Residential Advisors
Personal Care and Service
Daily work means keeping school and college dorms, group homes, and similar residences running. That means walking the halls to check that people and spaces are safe, enforcing house rules, and stepping in when residents clash or someone needs first aid. You also train and evaluate resident assistants and student workers, keep household records, assign rooms, and flag repairs or missing supplies. When a resident is having a hard time, you talk it through with other staff or point them toward counseling. It suits people who like close, day-to-day contact with residents and can stay calm while mediating conflicts and watching for trouble.
Typical education: Some College Courses
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$42'240
Median Wage Market Position
$42'240
What you might do
- Talk with staff to resolve resident problems
- Watch residents for unusual or unsafe behavior
- Train and evaluate residence hall staff
- Give first aid and call for medical help
- Walk regular rounds to check safety
- Step in to settle disputes between residents
Skills that matter
- Early notice of unusual resident behavior
- Calm talks when residents have problems
- Mediation of roommate and hall conflicts
- Joint work with staff on student issues
- Regular rounds for safety and security
- Training and review of resident assistants
AI & the future of this role
Dorm and group-home roles mix overnight presence, conflict mediation, and day-to-day resident support. Administrative checklists could become more automated, while in-person judgment and trust remain central to the work.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details