15 Different Types of Jobs in Real Estate Industry – Some Very Lucrative Positions

The contemporary housing market is so hot, sellers are getting multiple offers on the same day while buyers learn to cope with disappointment as competition for the limited supply of dwellings heats up even more.

Real estate is a dynamic industry. It’s an ideal fit for men and women who like helping people and have plenty of patience.

These jobs aren’t for everyone, but if you see one that appeals to you and you intend to work hard, you could make a great living.

In this article we’ll describe and discuss 15 popular types of Real Estate Jobs (with salaries) in case you want to pursue a career in this lucrative field.

1. Real Estate Agent

Whether representing buyers, sellers or both, real estate agents deliver on everything an ambitious job seeker desires.

You only need a high school diploma in some states and once you’re fully invested in your geographic area, you can literally change people’s lives.

Responsibilities include working with other agents, keeping tabs on listing websites, writing contracts, helping clients get financing and undertaking all kinds of negotiating on behalf of clients, according to the job website Indeed.com.

Once you’re trained, licensed, and perhaps certified, you can command earnings of $94,359.00 per year if you work hard and get lots of referrals from satisfied clients.

2. Real Estate Developer

Considered a high-profile, glamorous, exciting job, real estate developers turn vacant real estate plots into office complexes, apartment buildings and even turn undeveloped land into communities of single-family dwellings.

Job seekers must possess expertise in negotiating land sales, follow market trends, understand federal and local laws governing approvals and permits, work on project financing and undertake financial analyses.

Your job will also include attracting investors and working closely with architects, tradesmen, and specialists.

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), real estate developers can average $3 million in gross profit annually based on $16.23 million in earnings for those handling high-end transactions.

3. Property Manager

Acting on behalf of building owners, property managers must be aware of landlord-tenant laws and regulations since they act as liaisons between the owner, tenants, and contractors responsible for building maintenance and updates.

Building managers shoulder enormous responsibility as they are trusted with making critical decisions.

Responsibilities could include running background checks on potential renters, collecting deposits, interacting with tenants when they need help with eclectic matters, including noisy neighbors, lease violations and property damage.

Some live on premises while others maintain on-site offices from which they show vacancies, collect rents and deal with delinquent renters and evictions.

The current average salary for this job is $51,096.00, but compensation is likely higher in major metro areas.

4. Home Inspector

Home inspectors play a critical intermediary role when homes are on the market. These professionals are tasked with thoroughly inspecting every nook and cranny of a property before preparing reports that assess findings.

Your responsibilities could include checking structural elements for foundation issues, looking for defects, damage or weaknesses in floors, walls, ceilings, stairs, and windows.

Inspectors deal with exterior matters like drainage issues, septic tank leaks and the upkeep of sidewalks, driveways, and fencing.

While assessing interior plumbing, electrical, heating, and cooling systems, inspectors determine whether buildings are up to code.

Numerous accreditation resources are available to professionals. Take advantage of them and earn more credibility and money.

According to the Home Inspection Institute (HII), average salaries are about $58,000.00 but climb to as much as $91,000.00 in large cities.

5. Real Estate Broker

What differentiates a real estate agent from a real estate broker? Brokers receive more training, can work independently and some employ agents.

While qualifications differ from state to state, licensing requirements are more demanding than they are for agents.

To get a broker’s license in California, a college degree is required plus several years of employment as a real estate agent.

While job applicants don’t need a 4-year degree, 8 college-level real estate courses must be taken before a broker can be licensed, unless they’re attorneys admitted to the California bar.

The salary range for licensed brokers was $78,940.00 a few years ago, but there’s so much regional diversity, you’ll want to check your area for a better approximation of what you can expect to earn.

6. Leasing Agent

Leasing agents help find and qualify tenants, they prepare and execute leases and keep tabs on federal and local real estate laws.

Like property managers, they conduct tours and may undertake credit and background checks.

Further, leasing agents may oversee property maintenance tasks and handle marketing responsibilities.

While some states require a real estate license to be qualified, others only ask for a high school diploma.

The most important aspect of this job? Maintaining rapport with renters and keeping up with the area’s current rental market’s trends.

Average earnings are $58,278.00 but expect to earn more in high-income areas. According to Comparably.com, you could make $110,560.00 with the right combination of seniority, education, and experience.

7. Leasing Consultant

What’s the difference between a leasing agent and a leasing consultant? Not much – in fact the titles are often used interchangeably.

But read the small print when applying for a position and you’ll find subtle requirement differences.

Agents represent business firms while consultants offer expert advice on all aspects of activities associated with renting commercial or residential units.

Consultants differ from agents in that they excel at problem solving, a talent that’s highly valued in this industry.

Learn more about differences between the two here.

The average salary for this position is $31,411.00, but work in San Francisco and you’re more likely to earn $42,775.00.

8. Real Estate Appraiser

If you’d rather work with numbers than people, this job may be ideal. Responsibilities include assessing property market value and using cutting-edge technology and statistics to ensure accuracy when evaluating real estate for clients.

