What is a real estate manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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Real estate managers are responsible for working with owners of properties directly to plan and execute the overall plan of management of the properties. As a real estate manager, your duties depend on the type of estate and the demands of your employer. One of your major duties is to supervise staff. Every employee working on the estate is to report directly to you as you are the direct link between owner and staff. Also, you are to review performance quarterly and also discuss how to improve.

Being a real estate manager also involves overseeing all the various systems that keep a large estate smooth and running. This includes the yearly budget, employees' schedules, and management of payroll. While some employers may accept a candidate with a bachelor's degree in business, most employers prefer a candidate with a master's degree in real estate management. You must possess good management, leadership, and technical skills, earning an average of $75,862 annually.

ScoreReal Estate ManagerUS Average
Salary
6.8

Avg. Salary $86,874

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.4

Growth Rate 3%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.59%

Asian 5.22%

Black or African American 8.45%

Hispanic or Latino 17.40%

Unknown 4.12%

White 64.21%

Gender

female 40.77%

male 59.23%

Age - 49
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49
Stress Level
8.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.6

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.8

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Real Estate Manager career paths

Key steps to become a real estate manager

  1. Explore real estate manager education requirements

    Most common real estate manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    68.6 %

    Master's

    12.4 %

    Associate

    11.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific real estate manager skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Financial Analysis9.96%
    Property Management9.61%
    Project Management7.79%
    Oversight6.35%
    Due Diligence6.05%
  3. Complete relevant real estate manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New real estate managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a real estate manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real real estate manager resumes.
  4. Gain additional real estate manager certifications

    Real estate manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific real estate manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for real estate managers include Certified Real Estate Inspector (CRI) and Certified Property Manager (CPM).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research real estate manager duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the submittal of all require documents for construction NTP.
    • Lead SEO efforts for primary corporate site, improving organic and paid traffic.
    • Coordinate and manage the NEPA, SHPO, FAA and FCC approval process.
    • Manage $20M budget and all fiscal functions including payroll, A/R, and A/P.
  6. Prepare your real estate manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your real estate manager resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a real estate manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Real Estate Manager Resume templates

    Build a professional Real Estate Manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Real Estate Manager resume.
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    Real Estate Manager Resume
  7. Apply for real estate manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a real estate manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Real Estate Manager Job

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Average real estate manager salary

The average Real Estate Manager salary in the United States is $86,874 per year or $42 per hour. Real estate manager salaries range between $58,000 and $129,000 per year.

Average Real Estate Manager Salary
$86,874 Yearly
$41.77 hourly

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How do real estate managers rate their job?

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Real Estate Manager reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Pros

I believe that as a property manager you are trusted with one of the most intimate areas of a persons life!… their home! That’s one heck of a responsibility because , at the end of the day everything starts and ends with home!


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2019
Pros

Communicating with my team is a key.

Cons

Not communicating at all. I don't like to have a computer who does not functioning.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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