Have you ever wondered which jobs in the real estate industry offer the highest salaries? With over 5 million people working in various roles in the United States, real estate provides a wealth of career opportunities. Whether you're interested in finance, sales, management, or law, the real estate industry has something for everyone.
Exploring Different Real Estate Job Opportunities
Real estate careers encompass a wide range of roles, including mortgage brokerage, loan processing, credit analysis, investment, title insurance, property management, and more. The field offers high-paying jobs on both the residential and commercial sides of the industry. From appraisers to brokers, there are numerous paths to success.
Pro Tip: Get an in-depth look at the salary expectations for real estate agents in our free Real Estate Agent Income Guide.
30 High-Paying Real Estate Jobs
Let's dive into the top 30 highest-paying real estate jobs, complete with salary ranges and median incomes:
- Appraiser (residential): Median annual salary of $55,483 with a range between $45,713 and $64,115.
- Appraiser (commercial): Median annual salary of $103,932 with a range between $89,394 and $119,222.
- Commercial leasing manager: Median annual salary of $116,429 with a range between $87,792 and $162,129.
- Commercial real estate broker: Average annual salary of $79,590, but can vary significantly based on annual closings.
- Commercial real estate loan officer: Median annual salary of $82,000 for lower-level officers, with a median of $104,400 for senior officers.
- Community development manager: Median annual salary of $116,100 with a range between $100,190 and $134,051.
- Compliance specialist: Median annual salary of $58,103 for entry-level specialists and $61,188 to $83,075 for senior specialists.
- Escrow officer: Median annual salary of $50,173 with a range between $40,608 and $60,823.
- Foreclosure specialist: Median annual salary of $44,616 with a range between $37,514 and $53,454.
- Land administration manager: Median annual salary of $169,063 with a range between $153,822 and $189,341.
- Leasing consultant: Median salary early in a consultant's career is $31,072, typically ranging between $28,087 and $34,497.
- Lease administrator: Median annual salary of $54,136 with a range between $47,854 and $69,522.
- Lease administration manager: Median annual salary of $54,136 with a range between $47,854 and $69,522.
- Mortgage collection manager: Median starting salary of $84,079 with a range between $68,947 and $97,439.
- Mortgage credit analyst: Median salary of $56,362 for Level I analysts and $62,817 for senior analysts.
- Mortgage loan officer: Median annual salary of $44,330 for a newly employed officer and $78,155 for a senior officer.
- Mortgage loan processor: Median annual entry-level salary of $35,100.
- Mortgage loan processing manager: Median annual salary of $95,240 with a range between $81,289 and $106,692.
- Real estate attorney: Median annual salary of $151,865 with a range between $132,426 and $168,266.
- Real estate consultant: Median annual salary of $61,719 with a range between $53,237 and $71,968.
- Property manager: Median annual salary of $101,234 with a range between $87,882 and $116,471.
- Residential property manager: Median annual salary of $65,516 with a range between $58,481 and $73,766.
- Retail real estate manager: Median annual salary of $130,086 with a range between $109,298 and $150,766.
- Real estate zoning manager: Median annual salary of $116,533 with a range between $103,645 and $129,606.
- Real estate sales agent: Average annual income of $43,076, but top producers can earn far more.
- Real estate and relocation director: Average annual salary of $157,821 with a range between $134,183 and $196,392.
- Title examiner: Median annual salary of $42,328 with a range between $39,259 and $45,275.
- Top mortgage loan servicing manager: Median annual salary of $161,743 with a range between $135,248 and $278,971.
- Top commercial real estate executive: Median annual salary of $303,906 with a range between $261,119 and $374,025.
- Top retail real estate executive: Median annual salary of $288,090 with a range between $237,749 and $366,445.
How to Begin Your Real Estate Journey
If you're ready to embark on an exciting career in real estate, the first step is to complete your real estate pre-licensing courses. To help you get started, we have a variety of free resources available on our website, including the "Career Guide: Is Real Estate Right For You?", the "Real Estate Agent Income Guide," and information on start-up costs for real estate agents.
Remember, the salaries mentioned are sourced from reputable sites like salary.com, payscale.com, monster.com, the 2020-2021 Real Estate Agent Income Guide, and the National Association of REALTORS (NAR).
Now that you have a better understanding of the highest-paying jobs in real estate, you can make an informed decision about your career path. So go ahead and chase your dreams in this thriving industry!