Careers · Explore one path
Real Estate Brokers
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.
Other titles employers use
Broker · Broker Associate · Designated Broker · Managing Broker · Real Estate Associate · Real Estate Broker · Real Estate Sales Associate · Realtor
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Sell, for a fee, real estate owned by others.
- Obtain agreements from property owners to place properties for sale with real estate firms.
- Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers over property prices and settlement details and during the closing of sales.
- Generate lists of properties for sale, their locations, descriptions, and available financing options, using computers.
- Manage or operate real estate offices, handling associated business details.
- Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to persuading and organizing work.
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Negotiation
Subjects to know
- Sales and Marketing
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Law and Government
- Administration and Management
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.2 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.4 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.8 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 1.9 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A four-year degree 37%
- A certificate or some college 24%
- High school or less 16%
- A master's degree 9%
- A doctorate or professional degree 8%
- A two-year degree 6%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Data base user interface and query software
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Web page creation and editing software
- Accounting software
- Web platform development software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 15,500
- Job openings each year
- 1,290
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- —
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 15,500 | 1,290 | — |
| Colorado | 14,030 | 1,220 | 7.9% |
| Florida | 8,300 | 740 | 12.6% |
| North Carolina | 7,950 | 710 | 11.0% |
| Oregon | 6,750 | 590 | 8.0% |
| Texas | 6,530 | 600 | 16.8% |
| New York | 6,170 | 10 | 1.8% |
| Missouri | 4,860 | 430 | 9.5% |
| Arizona | 4,050 | 350 | 6.6% |
| South Carolina | 3,830 | 350 | 14.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 3,510 | 300 | 4.2% |
| Virginia | 3,480 | 290 | — |
| Washington | 2,830 | 190 | −7.8% |
| Georgia | 2,780 | 240 | 6.5% |
| Illinois | 2,580 | 210 | — |
| Tennessee | 2,560 | 250 | 29.9% |
| Louisiana | 2,530 | 210 | 3.3% |
| Michigan | 2,390 | 200 | 1.3% |
| Indiana | 2,200 | 190 | 2.3% |
| Minnesota | 2,180 | 180 | 1.9% |
| Utah | 2,010 | 190 | 19.6% |
| Alabama | 1,700 | 150 | 4.9% |
| Maryland | 1,670 | 150 | 5.7% |
| Maine | 1,510 | 120 | −1.3% |
| Ohio | 1,390 | 120 | 1.5% |
| Massachusetts | 1,380 | 120 | 5.3% |
| Kansas | 1,320 | 110 | 3.9% |
| New Mexico | 1,320 | 120 | 8.2% |
| Wisconsin | 1,220 | 110 | 8.9% |
| New Jersey | 940 | 80 | −1.1% |
| Iowa | 810 | 70 | 8.0% |
| Kentucky | 770 | 70 | 1.3% |
| Nebraska | 670 | 60 | 6.3% |
| Puerto Rico | 560 | 50 | 19.1% |
| Idaho | 530 | 50 | 20.5% |
| Mississippi | 490 | 40 | 4.3% |
| Vermont | 450 | 40 | 7.1% |
| West Virginia | 340 | 30 | 13.3% |
| Montana | 300 | 30 | 11.1% |
| Connecticut | 290 | 30 | 7.4% |
| Delaware | 270 | 20 | 3.8% |
| North Dakota | 200 | 20 | — |
| District of Columbia | 80 | 10 | — |
| New Hampshire | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Degrees each year
- 169
- Admit rate
- 43%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
University of Georgia
- Degrees each year
- 162
- Admit rate
- 37%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Florida State University
- Degrees each year
- 133
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of San Diego
- Degrees each year
- 125
- Admit rate
- 47%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Degrees each year
- 112
- Admit rate
- 57%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
University of Southern California
- Degrees each year
- 95
- Admit rate
- 10%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Texas Christian University
- Degrees each year
- 85
- Admit rate
- 43%
- Annual cost after aid
- $18,000
University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Degrees each year
- 75
- Admit rate
- 61%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000