10 options for a real estate career (With salaries)
Updated 21 August 2023
A career in real estate can be financially and personally rewarding. If you have great people skills and the relevant qualifications, a career in this industry may be a good choice. Learning about the different job opportunities and the primary responsibilities of each enables you to consider your options. In this article, we explain what a career in real estate involves, outline the skills employers typically look for and provide a list of 10 options for a real estate career, including the key duties and national average salaries, to help you choose the one that's best for you.
Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.
What does a real estate career involve?
A real estate career involves helping clients buy, sell, rent or maintain properties. Typical duties include working with clients to determine their needs and preferences, showing them properties that match those criteria and assisting with negotiations, finances and paperwork. Most roles in real estate involve marketing, accounting and logistics and negotiation skills.
Related: 9 jobs you can do with a real estate degree (plus FAQ)
10 careers in real estate
The following is a list of 10 jobs in real estate that you may consider, including the primary duties and national average salary of each:
1. Property maintenance manager
National average salary: £22,597 per year
Primary duties: A property maintenance manager oversees the upkeep and repair of residential or commercial properties. Responsibilities include developing and implementing a maintenance schedule and coordinating and supervising the work of maintenance staff. They also inspect properties regularly to identify and address any issues.
Requirements: Property maintenance managers typically have a high school diploma and may hold a degree in a relevant field, such as construction management, engineering or facilities management. They may also have several years of experience in a similar role. A good understanding of building systems, including heating, ventilation and air conditioning, plumbing, electrical and structural systems is essential.
Related: What is planned preventive maintenance? (With benefits)
2. Property photographer
Find property photographer jobs
National average salary: £26,871 per year
Primary duties: A property photographer captures high-quality images of properties for real estate agents or homeowners to use in marketing materials. Responsibilities include visiting properties to photograph the interior and exterior of the building and retouching images to the highest standard. Photographers may also create virtual tours and floor plans of properties.
Requirements: Property photographers don't typically require a specific degree or formal education. A background in photography or a related field might be helpful. Having a strong understanding of photography techniques and equipment, including camera settings, lighting, composition and editing software is key.
Related: What is a photographer and what does a photographer do?
3. Real estate agent
National average salary: £28,977 per year
Primary duties: A real estate agent acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers and helps them to negotiate deals and manage the process of buying, renting or selling a property. Responsibilities include meeting with clients to understand their needs and preferences and showing clients properties that match their needs. They may also assist with negotiations and paperwork.
Requirements: While real estate agents don't usually require a specific degree, a background in business, finance or a relevant field could be advantageous. A licence from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) or the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is also necessary.
Related: How to become a real estate agent with no experience
4. Property manager
National average salary: £30,668 per year
Primary duties: A property manager oversees residential or commercial properties. Responsibilities include leasing and renting properties to tenants. They also manage rental payments and lease agreements and handle any tenant complaints or issues.
Requirements: Property managers usually require a bachelor's degree in business, finance, property management or a similar field, but employers may consider relevant experience instead of a degree. A licence from the RICS or NAEA is also necessary. Effective managers have a good understanding of building systems and the relevant laws and regulations related to property management.
Related: How to write a real estate manager CV (With example)
5. Real estate broker
National average salary: £31,115 per year
Primary duties: A real estate broker is a licenced professional who acts as an intermediary between property buyers and sellers. They advise clients on market conditions, prices, mortgages, legal requirements and associated matters, oversee the work of real estate agents, develop marketing strategies to promote properties and list and advertise properties for sale or rent.
Requirements: While real estate agents don't usually require a specific degree, a background in business, finance or a relevant field could be advantageous. A licence from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) or the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is also necessary. Becoming a broker requires you to pass a written exam, complete a certain number of real estate education hours and work for a specific number of years as a licenced real estate agent.
Related: How to become a real estate broker (With steps and skills)
6. Property investor
National average salary: £45,161 per year
Primary duties: A property investor buys, owns and manages properties to earn a return on their investment. They invest in commercial and residential properties and related assets, such as mortgages and land. Responsibilities include analysing the market trends to identify potential investment opportunities.
Requirements: There are no specific qualification requirements to become a property investor, but having a background in business, finance, economics or an applicable area is often beneficial. Property investors have a good understanding of the real estate market, finances and laws.
Related: How to be a real estate investor (Plus skills and benefits)
7. Real estate asset manager
Find real estate asset manager jobs
National average salary: £47,657 per year
Primary duties: A real estate asset manager oversees the finances and strategic management of a portfolio of properties. They work for investors, such as pension funds, insurance companies and private equity firms, and are responsible for maximising the value of the properties in the portfolio. Responsibilities include developing and implementing investment strategies and analysing market trends to identify opportunities for improvement and growth.
Requirements: A real estate asset manager typically holds a bachelor's degree in finance, business, real estate or similar. Employers may also require a master's degree in real estate, business administration or finance.
Related: What is a real estate asset manager? (A comprehensive guide)
8. Property developer
National average salary: £51,488 per year
Primary duties: A property developer purchases properties or pieces of land to build or renovate and make a profit. They're constantly looking for lucrative opportunities in the property market. They may purchase properties in good areas and renovate them to increase their market rate before selling them on. In other cases, they may purchase land and develop multiple properties, office blocks or flats on it to maximise their return on their investment.
Requirements: Many property developers hold a bachelor's degree in a subject area relevant to property development, such as real estate, construction management or architecture. Some employers prefer candidates with an appropriate master's degree. It's helpful to have several years of experience in the property development industry performing roles such as project or site management.
Related: 7 top estate agent careers (Plus salaries and duties)
9. Property lawyer
National average salary: £52,822 per year
Primary duties: A property lawyer or real estate attorney specialises in the legal aspects of real estate transactions. They advise clients on the legal rights and responsibilities associated with buying, selling, leasing and managing property. Responsibilities include reviewing and drafting legal documents, such as purchase and sale agreements, leases and deeds, conducting title searches and revising and interpreting zoning and land use laws to ensure that properties are compliant.
Requirements: Becoming a property lawyer requires you to hold a law degree and pass a bar exam to obtain a licence to practise. Strong analytical, communication and negotiation skills are key.
10. Property analyst
National average salary: £55,754
Primary duties: A property or real estate analyst provides expert analysis to support the acquisition or rental of properties. They usually work in the commercial industry analysing properties for investment firms or real estate developers. Responsibilities include studying market trends and evaluating properties and their potential returns, including income and capital appreciation.
Requirements: Property analysts generally require a bachelor's degree in business, finance, property management or a related field. In some cases, employers may consider relevant experience instead. A property analyst is expected to have a good understanding of the local property market, including prices, trends and regulations.
Related: How to become a real estate analyst (With steps)
Skills for a career in real estate
The following is a list of hard and soft skills that can help you pursue this career path:
communication
negotiation
analytical
networking
integrity
determination
social cues
marketing
active listening
industry knowledge
patience
persistence
problem-solving
empathy
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