30/2025 | $34,957 |
| Cedar Point | Resident Assistant | Sandusky, OH | 06/30/2025 | $29,740 |
| Victory Programs | Low Threshold Housing Resident Assistant | Willows, CA | 06/30/2025 | $46,498 |
| Montana Technological University | Resident Assistant for The Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Summer Program | Butte-Silver Bow, MT | 06/30/2025 | $27,131 |
| Brightview Senior Living | SR Resident Assistant (CNA) | Norwalk, CT | 06/29/2025 | $52,175 |
| Benedictine | Resident Assistant Float | Dickinson, ND | 06/29/2025 | $55,347 |
| Benedictine | Resident Assistant | Saint Paul, MN | 06/29/2025 | $43,305 |
| Los Angeles Lgbt Center | Resident Assistant #903301 | Los Angeles, CA | 06/29/2025 | $43,827 |
| Spectrum Retirement Communities | Resident Assistant-MC | Albuquerque, NM | 06/29/2025 | $31,305 |
| Spectrum Retirement Communities | Resident Assistant, Assisted Living | Burr Ridge, IL | 06/29/2025 | $34,957 |
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