What the work involves, what it pays, and real lines you can start from. Answer a few small questions and leave with a resume.
Also called resident advisor, cottage parent, cottage supervisor and dormitory counselor.
Pay and headcount are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lines are written from what the US Department of Labor records about this work.
An example
Every line below comes from the same public record as the rest of this page. The greyed parts are the ones only you can answer.
Residential Advisor
Residential Advisor coordinating activities in dormitories and group homes, supervising staff, resolving student issues, and ensuring compliance with rules while providing support and emergency assistance
Where you worked
On site, Remote
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becomes
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The line
Communicated with staff to resolve student issues, leading to students feeling more supported and engaged
Show what improved for students after you resolved issues
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Adding it to the line…
The line
Supervised and evaluated residence hall staff, ensuring effective performance and adherence to policies
Mention if you were trusted to train any staff members
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Adding it to the line…
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The work itself
The public record of what this job is, in one paragraph.
Coordinate activities in resident facilities in secondary school and college dormitories, group homes, or similar establishments. Order supplies and determine need for maintenance, repairs, and furnishings. May maintain household records and assign rooms. May assist residents with problem solving or refer them to counseling resources.
What it pays
Annual pay across the United States. The middle figure is the median: half earn less than that, and half earn more.
| 25th percentile | $35,510 |
|---|---|
| Median | $42,240 |
| 75th percentile | $49,920 |
| State | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | $46,050 | $46,180 | $47,950 |
| AL | $25,680 | $27,650 | $32,870 |
| AR | $27,920 | $38,300 | $43,350 |
| AZ | $35,980 | $41,480 | $47,440 |
| CA | $39,040 | $46,650 | $57,590 |
| CO | $39,280 | $44,750 | $52,190 |
| CT | $39,270 | $43,620 | $51,710 |
| DC | $38,170 | $38,480 | $46,290 |
| DE | $31,200 | $34,530 | $42,670 |
| FL | $35,530 | $40,660 | $47,920 |
| GA | $31,780 | $39,380 | $48,820 |
| HI | $31,580 | $36,930 | $43,620 |
| IA | $34,430 | $36,850 | $44,170 |
| ID | $34,150 | $37,160 | $38,260 |
| IL | $36,060 | $44,130 | $49,550 |
| IN | $32,630 | $38,850 | $46,070 |
| KS | $30,810 | $37,680 | $48,510 |
| KY | $19,600 | $30,260 | $40,260 |
| LA | $28,520 | $33,800 | $43,890 |
| MA | $43,310 | $48,190 | $58,910 |
| MD | $38,600 | $46,950 | $56,240 |
| ME | $39,800 | $43,780 | $50,310 |
| MI | $35,090 | $39,730 | $46,840 |
| MN | $46,480 | $48,770 | $56,460 |
| MO | $29,340 | $36,510 | $49,440 |
| MS | $24,530 | $30,900 | $39,130 |
| MT | $44,650 | $47,230 | $53,260 |
| NC | $34,670 | $39,130 | $49,170 |
| ND | $41,710 | $48,590 | $57,500 |
| NE | $36,250 | $45,980 | $47,070 |
| NH | $40,790 | $49,010 | $58,860 |
| NJ | $39,070 | $43,880 | $56,330 |
| NM | $35,360 | $37,540 | $44,640 |
| NV | $37,760 | $38,790 | $47,670 |
| NY | $41,100 | $48,380 | $60,500 |
| OH | $33,170 | $38,590 | $44,740 |
| OK | $29,510 | $35,390 | $39,660 |
| OR | $41,990 | $47,160 | $54,530 |
| PA | $35,090 | $40,010 | $47,700 |
| PR | $28,980 | $35,540 | $35,540 |
| RI | $43,930 | $45,280 | $58,380 |
| SC | $25,560 | $35,780 | $45,020 |
| SD | $36,380 | $38,420 | $40,720 |
| TN | $30,950 | $34,700 | $42,830 |
| TX | $32,160 | $37,630 | $46,590 |
| UT | $36,870 | $39,240 | $45,650 |
| VA | $36,580 | $42,890 | $51,600 |
| VT | $41,810 | $44,710 | $53,980 |
| WA | $43,560 | $48,640 | $56,970 |
| WI | $38,250 | $41,690 | $44,830 |
| WV | $27,490 | $31,840 | $36,900 |
| WY | $34,490 | $34,500 | $36,560 |
Other names
resident advisor, cottage parent, cottage supervisor, dormitory counselor, dormitory supervisor, hall coordinator, hall director, house father, house mother, house parent, housefellow, housing and residence life director.
housing assistant, housing director, residence director, residence hall director, residence life coordinator, residence life director, residence supervisor, resident aide, resident assistant, resident care assistant, resident director, resident life director, resident monitor, residential aide, residential assistant, residential coordinator, residential counselor, residential director, residential instructor, residential life director, residential service coordinator, residential services specialist, residential specialist, residential support specialist, sorority mother, sorority supervisor, student development coordinator.
If you served
From the crosswalk the US Department of Labor publishes itself. If one of these was your job, this page is about the civilian work it maps to.
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This page is about the occupation Residential Advisors. What this job involves and what it is made of come from O*NET 30.3, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, refreshed July 2026; Rung writes those records into the plain sentences you see. Pay comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS release for 2025. Rung is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by either agency. How Rung handles accuracy is on the accuracy page, and the full data credits are on the credits page.