Appraisers may be asked to judge property damages to determine client compensation. You will be expected to stay mobile, traveling to properties to undertake research before drafting detailed analyses.

Using current market data to assign value, today’s appraiser may also be asked to undertake financial modeling tasks by collecting data from assessments, so the industry can project future property values.

Beginning salaries average $57,606.00 a year, but once you develop an industry presence, that number could be closer to $80,000.00.

9. Real Estate Showing Assistant

While this career doesn’t come with a huge salary, it could be your ticket to growth and advancement.

Showing assistants do lots of legwork for agents and brokers by matching clients with properties, taking them on tours, scheduling, and attending property inspections and they may liaison with vendors and contractors who need access to homes being inspected or repaired.

Returning client telephone calls, texts and/or emails is an essential facet of this job, and you may be asked to conduct local market research to provide clients with accurate pricing information.

Some states require a valid real estate license, so before you apply for this job find out whether you must meet this requirement. Salaries average $41,800.00, but could reach $60,000.00 over time.

10. Real Estate Attorney

Real estate attorneys handle all details associated with property transfers. Technically, they handle all real property transactions, be they related to land and/or permanent structures occupying the parcel.

Real estate attorneys prepare, and review contracts related to transactions and oversee agreements between parties.

They may secure titles, vet documents between clients and lenders and exercise power of attorney if a client can’t attend a closing.

Importantly, real estate attorneys are adroit at scouring records to make certain there are no outstanding claims or liens against a property.

Salary depends upon geography but median compensation is around $153,362.00. The sky’s the limit for those who make partner and own a piece of the practice.

11. Real Estate Investor

The role of the real estate investor has become diversified, wrote Tara Mastroeni for Millionacres.com. While the goal of these professionals is the same — adding to one’s real estate portfolio to increase assets — that’s where commonalities end as investors choose one of four types of investment paths.

The simplest is via a real estate investment trust (REIT) that operates like the stock market.

Buy-and-hold investors acquire real estate to generate an income year-round.

Fix-and-flip investors devote money and sweat equity to turn a profit once property has been rehabilitated.

Finally, wholesale real estate investors make a profit by acting as middlemen, brokering deals between property owners and buyers.

The average income for real estate investors is $82,023.00 per annum, which may come as a surprise to those who assume this field is dominated by moguls.

12. Mortgage Broker

Mortgage brokers serve as middlemen, bringing together lenders and borrowers. They save shoppers time by handling time-consuming tasks related to securing a mortgage.

This is not a job for those who abhor paperwork. Land a job in this field and expect to be awash in credit reports, bank statements and documents associated with the mortgage application process.

Veteran mortgage brokers are skilled troubleshooters, sleuthing out issues that may prevent applicants from qualifying for mortgages.

They regularly interact with attorneys, underwriters, title companies and real estate agents, making an average salary of $63,469.00.

Veteran brokers could earn $149K annually. This ZipRecruiter page breaks out salaries by state, so you get a more accurate salary figure for your area.

13. Home Stager

While college isn’t required to do this job, training in architectural styles, interior design and understanding buyer and seller psychology are extremely helpful.

Creativity and vision are two qualities a home stager can’t have enough of since they are responsible for re-imagining rooms so they look more appealing.

This job requires superior décor and design skills, an eye for furniture placement and a talent for removing clutter so rooms look spacious and inviting.

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), stagers can help a seller’s profit increase by between 6% and 10% by the time the sale is finalized.

Salaries are starting to reflect the increasing value of stagers, currently averaging $49,616.00 annually. Build a portfolio of successful jobs and you could make $80,500.00 a year.

14. Foreclosure Specialist

As the title implies, this job takes the role of real estate agent to the next level by specializing in transactions related to residential and commercial foreclosures.

One must be knowledgeable about federal, state, and local laws related to surrendered properties and you would be expected to do everything from helping homeowners restructure loans in foreclosure to working with investors to acquire foreclosed property.

While college isn’t mandatory, experience is essential. Tasks associated with this job include tracking foreclosure statues, processing legal paperwork, preparing documents detailing reinstatement and payoff matters, and working closely with real estate attorneys.

An estimated 72,100 foreclosure specialist jobs are projected to be added by 2028. According to Salary.com, today’s salaries range between $37,898.00 and $53,987.00 per year.

15. Mortgage Underwriter

The job is not for those who dislike working with people because client hand-holding is essential.

Your job will be to involve yourself in all aspects of real estate deals, including evaluating collateral, identifying property type and use, calculating loan-to-value ratios, and doing everything necessary to improve a client’s chances of qualifying for a mortgage loan.

Folks with less-than-ideal credit, spotty work records and a history of bad financial moves can be the hardest clients to deal with and you will be called upon to deliver good and bad news about the status of applications.

Mortgage underwriters may run their own businesses, work for banks, lenders, and other financial institutions.

A junior underwriter may receive a starting salary of around $50,000.00 annually. Move into a senior position and you could double that number.

Resources

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