Real Estate Career Paths

Real Estate Career Paths

• There are many real estate career paths to consider, with or without a real estate license.

1. Real Estate Agent

• Median income: $49,980
• Career growth: 3%, average
• Duties: listing, marketing, and selling properties, working with clients
• Requirements: high school or equivalent, prelicensing courses, and exam
• Skills: communication, preparing and interpreting legal documents, sales, marketing, software platforms, state and federal laws, and finance

2. Real Estate Referral Agent

• Average income: $60,750
• Career growth: 3%, average
• Duties: referring clients to other agents, generating leads, and earning referral fees
• Requirements: high school or equivalent, real estate prelicensing, and continuing education
• Skills: networking, lead generation, strong communication, real estate market knowledge, and persuasion

3. Real Estate Broker

• Median income: $62,190
• Career growth: 3%, average
• Duties: managing agents, listing and selling properties, and handling business development
• Requirements: high school or equivalent, real estate salesperson's license, broker prelicensing, and continuing education
• Skills: management, business development, marketing, communication, understanding contracts and laws, finance, and negotiation

4. Real Estate Coaches & Trainers

• Average income: $61,900
• Career growth: 20%, above average
• Duties: providing education, mentoring, and support to real estate professionals
• Requirements: coaching certification, counseling degree, and subject matter expertise
• Skills: mentoring, supporting, training, communication, and leadership

5. Home Stager

• Median income: $61,590
• Career growth: 4%, average
• Duties: arranging furniture and decorations to make homes appealing to potential buyers
• Requirements: home staging course
• Skills: art, strong aesthetics, decorating, design, technology, and software

6. Title Examiner

• Median income: $50,490
• Career growth: 0.22%, below average
• Duties: examining property records, researching deeds, and identifying potential issues
• Requirements: high school or equivalent
• Skills: detail-oriented, meticulous research, and real estate deed laws

7. Real Estate Investor

• Average income: $82,794
• Career growth: 3%, average
• Duties: locating and evaluating income-producing properties, managing investments
• Requirements: none, but knowledge of real estate, finance, and business development is essential
• Skills: strong knowledge of real estate, finance, business development, property valuation, negotiating, property management, and investments

8. Property Manager

• Median income: $60,670
• Career growth: 5%, above average
• Duties: managing properties, handling rentals, and coordinating maintenance
• Requirements: high school diploma, property management certification or license, or real estate broker license
• Skills: negotiation, project management, technology, real estate laws, and communication

9. Leasing Agent

• Average income: $85,793
• Career growth: 3%, average
• Duties: leasing vacant units, showing properties, and drafting rental agreements
• Requirements: high school or equivalent, real estate agent or broker prelicensing, and real estate license
• Skills: management, business development, marketing, communication, understanding contracts and laws, finance, and negotiation

10. Real Estate Appraiser

• Median income: $61,560
• Career growth: 5%, above average
• Duties: gathering property data, creating reports, and determining fair market value
• Requirements: bachelor's degree, 75 appraiser credit hours, state licensing education, and licensing exam
• Skills: math, detail-oriented, research, and analytical thinking

11. Real Estate Assistant

• Median income: $44,080
• Career growth: -10%, declining
• Duties: handling administrative tasks, assisting agents, and generating leads
• Requirements: high school or equivalent
• Skills: office administration, technology, real estate knowledge, basic math, communication, and multitasking

12. General Contractor

• Median income: $101,480
• Career growth: 5%, above average
• Duties: coordinating and overseeing construction projects, estimating costs, and supervising crews
• Requirements: high school or trade school diploma, apprenticeships, and contractor's license
• Skills: time and project management, math, reading blueprints, carpentry, supervisory, and people skills

13. Architect

• Median income: $82,840
• Career growth: 5%, above average
• Duties: designing and managing projects, creating blueprints, and overseeing construction
• Requirements: bachelor's degree, three-year internship, architect prelicensing, and exam
• Skills: technical design, computer-aided design (CAD), math, creating and reading blueprints, building and construction, math, legal, problem-solving, communication, and drawing

14. Real Estate Photographer

• Median income: $40,170
• Career growth: 4%, average
• Duties: taking pictures and creating virtual tours, editing photos, and working with agents
• Requirements: high school or equivalent and on-the-job training
• Skills: technology, photography, design, and camera equipment

15. Land Developer

• Average income: $118,528

• Career growth: 3%, below average

• Duties: designing and arranging land development projects, working with general contractors, and overseeing construction

• Requirements: none, but knowledge of real estate, finance, and business development is essential

• Skills: design, project management, finance, business development, and real estate laws### Real Estate Careers

• A Land Developer needs a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or business, and skills in finance, accounting, real estate, people and project management, building and construction, and zoning laws.

