Residential Counselor Jobs
Residential Counselor jobs are open across residential treatment, group homes, behavioral health, and social services, from entry-level to senior and program supervisor roles, with specializations in youth services, substance use recovery, and developmental disabilities. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 811+ Residential Counselor jobs
Autism Residential Counselor
Boston Higashi School | Randolph, MA
Full-Time | Starting at $20.00/hour | Excellent Benefits
Bachelor’s Degree Required
Turn Your Degree Into Meaningful Experience
Have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, education, human services, behavioral science, social work, or a related field and looking for a role where you can build real-world experience?
Boston Higashi School is hiring Autism Residential Counselors to work directly with children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
This is an excellent opportunity for recent graduates, early-career professionals, or anyone considering graduate school or a future career in psychology, counseling, education, ABA, social work, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, or other helping professions.
You’ll gain hands-on experience while helping students develop greater independence, confidence, communication skills, and daily living skills.
No prior autism experience is required. We provide training and ongoing support.
What You’ll Do
- Support students in developing daily living and independence skills
- Help students participate in recreational, social, and community activities
- Build positive and meaningful relationships with students
- Encourage communication, confidence, and personal growth
- Participate in exercise, outings, activities, and residential programming
- Help maintain a safe, supportive, and structured residential environment
- Work alongside educators, psychologists, therapists, behavioral specialists, and other professionals
- Learn practical strategies for supporting individuals with autism and developmental disabilities
Why Boston Higashi?
- Starting pay of $20.00/hour
- Up to 75% tuition reimbursement
- Medical and dental insurance
- 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
- Paid training
- Paid vacation and time off
- Opportunities for advancement
- Stable, year-round employment
- Hands-on experience for graduate school and future professional careers
- Multidisciplinary work environment with experienced professionals
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Degrees in Psychology, Education, Behavioral Sciences, Human Services, Social Work, or related fields preferred
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Dependable, patient, and willing to learn
- Valid driver’s license
- Comfortable participating in physical exercise, recreational activities, and community outings with students
Schedule
This is a full-time residential position that includes afternoon, evening, and weekend hours.
Our residential program operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Specific schedules will be discussed during the interview process.
Build Experience That Can Shape Your Career
For someone considering graduate school or a career working with children, individuals with disabilities, mental health, education, or human services, this position offers experience that is difficult to gain in a traditional entry-level role.
You won’t just observe the work. You’ll be an active part of helping students develop the skills they need to become more independent.
If you have a bachelor’s degree and want meaningful, hands-on experience while making a difference, we encourage you to apply.
Boston Higashi School is an equal opportunity employer.
Autism Residential Counselor
Boston Higashi School | Randolph, MA
Full-Time | Starting at $20.00/hour | Excellent Benefits
Bachelor’s Degree Required
Turn Your Degree Into Meaningful Experience
Have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, education, human services, behavioral science, social work, or a related field and looking for a role where you can build real-world experience?
Boston Higashi School is hiring Autism Residential Counselors to work directly with children and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
This is an excellent opportunity for recent graduates, early-career professionals, or anyone considering graduate school or a future career in psychology, counseling, education, ABA, social work, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, or other helping professions.
You’ll gain hands-on experience while helping students develop greater independence, confidence, communication skills, and daily living skills.
No prior autism experience is required. We provide training and ongoing support.
What You’ll Do
- Support students in developing daily living and independence skills
- Help students participate in recreational, social, and community activities
- Build positive and meaningful relationships with students
- Encourage communication, confidence, and personal growth
- Participate in exercise, outings, activities, and residential programming
- Help maintain a safe, supportive, and structured residential environment
- Work alongside educators, psychologists, therapists, behavioral specialists, and other professionals
- Learn practical strategies for supporting individuals with autism and developmental disabilities
Why Boston Higashi?
- Starting pay of $20.00/hour
- Up to 75% tuition reimbursement
- Medical and dental insurance
- 403(b) retirement plan with employer match
- Paid training
- Paid vacation and time off
- Opportunities for advancement
- Stable, year-round employment
- Hands-on experience for graduate school and future professional careers
- Multidisciplinary work environment with experienced professionals
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required
- Degrees in Psychology, Education, Behavioral Sciences, Human Services, Social Work, or related fields preferred
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Dependable, patient, and willing to learn
- Valid driver’s license
- Comfortable participating in physical exercise, recreational activities, and community outings with students
Schedule
This is a full-time residential position that includes afternoon, evening, and weekend hours.
