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Residence Hall Director Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Nku

Residence Hall Director

Highland Heights, KY · On-site

Residence Hall Director Position Type: Fixed Term (Fixed Term) About the Role: Reporting to the Assistant Director of Residence Life, the Residence Hall Director is a 12-month live-in position ...

Quinnipiac University

Residence Hall Director

Hamden, CT · On-site

$50K/yr

Residence Hall Director Job Number: 497343 Type: Full-time Campus: York Hill - Hamden, CT Categories: Staff Overview: Quinnipiac University invites applications for a Residential Hall Director to ...

Wisconsin

Residence Hall Director

Stevens Point, WI · On-site

$43K/mo

Residence Hall Director Job Category: Academic Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Residence Life Coordinator II Job Duties: The Residence Hall Director is a full-time, 12-month, live-in ...

Cornell University

Residence Hall Director

Ithaca, NY · On-site

$47K/yr

The Residence Hall Directors are directly supervised by Assistant Directors with functional oversight by the Associate Directors and the Director. Together, this team supports approximately 7,500 ...

Quinnipiac University

Residence Hall Director

Hamden, CT · On-site

$55 - $70/hr

Residence Hall Directors serve as key student affairs professionals within the Division of Student Affairs and are responsible for fostering community development, supporting student wellness ...

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How much do residence hall director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for residence hall director in the United States is $43,838.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $36,500.00 and $51,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a residence hall director?

Residence Hall Directors are professional staff members responsible for managing the daily operations of a college or university residence hall. They oversee student housing, provide support and guidance to residents, supervise student staff such as Resident Assistants, and help create a safe and inclusive living environment. Residence Hall Directors also enforce policies, coordinate programs and events, and respond to emergencies to ensure student well-being and community development within the residence hall.

What does a residence hall director do?

As a residence hall director, the students living in your hall are your biggest priority. You play an essential role in student development by building a healthy community, interacting with students, and working with other programs and communities to make your hall and campus a safe and healthy place to live. In addition to managing student life housing operations, which includes emergency management, your duties may also include managing student workers. Typically, you perform your duties full-time as well as in an on-call fashion, which means you are available at all times during those periods. Your precise responsibilities depend on your institution’s Code of Conduct and related documentation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a residence hall director, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Residence Hall Director, you need experience in student affairs, a bachelor’s or master’s degree (often in higher education or a related field), and strong leadership abilities. Familiarity with campus management systems, incident reporting software, and basic budgeting tools is typically required. Outstanding interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, and cultural competency help you build community and address diverse student needs. These skills are crucial for fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive living environment that promotes student success.

What are some common challenges residence hall directors face when managing student communities, and how can they effectively address them?

Residence Hall Directors often encounter challenges such as mediating conflicts between residents, fostering an inclusive and respectful community, and responding to crises or emergencies. Effectively addressing these challenges requires strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills, clear communication, and the ability to build trust with students. Directors typically collaborate with resident assistants, campus safety, and counseling services to support students' well-being while maintaining a safe and positive living environment.

What is the difference between Residence Hall Director vs Resident Advisor?

AspectResidence Hall DirectorResident Advisor
CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's degree, sometimes a master's, in student affairs or related fieldsUsually undergraduate students with leadership experience, no formal degree required
Work EnvironmentFull-time, administrative and supervisory role in college residence hallsPart-time, peer leadership role within the residence hall community
ResponsibilitiesOversees residence hall operations, manages staff, enforces policies, plans programsBuilds community, provides peer support, enforces residence hall rules

The main difference is that Residence Hall Directors hold full-time administrative roles with higher responsibilities and required credentials, while Resident Advisors are peer leaders with part-time duties focused on community building. Residence Hall Directors manage staff and operations, whereas Resident Advisors primarily support residents and foster community engagement.

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Residence Hall Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Residence Hall Director job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 85% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,838 per year, or $21.1 per hour.

Residence Hall Director

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 5 days ago

Northern Kentucky University rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

314th of 628 rated colleges and universities

Job description

Position Title:
Residence Hall Director
Position Type:
Fixed Term (Fixed Term)
About the Role:
Reporting to the Assistant Director of Residence Life, the Residence Hall Director is a 12-month live-in position responsible for coordinating all aspects of student development in the residential facilities at Northern Kentucky University. The Residence Hall Director supervises 8-18 Resident Assistants. The Residence Hall Director is responsible for staffing, training, supervising, and evaluating paraprofessional and graduate staff.
  • The Residence Hall Director is responsible for the development and implementation of learning strategies and programming for residential students. This position is intended as an entry-level position for new professionals joining the Housing and Residence Life profession.

  • This is a contract; an annual 12-month live-on position typically funded for up to four years. Appointments will be made on an annual basis based on continued satisfactory performance.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs):
Must have excellent planning, organizational, presentation, programming, supervision, customer service and human relations skills. Must be able to effectively communicate in both oral and written context. Must be creative in managing challenges and change, able to perform under pressure, have excellent crisis management skills, and able to work with diverse constituents.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor's degree or higher required.
Preferred experience includes live-on higher education housing experience, experience mitigating crises and conflicts, experience supervising paraprofessional staff, experience with higher education student conduct, leadership skills, training in diversity/inclusion/interculturalism, and experience managing budgets.
Posted Salary:
Work Environment & Physical Demands:

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