Residential Advisors
Machines can already do 30% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 59%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Residential Advisors in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 30% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 7% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2032, and 59% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 84,760 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $42,240 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 75% for contact with people.
- Also called: Hall Coordinator, Residence Director, Residence Hall Director, Residence Life Coordinator.
- Competency here means how well the best AI model, tool or robot available can do a task, scored out of 100: today using the best available now, and for later years the 311 prediction of what AI and robots will be able to do.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Observe students to detect and report unusual behavior | 8% | 40% to 80% | |
| Make regular rounds to ensure that residents and areas are safe and secure | 8% | 30% to 75% | |
| Communicate with other staff to resolve problems with individual students | 7% | 25% to 50% | |
| Enforce rules and regulations to ensure the smooth and orderly operation of dormitory programs | 7% | 10% to 40% | |
| Counsel students in the handling of issues such as family, financial, and educational problems | 7% | 35% to 58% | |
| Supervise, train, and evaluate residence hall staff, including resident assistants, participants in work-study programs, and other student workers | 5% | 20% to 42% | |
| Develop and coordinate educational programs for residents | 5% | 30% to 60% | |
| Mediate interpersonal problems between residents | 4% | 10% to 27% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills residential advisors use most, most used first.
Human value: what makes people in this job hard to replace
How much residential advisors rely on each one, from 0 to 10. 311 estimates, medium confidence.
- Go-to problem solver6/10
- Trust and reliability8/10
- Know-how about the organisation8/10
- Network and relationships5/10
- Mentoring and developing others7/10
- Culture and morale8/10
- Initiative beyond the role6/10
- Calm in a crisis8/10
- Bridge between teams6/10
- Reputation and influence3/10
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Clinical Nurse Specialists49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $97,550
- Clergy48% of tasks by 2035 · US median $60,810
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling Services56% of tasks by 2035 · US median $48,560
- Social and Community Service Managers54% of tasks by 2035 · US median $80,390
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Residential Advisors?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2032. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of residential advisors?
Machines can do 30% of the tasks of residential advisors today and 59% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 39-9041.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring, forecast and human value: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit (human value scores are 311 estimates, medium confidence); after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Residential Advisors: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/residential-advisors/