• A Real Estate Attorney requires a Juris Doctor (J.D.), prelicensing law education, state exam, and licensure, with skills in critical thinking, negotiation, writing, complex problem solving, extensive reading, research, analytical, detail-oriented, and persuasive communication.

• A Real Estate Writer needs a Bachelor's degree, is subject matter expert, and real estate or broker licensing, with skills in writing, editing, spelling, grammar, outlining, analytical thinking, teamwork, and meeting deadlines.

• A Home Inspector requires an apprenticeship and 60 to 140 hours of home inspection education, with skills in communication, meeting deadlines, and having a background in trades.

• A Mortgage Broker or Loan Officer needs a high school diploma (Bachelor's preferred), 20-hour prelicensing education, and licensing exam, with skills in problem-solving, interpersonal, critical thinking, and understanding laws and regulations.

• A Real Estate Marketing Manager requires a Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, journalism, English, graphic design, art, or MBA, with skills in attention to detail, creativity, graphic design, wordsmith, technology, data analysis, project management, communication, and curiosity.

• A Notary Public requires notary education and state exam, with skills in understanding deeds and legal documents, computer literacy, and people skills.

• A Land Surveyor needs a Bachelor's degree, surveyor licensing, and four years of work experience, with skills in detail-oriented, communication, physical stamina, visualization, problem-solving, and communication.

Requirements and Statistics

• Land Developer: no real estate license required
• Real Estate Attorney: no real estate license required
• Real Estate Writer: real estate license preferred
• Home Inspector: no real estate license required, but home inspection certification is required
• Mortgage Broker or Loan Officer: no real estate license required
• Real Estate Marketing Manager: no real estate license required
• Notary Public: no real estate license required
• Land Surveyor: no real estate license required

Career Statistics

• Land Developer: median income $135,740, career growth 8%
• Real Estate Attorney: median income $135,740, career growth 8%
• Real Estate Writer: average income $54,289, career growth 4%
• Home Inspector: median income $64,480, career growth -2%
• Mortgage Broker or Loan Officer: median income $65,740, career growth 3%
• Real Estate Marketing Manager: median income $138,730, career growth 6%
• Notary Public: average full-time income $41,419, career growth 7%
• Land Surveyor: median income $63,080, career growth 5%

Real Estate Career Paths

• There are many real estate career paths to consider, with or without a real estate license.

1. Real Estate Agent

• Median income: $49,980
• Career growth: 3%, average
• Duties: listing, marketing, and selling properties, working with clients
• Requirements: high school or equivalent, prelicensing courses, and exam
• Skills: communication, preparing and interpreting legal documents, sales, marketing, software platforms, state and federal laws, and finance

2. Real Estate Referral Agent

• Average income: $60,750
• Career growth: 3%, average
• Duties: referring clients to other agents, generating leads, and earning referral fees
• Requirements: high school or equivalent, real estate prelicensing, and continuing education
• Skills: networking, lead generation, strong communication, real estate market knowledge, and persuasion

3. Real Estate Broker

• Median income: $62,190
• Career growth: 3%, average
• Duties: managing agents, listing and selling properties, and handling business development
• Requirements: high school or equivalent, real estate salesperson's license, broker prelicensing, and continuing education
• Skills: management, business development, marketing, communication, understanding contracts and laws, finance, and negotiation

4. Real Estate Coaches & Trainers

• Average income: $61,900
• Career growth: 20%, above average
• Duties: providing education, mentoring, and support to real estate professionals
• Requirements: coaching certification, counseling degree, and subject matter expertise
• Skills: mentoring, supporting, training, communication, and leadership

5. Home Stager

• Median income: $61,590
• Career growth: 4%, average
• Duties: arranging furniture and decorations to make homes appealing to potential buyers
• Requirements: home staging course
• Skills: art, strong aesthetics, decorating, design, technology, and software

6. Title Examiner

• Median income: $50,490
• Career growth: 0.22%, below average
• Duties: examining property records, researching deeds, and identifying potential issues
• Requirements: high school or equivalent
• Skills: detail-oriented, meticulous research, and real estate deed laws

7. Real Estate Investor

• Average income: $82,794
• Career growth: 3%, average
• Duties: locating and evaluating income-producing properties, managing investments
• Requirements: none, but knowledge of real estate, finance, and business development is essential
• Skills: strong knowledge of real estate, finance, business development, property valuation, negotiating, property management, and investments

8. Property Manager

• Median income: $60,670
• Career growth: 5%, above average
• Duties: managing properties, handling rentals, and coordinating maintenance
• Requirements: high school diploma, property management certification or license, or real estate broker license
• Skills: negotiation, project management, technology, real estate laws, and communication

