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Student support services vs resident assistant

The differences between student support services and resident assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a student support services and a resident assistant. Additionally, a student support services has an average salary of $40,195, which is higher than the $29,971 average annual salary of a resident assistant.

The top three skills for a student support services include student support, support services and financial aid. The most important skills for a resident assistant are home health, CPR, and vital signs.

Student support services vs resident assistant overview

Student Support ServicesResident Assistant
Yearly salary$40,195$29,971
Hourly rate$19.32$14.41
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs140,44819,033
Job satisfaction-4
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4343
Years of experience1212

What does a student support services do?

The one who shows the track of academic pursuit is student support service. Equipped with a wide range of knowledge themselves, such people provide auxiliary aids and services to the aspirants. They select appropriate and effective accommodations and provide counseling to the students.

What does a resident assistant do?

Resident assistants help manage peers or younger students who live in a particular residence hall on campus. They are usually in charge of welcoming fellow students, providing residence hall tours, and helping students cope with their new environment. To help students become more at ease with their environment, resident assistants usually act as buddies. They answer inquiries that the students may have and act as the bridge between the students and the residence hall management. They assist with administrative activities in the residence hall, such as handing out forms for students and ensuring documents are correctly filled out.

Student support services vs resident assistant salary

Student support services and resident assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Student Support ServicesResident Assistant
Average salary$40,195$29,971
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $62,000Between $22,000 And $39,000
Highest paying CityAlameda, CARoseville, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyStrategic EducationMount St. Mary's University
Best paying industryEducationEducation

Differences between student support services and resident assistant education

There are a few differences between a student support services and a resident assistant in terms of educational background:

Student Support ServicesResident Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorBusinessPsychology
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversitySUNY at Binghamton

Student support services vs resident assistant demographics

Here are the differences between student support services' and resident assistants' demographics:

Student Support ServicesResident Assistant
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 35.4% Female, 64.6%Male, 34.0% Female, 66.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 7.3% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2%Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.7% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between student support services and resident assistant duties and responsibilities

Student support services example responsibilities.

  • Manage work flow to ensure all payroll transactions are process accurately/timely.
  • Assist students to complete and submit FAFSA and scholarship applications as well as course registration.
  • Assist students with online FAFSA applications and preparation of loan applications and registering for classes.
  • Document progress notes as students pursue their academic plans and register for classes while maintaining FERPA confidentiality laws.
  • Sign confidentiality agreement due to FERPA regulations.
  • Conduct classroom review sessions for introductory mathematics courses.
  • Show more

Resident assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage pediatrics emergencies, indoor & outdoor patients, neonatal & intensive care units.
  • Assist 3rd stage Alzheimer's residents with ADL'S, housekeeping, ROM, provide residents with daily medications at specify times
  • Used Hoyer lift when need.
  • Assist in safety transfers including hoyer lifts and wheel chair.
  • General care giving (elderly disable), food prep., activity assistant, CPR certify.
  • Maintain compliance with procedures and schedules, maintain safety of all residents as according to HIPAA regulations.
  • Show more

Student support services vs resident assistant skills

Common student support services skills
  • Student Support, 21%
  • Support Services, 18%
  • Financial Aid, 6%
  • Academic Support, 5%
  • Math, 5%
  • Mathematics, 5%
Common resident assistant skills
  • Home Health, 16%
  • CPR, 10%
  • Vital Signs, 9%
  • Residential Life, 7%
  • Compassion, 7%
  • Memory Care, 6%

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