Residential Advisor salary in the U.S.
Residential Advisors in the U.S. earn a median of $42,240 a year ($20.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 84,760 workers.
Pay ranges from $29,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,060 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $43,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for residential advisors in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,870 | $14.36 |
| 25th percentile | $35,510 | $17.07 |
| Median | $42,240 | $20.31 |
| 75th percentile | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,060 | $29.36 |
| Average (mean) | $43,990 | $21.15 |
Half of residential advisors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,520 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,760 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,624.62 |
| Weekly | $812.31 |
| Hourly | $20.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Residential Advisor salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $49,010 | 420 |
| Minnesota | $48,770 | 3,410 |
| Washington | $48,640 | 1,810 |
| North Dakota | $48,590 | 260 |
| New York | $48,380 | 6,150 |
| Massachusetts | $48,190 | 5,120 |
| Montana | $47,230 | 350 |
| Oregon | $47,160 | 840 |
| Maryland | $46,950 | 2,640 |
| California | $46,650 | 8,120 |
| Alaska | $46,180 | 380 |
| Nebraska | $45,980 | 230 |
| Rhode Island | $45,280 | 460 |
| Colorado | $44,750 | 760 |
| Vermont | $44,710 | 170 |
| Illinois | $44,130 | 2,720 |
| New Jersey | $43,880 | 1,630 |
| Maine | $43,780 | 640 |
| Connecticut | $43,620 | 1,250 |
| Virginia | $42,890 | 2,950 |
| Wisconsin | $41,690 | 1,190 |
| Arizona | $41,480 | 1,260 |
| Florida | $40,660 | 1,610 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,010 | 4,380 |
| Michigan | $39,730 | 1,770 |
| Georgia | $39,380 | 2,460 |
| Utah | $39,240 | 990 |
| North Carolina | $39,130 | 2,840 |
| Indiana | $38,850 | 1,360 |
| Nevada | $38,790 | 190 |
| Ohio | $38,590 | 3,070 |
| District of Columbia | $38,480 | 670 |
| South Dakota | $38,420 | 1,780 |
| Arkansas | $38,300 | 910 |
| Kansas | $37,680 | 510 |
| Texas | $37,630 | 3,630 |
| New Mexico | $37,540 | 590 |
| Idaho | $37,160 | 400 |
| Hawaii | $36,930 | 640 |
| Iowa | $36,850 | 780 |
| Missouri | $36,510 | 1,380 |
| South Carolina | $35,780 | 1,580 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,540 | 30 |
| Oklahoma | $35,390 | 1,060 |
| Tennessee | $34,700 | 2,360 |
| Delaware | $34,530 | 350 |
| Wyoming | $34,500 | n/a |
| Louisiana | $33,800 | 420 |
| West Virginia | $31,840 | 1,180 |
| Mississippi | $30,900 | 660 |
| Kentucky | $30,260 | 1,580 |
| Alabama | $27,650 | 2,570 |
Best-paying metro areas for residential advisors
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | $59,140 | 100 |
| Bloomington, IN | $57,080 | 40 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $56,170 | 370 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $55,800 | 300 |
| Waco, TX | $55,110 | 40 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $54,510 | 1,130 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $54,310 | 820 |
| Ithaca, NY | $53,760 | 90 |
| Missoula, MT | $53,250 | 40 |
| Springfield, MO | $52,730 | 160 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | $52,420 | 30 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $52,410 | 1,910 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $52,190 | 50 |
| Bloomington, IL | $51,680 | 40 |
| Syracuse, NY | $51,670 | 190 |
Metro areas with the most residential advisors
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 4,910 | $47,510 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3,570 | $45,240 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3,250 | $48,830 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3,040 | $47,010 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,910 | $52,410 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,820 | $39,990 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,730 | $44,320 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,130 | $54,510 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,110 | $45,400 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 960 | $41,930 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 930 | $48,850 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 910 | $25,310 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 870 | $39,680 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 850 | $42,340 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 820 | $54,310 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Childcare Worker | $34,980 | $16.82 |
| Recreation Worker | $36,560 | $17.58 |
| Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors | $47,160 | $22.67 |
| Personal Care and Service Workers, All Other | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists | $35,790 | $17.21 |
| Animal Caretaker | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $35,760 | $17.19 |
| Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers | $32,910 | $15.82 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers | $48,590 | $23.36 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services | $48,560 | $23.34 |
| Gambling Dealer | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Skincare Specialist | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| Tour and Travel Guides | $38,120 | $18.33 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 39-9041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a residential advisor make in the U.S.?
The median salary for residential advisors in the U.S. is $42,240 a year, or $20.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $29,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $61,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid residential advisors make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of residential advisors in the U.S. earn at least $61,060 a year. The top 25% earn $49,920 or more.
What is the starting pay for residential advisors in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $29,870 a year, and a quarter of residential advisors earn $35,510 or less.
How many residential advisors work in the U.S.?
About 84,760 residential advisors are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.