Career-PathGPS
← All education and training
Career

Real Estate Brokers

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeLower pressure

What they do

Operate real estate office, or work for commercial real estate firm, overseeing real estate transactions. Other duties usually include selling real estate or renting properties and arranging loans.

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.

Lower 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 $73,220 Median per year · $35.20/hr Most earn $37,110–$143,300

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Rent properties or manage rental properties.
  • Maintain knowledge of real estate law, local economies, fair housing laws, types of available mortgages, financing options, and government programs.
  • Manage or operate real estate offices, handling associated business details.
  • Develop, sell, or lease property used for industry or manufacturing.
  • Give buyers virtual tours of properties in which they are interested, using computers.
  • Arrange for financing of property purchases.

Job outlook

United States
1% more jobs by 2035, slower than average · about 7,800 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

  • Self-employed (their own business)54.9%
  • Real estate40.1%

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

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

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: 6 months to 1 year

Real estate brokers usually aren't entry-level jobs. Most people first work as a real estate sales agent for about 6 months to a year, and many start after a bachelor's degree, though some begin with just a high school diploma and a license. Broker licensing rules vary by state, so check your state's real estate commission for exact requirements.

  1. Bachelor's degree in business, finance, or a related field

    4 years

    Classes in business, finance, contracts, or economics build the knowledge that brokers use every day and make you a stronger candidate for agent jobs.

  2. Real Estate Sales Agent

    6 months to 1 year

    You learn to list homes, work with buyers and sellers, negotiate deals, and follow the rules of real estate transactions, all while earning your agent license.

  3. Real Estate Broker

    Varies by state

    After gaining experience and meeting your state's broker licensing requirements, you can run your own office or handle commercial deals and oversee transactions for others.

Where it can lead

  1. Managing Broker

    Varies by state of experience first

    You take responsibility for running the whole office, supervising other brokers and agents, and making sure everything follows state rules.

  2. Sales Manager

    4 to 6 years of experience first

    You lead a sales team and set sales goals, which usually requires a track record of strong sales results and management skills beyond the day-to-day brokering.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and economics classesStrong math skills help with budgeting, mortgage calculations, and understanding the numbers behind every property deal.
  • Build your speaking and writing skillsDebate, public speaking, or a school newspaper helps you explain ideas clearly and persuade people, which brokers do constantly.
  • Get a starter job that involves customersA part-time job in retail or food service teaches you to communicate with people, handle pressure, and build trust.
  • Join a business or entrepreneurship clubClubs like DECA or a school business club give you practice with planning, presenting, and working as a team.
  • Ask a local real estate agent for an informational interviewTalking with someone who does the job shows you what it takes and helps you decide if it's a good fit.

In college

  • Major in business, finance, or real estateThese majors cover contracts, finance, and property markets, which give you a solid base for a broker career.
  • Take a real estate or contracts courseCourses in real estate law or property valuation help you learn the rules and vocabulary used in deals and show future employers you're serious.
  • Work a sales or customer-facing campus jobJobs in campus retail, admissions, or tutoring build the people skills and reliability brokers need.
  • Intern at a real estate office or property firmAn internship lets you see how transactions happen and start building contacts in the local market.
  • Join a student business or real estate clubClubs help you practice networking, presenting, and teamwork while you meet people already in the field.

Tips for getting started

  • Get comfortable with sales early. Brokers build their business on relationships and referrals, so practice talking with people and following up consistently.
  • Learn your local market. Read local news, track home prices in your area, and talk to people who already work in real estate to see what the job is really like day to day.
  • Look into how licensing works in your state. Find out the age and education requirements for a sales license and what experience is needed before you can get a broker license.

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.

Related careers