9. Leasing Agent

• Average income: $85,793
• Career growth: 3%, average
• Duties: leasing vacant units, showing properties, and drafting rental agreements
• Requirements: high school or equivalent, real estate agent or broker prelicensing, and real estate license
• Skills: management, business development, marketing, communication, understanding contracts and laws, finance, and negotiation

10. Real Estate Appraiser

• Median income: $61,560
• Career growth: 5%, above average
• Duties: gathering property data, creating reports, and determining fair market value
• Requirements: bachelor's degree, 75 appraiser credit hours, state licensing education, and licensing exam
• Skills: math, detail-oriented, research, and analytical thinking

11. Real Estate Assistant

• Median income: $44,080
• Career growth: -10%, declining
• Duties: handling administrative tasks, assisting agents, and generating leads
• Requirements: high school or equivalent
• Skills: office administration, technology, real estate knowledge, basic math, communication, and multitasking

12. General Contractor

• Median income: $101,480
• Career growth: 5%, above average
• Duties: coordinating and overseeing construction projects, estimating costs, and supervising crews
• Requirements: high school or trade school diploma, apprenticeships, and contractor's license
• Skills: time and project management, math, reading blueprints, carpentry, supervisory, and people skills

13. Architect

• Median income: $82,840
• Career growth: 5%, above average
• Duties: designing and managing projects, creating blueprints, and overseeing construction
• Requirements: bachelor's degree, three-year internship, architect prelicensing, and exam
• Skills: technical design, computer-aided design (CAD), math, creating and reading blueprints, building and construction, math, legal, problem-solving, communication, and drawing

14. Real Estate Photographer

• Median income: $40,170
• Career growth: 4%, average
• Duties: taking pictures and creating virtual tours, editing photos, and working with agents
• Requirements: high school or equivalent and on-the-job training
• Skills: technology, photography, design, and camera equipment

15. Land Developer

• Average income: $118,528

• Career growth: 3%, below average

• Duties: designing and arranging land development projects, working with general contractors, and overseeing construction

• Requirements: none, but knowledge of real estate, finance, and business development is essential

• Skills: design, project management, finance, business development, and real estate laws### Real Estate Careers

• A Land Developer needs a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or business, and skills in finance, accounting, real estate, people and project management, building and construction, and zoning laws.

• A Real Estate Attorney requires a Juris Doctor (J.D.), prelicensing law education, state exam, and licensure, with skills in critical thinking, negotiation, writing, complex problem solving, extensive reading, research, analytical, detail-oriented, and persuasive communication.

• A Real Estate Writer needs a Bachelor's degree, is subject matter expert, and real estate or broker licensing, with skills in writing, editing, spelling, grammar, outlining, analytical thinking, teamwork, and meeting deadlines.

• A Home Inspector requires an apprenticeship and 60 to 140 hours of home inspection education, with skills in communication, meeting deadlines, and having a background in trades.

• A Mortgage Broker or Loan Officer needs a high school diploma (Bachelor's preferred), 20-hour prelicensing education, and licensing exam, with skills in problem-solving, interpersonal, critical thinking, and understanding laws and regulations.

• A Real Estate Marketing Manager requires a Bachelor's degree in marketing, communications, journalism, English, graphic design, art, or MBA, with skills in attention to detail, creativity, graphic design, wordsmith, technology, data analysis, project management, communication, and curiosity.

• A Notary Public requires notary education and state exam, with skills in understanding deeds and legal documents, computer literacy, and people skills.

• A Land Surveyor needs a Bachelor's degree, surveyor licensing, and four years of work experience, with skills in detail-oriented, communication, physical stamina, visualization, problem-solving, and communication.

Requirements and Statistics

• Land Developer: no real estate license required
• Real Estate Attorney: no real estate license required
• Real Estate Writer: real estate license preferred
• Home Inspector: no real estate license required, but home inspection certification is required
• Mortgage Broker or Loan Officer: no real estate license required
• Real Estate Marketing Manager: no real estate license required
• Notary Public: no real estate license required
• Land Surveyor: no real estate license required

Career Statistics

• Land Developer: median income $135,740, career growth 8%
• Real Estate Attorney: median income $135,740, career growth 8%
• Real Estate Writer: average income $54,289, career growth 4%
• Home Inspector: median income $64,480, career growth -2%
• Mortgage Broker or Loan Officer: median income $65,740, career growth 3%
• Real Estate Marketing Manager: median income $138,730, career growth 6%
• Notary Public: average full-time income $41,419, career growth 7%
• Land Surveyor: median income $63,080, career growth 5%