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Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Plan, direct, or coordinate the selling, buying, leasing, or governance activities of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate properties. Includes managers of homeowner and condominium associations, rented or leased housing units, buildings, or land (including rights-of-way).

Kinds of work

  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $69,990 Median per year · $33.65/hr Most earn $41,010–$139,680

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Direct and coordinate the activities of staff and contract personnel and evaluate their performance.
  • Clean common areas, change light bulbs, and make minor property repairs.
  • Plan, schedule, and coordinate general maintenance, major repairs, and remodeling or construction projects for commercial or residential properties.
  • Prepare detailed budgets and financial reports for properties.
  • Act as liaisons between on-site managers or tenants and owners.
  • Confer with legal authorities to ensure that renting and advertising practices are not discriminatory and that properties comply with state and federal regulations.

Job outlook

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 36,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Real estate55.5%
  • Self-employed (their own business)31.3%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This is not usually an entry-level job. Most people earn a bachelor's degree and then spend about 2 to 4 years in a related role, such as leasing or assistant property management, before they become a property or community association manager.

  1. Bachelor's degree in business, real estate, finance, or communications

    4 years

    A degree gives you the business and communication skills that property managers use every day, such as budgeting, contracts, and talking with residents. It also opens doors to entry-level leasing and office jobs.

  2. Leasing Consultant or Assistant Property Manager

    2-4 years

    You show prospective renters around, handle applications, collect rent, answer resident questions, and help with maintenance requests. This work teaches you how a property runs and builds the experience employers look for.

  3. Property Manager, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager

    Ongoing once you reach this role

    You oversee a property or community's budget, vendors, leases, and board or resident relationships. Employers usually hire people with a bachelor's degree and about 2 to 4 years of related experience.

Where it can lead

  1. Regional Property Manager

    3-5 years of experience first

    You manage several properties or communities at once, supervise other property managers, and set goals for a group of buildings. Moving up usually means showing strong results with budgets, occupancy, and resident satisfaction.

  2. General and Operations Manager

    2-4 years of experience first

    You run a wider business or organization, not just a set of properties, and oversee many departments. Moving into this role means building broader leadership and business management experience.

  3. Real Estate Broker

    6 months to 1 year of experience first

    You can work on your own or lead a brokerage, handling property sales and purchases for clients. This route requires a state license and a strong sales track record.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math, English, and any business or economics classesMath helps with budgeting and finance, while strong writing and speaking help with resident communication and paperwork.
  • Join a business club such as DECA or Future Business Leaders of AmericaThese clubs, which many high schools offer, build public speaking, teamwork, and business planning skills that property managers use often.
  • Get a part-time or summer job in customer service or retailWorking with the public teaches you how to handle complaints, stay calm, and keep people happy, which are core parts of managing residents.
  • Volunteer with a neighborhood association, housing group, or community clean-upSeeing how local groups make decisions and manage shared spaces gives you a feel for community association work.
  • Learn basic spreadsheet softwareMany schools and libraries offer free computer classes, and knowing spreadsheets early will help you track budgets and records later.

In college

  • Major in business, real estate, finance, or a related fieldThese majors teach budgeting, contracts, and property finance, which are the core skills this job uses every day.
  • Take courses in accounting, communication, and law or contractsAccounting helps with property budgets, communication helps with residents and boards, and contract knowledge helps with leases and vendor agreements.
  • Pursue an internship with a property management company, developer, or real estate firmInternships let you see daily property operations and build the experience employers ask for after graduation.
  • Take a campus job in housing, facilities, or the leasing officeWorking in campus housing gives you hands-on practice with residents, maintenance requests, and rent processes.
  • Check your state's requirements for a real estate license or property management certificationSome states require a license for certain property management work, and knowing the rules early helps you plan the right classes and experience.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for part-time or summer jobs at apartment complexes, leasing offices, or property management companies. Even answering phones or helping with move-ins gives you real experience to talk about later.
  • Get comfortable with spreadsheets and basic money math. Property managers track budgets, rent payments, and repair costs, so these skills matter from day one.
  • Practice clear writing and speaking. You will write notices to residents, talk with board members, and handle complaints, so strong communication helps you stand out.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Real Estate Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $61,645 a year · typical debt $19,970
  • Real Estate Development Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $68,238 a year · typical debt $12,880

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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