Our residential program operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Specific schedules will be discussed during the interview process.
Build Experience That Can Shape Your Career
For someone considering graduate school or a career working with children, individuals with disabilities, mental health, education, or human services, this position offers experience that is difficult to gain in a traditional entry-level role.
You won’t just observe the work. You’ll be an active part of helping students develop the skills they need to become more independent.
If you have a bachelor’s degree and want meaningful, hands-on experience while making a difference, we encourage you to apply.
Boston Higashi School is an equal opportunity employer.
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Find Residential Counselor JobsResidential Counselor Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Vinfen94
- BAMSI86
- Open Sky Community Services72
- Community Resources for Justice34
- Riverside Community Care18
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in residential counselor jobs.
- High school diploma or GED required, with a bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or human services preferred
- Experience working with individuals with mental health, developmental disabilities, or substance use disorders
- Valid driver's license with a clean driving record for transporting residents
- Current CPR and First Aid certification, often required before the first shift
- Ability to pass a state criminal background check and child abuse clearance
- Familiarity with documentation practices including daily logs, incident reports, and care plans
Tips for Your Residential Counselor Job Search
Tailor your resume to each setting
Group home employers prioritize crisis de-escalation and medication administration experience, while treatment centers focus on therapeutic milieu skills. Adjust your resume bullets to match the setting so your most relevant experience leads in every application.
List every relevant certification upfront
CPR, First Aid, QMAP, and any state-specific direct support professional certifications are often listed as requirements, not preferences. Put them in a dedicated credentials section near the top of your resume so a hiring manager spots them immediately.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists residential counselor openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter by population served before applying
Openings for youth, adults with intellectual disabilities, and substance use clients each require a different skill emphasis. Narrow your search by population served so you're applying to roles where your direct experience with that group is immediately relevant.
Prepare a scenario answer for crisis situations
Interviewers almost always ask how you've handled a resident in acute distress. Prepare a specific example using a situation, what you did, and the outcome. Vague answers about staying calm won't distinguish you from other candidates.
Follow up with the program director directly
Residential programs are often short-staffed and move fast. If you haven't heard back within a week of applying, a brief, professional follow-up email to the program director signals genuine interest and can move you to the top of the callback list.
Residential Counselor Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most residential counselors?
The companies hiring the most residential counselors right now include Vinfen, BAMSI, and Open Sky Community Services, with the largest share of openings in Massachusetts, California, and Connecticut, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Nonprofit behavioral health organizations and state-contracted residential treatment providers tend to post the highest volume of openings consistently.
How many residential counselor jobs are remote?
About 0% of residential counselor openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on, on-site nature of most residential care roles. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements are case management support, intake coordination, and administrative oversight positions within larger residential programs.
How do you become a residential counselor?
Start by earning a high school diploma or GED, though many employers prefer a bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or a related human services field. Get CPR and First Aid certified before you apply, since most programs require it on day one. Gain direct experience through volunteer work, internships, or entry-level direct support roles with populations such as youth in foster care, adults with disabilities, or individuals in recovery. Your state may also require a background clearance before you can work in a licensed residential facility.
Can I get hired as a residential counselor with little or no experience?
Yes, many residential programs hire candidates with limited direct work experience if you've completed relevant coursework, volunteered at shelters or crisis lines, or worked in any caregiver role. Emphasize transferable skills like conflict de-escalation, active listening, and documentation on your resume. Entry-level and overnight shift positions are the most common points of entry, and completing a state-approved direct support professional training before applying can strengthen your candidacy significantly.
What does the residential counselor interview process look like?
Most residential counselor interviews involve a phone screen followed by one or two in-person rounds, often with a program director or clinical supervisor. Expect situational questions about handling a resident in crisis, managing conflict between residents, and maintaining documentation standards. Some employers conduct a brief facility tour as part of the process. Background checks and reference checks are typically completed before an offer is extended, so having your documents and former supervisors ready speeds things up.
Where can I find and apply to residential counselor jobs?
You can find and apply to residential counselor jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Find the roles that match your experience, setting preference, and location, then apply directly to each listing.
See All 811+ Residential Counselor Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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