What is a residential aide and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
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Residential aides, also known as home assistants, help patients or residents in assisted living facilities with essential daily tasks that they are unable to perform. These tasks include cooking, laundry, bathing, getting dressed, and cleaning. They provide companionship to residents and establish a trusting relationship with them. They ensure residents take their prescribed medication. Furthermore, they keep records of resident activity, behavior, and moods. Additionally, they work with management and coworkers to ensure residents receive the best services. Lastly, they report any concerns or medical issues.

Residential aides are required to have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. You must have experience caring for elderly or disabled people. Employers prefer first aid and CPR training. Having relevant certification is a plus. You must be physically fit for the job, have strong emotional intelligence, and great listening skills. Residential Aides earn an average salary of $31,115 per year. This varies between $26,000 and $37,000.

ScoreResidential AideUS Average
Salary
2.0

Avg. Salary $26,176

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.0

Growth Rate 36%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.10%

Asian 8.13%

Black or African American 11.32%

Hispanic or Latino 15.46%

Unknown 4.28%

White 59.71%

Gender

female 73.20%

male 26.80%

Age - 50
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50
Stress Level
8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.5

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
9.6

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Residential Aide career paths

Key steps to become a residential aide

  1. Explore residential aide education requirements

    Most common residential aide degrees

    High School Diploma

    29.0 %

    Bachelor's

    27.6 %

    Associate

    22.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific residential aide skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Autism11.73%
    Developmental Disabilities11.35%
    Compassion10.87%
    Direct Support8.26%
    Cleanliness5.31%
  3. Gain additional residential aide certifications

    Residential aide certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific residential aide certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for residential aides include Medical Assistant and Advanced First Aid & CPR.

    More About Certifications
  4. Research residential aide duties and responsibilities

    • Lead support groups with an emphasis on recovery and strength base techniques, DBT, CBT, self-care and coping skills.
    • Provide direct patient care, understanding, and compassion for patients.
    • Train in Epi-Pen, CPR and allergic reaction emergency procedures.
    • Assist with transferring residents in and out of wheelchairs and adaptive equipment.assist with ADLs.
  5. Prepare your residential aide resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your residential aide resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a residential aide resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Residential Aide Resume templates

    Build a professional Residential Aide resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Residential Aide resume.
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  6. Apply for residential aide jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a residential aide job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Residential Aide Job

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Average residential aide salary

The average Residential Aide salary in the United States is $26,176 per year or $13 per hour. Residential aide salaries range between $20,000 and $33,000 per year.

Average Residential Aide Salary
$26,176 Yearly
$12.58 hourly

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How do residential aides rate their job?

5/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Residential Aide reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Cons

When someone getting mistreated and not getting care they need being responsible for others


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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Cons

The scheduling can change at anytime. There are always shortage of workers to cover shifts especially overnight shifts. You can get stuck on a shift any given day. The people you work with has more issues than the people you are hired for to take care of. They can be lazy!!!


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A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Pros

The individual's are entertaining and loving. They do have their moments like any other person but when the individuals are having a good day it shows. They always look for validation from the staff when they are doing a good job. There is always something different to expect everyday. You really have to love what you do because it can be stressful but also rewarding.

Cons

The staffing is the least of my favorite. The staff can be lazy and do not can not accept change


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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