As high-rise buildings gradually increase, their seismic performance has become a focus in the engineering field. In order to improve the functional recovery ability and economy of buildings after earthquakes, a resilience-based seismic design method for reinforced concrete structures is proposed. An indicator system that can reflect the functional loss of buildings after earthquakes is developed. A seismic design strategy based on functional recovery indicators is proposed to improve the seismic performance and economy, while shortening the recovery time after earthquakes. The research results indicated that the average inter story displacement of the standard seismic method for reinforced concrete structures was 168mm. The inter story displacement of the seismic resistance method for reinforced concrete structures based on resilience objectives was 192mm. The repair time for standard seismic method of reinforced concrete structures was 33 days. The repair time for the seismic resistance method of reinforced concrete structures based on resilience was 24 days. The resilience-based seismic design method is superior to traditional methods in controlling structural damage, reducing repair cost, and shortening repair time. The designed method proposed in the study not only enhances the seismic resilience of the structure, but also has significant economic and social benefits, providing a new perspective and practical tools for the seismic design of high-rise buildings.