What does a Residential Assistant do?
Residential assistants provide a range of support services at residential facilities, group homes, and similar settings with permanent, around-the-clock residents. They assist with facility operations and maintenance, ensuring a safe, clean, and healthy environment for staff and residents. They provide administrative support, processing paperwork, coordinating deliveries and supplies, and managing vendors and service providers. In some cases, they may also have duties related to logistics, food service, or transportation. They may provide supervision, support, and help with daily care in settings where that is required.
Residential assistants typically have at least an associate degree, although additional education or training is helpful. They must be highly organized, and have strong project management abilities. These roles require good communication skills and flexibility to adapt to fluctuating duties.
- Assist with picture IDs as assigned or when necessary.
- Coach residents in fulfilling plans for assisted daily living.
- Assist with onboarding of new associates.
- Maintain neat appearance, good personal hygiene and appropriate uniform.
- Monitor resident's activities, groups, chore lists, weekly phone calls, etc.
- Assist residents with packing/unpacking (storing, labeling and inventorying belongings upon move in)
- Regularly review, follow, and adhere to the residents' care plans.
- Assist residents in the care and maintenance of the house.
- Report to management any deviations or changes observed in resident.
- Any other tasks, assignments, projects or requests as deemed by management.
- Assure that resident rooms are clean and tidy throughout each day.
- Complete other tasks, as assigned by the department director.
- Assist the resident in maintaining, a safe and clean environment.
- You are responsible for doing room checks at curfew.
- Answer the telephone and take and give information as necessary.
- Provide personalized and appropriate care according to resident preferences.
- Bachelor's Degree in business.
- Demonstrated critical thinking and problem solving skills.
- Comfortable assisting residents with daily needs and tasks.
- Can multitask while demonstrating attention to detail and composure.
- Is a critical thinker and problem solver.
- A natural leader with a positive attitude and sound time management skills.
- Is a professional at all times.
How much does a Residential Assistant make?
Base Pay
Additional Pay
$37,243
/ yrResidential Assistant Career Path
Learn how to become a Residential Assistant, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Years of Experience Distribution
Residential Assistant Insights
University of Tennessee Knoxville“Living conditions/equity to quality living spaces is not good and pay could be a lot better.”
Concordia University Wisconsin“I met so many great people through this job and was able to connect with communities within our school.”
The Collection“Career experience for what I consider a mid level luxury condo (meaning it could open doors to better opportunities in the future)”
University of Redlands“The RA role was rewarding and I really enjoyed the flexibility”
Campus Living Villages“straightforward rules and you get a room plus pay which is good”
Edencrest Retirement Living Communities“Everyone is friendly and I enjoyed the residents.”
Bob Jones University“If you want an opportunity to work with people and help them grow I would recommend this position.”
Samford University“The reason I would recommend this job is to develop relationships and to serve others.”
Frequently asked questions about the roles and responsibilities of a Residential Assistant
- Intern
- Grad Assistant
- Student
- Client Services Representative