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Salary comparison

Residential Advisors vs. Amusement and Recreation Attendants: Who Earns More?

Residential Advisors out-earn Amusement and Recreation Attendants by $10K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Residential Advisors land at $42,240 and Amusement and Recreation Attendants at $32,150. The education gap is real: residential advisor programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while amusement and recreation attendant programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Residential Advisors is New Hampshire ($49,010); for Amusement and Recreation Attendants it's Alaska ($45,680).

Residential Advisors
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Median salary
$42,240
$32,150
Hourly rate
$20.31/hr
$15.46/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$29,870
$22,350
Senior level (90th %)
$61,060
$42,490
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
84,760
397,830
Job growth (10-year)
3.8%
3.4%
Category
Personal Care
Personal Care
Top-paying state
New Hampshire
Alaska

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Residential Advisors median pay.

State
Residential Advisors
Amusement and Recreation Attendants
Washington
$48,640
$37,790
New York
$48,380
$36,300
Massachusetts
$48,190
$34,440
Oregon
$47,160
$35,400
Maryland
$46,950
$36,710
California
$46,650
$37,000
Alaska
$46,180
$45,680
Colorado
$44,750
$35,770
Vermont
$44,710
$35,290
New Jersey
$43,880
$34,500
Maine
$43,780
$35,330
Connecticut
$43,620
$34,860
Arizona
$41,480
$33,570
District of Columbia
$38,480
$37,960
Hawaii
$36,930
$39,920

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Residential Advisors or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Residential Advisors earn more nationally. The median is $42,240 for Residential Advisors versus $32,150 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants, a difference of $10K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Residential Advisors or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Residential Advisors has the better 10-year outlook at 3.8% projected growth, compared to 3.4% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Residential Advisors or Amusement and Recreation Attendants?

Residential Advisors typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Amusement and Recreation Attendants requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Residential Advisors get paid the most?

New Hampshire is the top-paying state for Residential Advisors at $49,010/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Residential Advisors vs. Amusement and Recreation Attendants pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Residential Advisors earn $48,640 vs. $37,790 for Amusement and Recreation Attendants. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Residential Advisors salary breakdownView →Full Amusement and Recreation Attendants salary breakdownView →Best cities for Residential Advisors by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Amusement and Recreation Attendants by take-home payExplore →How to become a residential advisorsGuide →How to become a amusement and recreation attendantsGuide →