Real estate brokers

SOC Code: 41-9021
Also known as:
Broker, Broker Associate, Buyer Broker, Closing Agent, Contract Specialist
Median Annual Salary
$72,280
+3.3% growth (2024-2034)
10K
Openings/Year
111K
Current Jobs

What Real estate brokers 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.

💰 Salary

$72,280
Median annual wage (2024)

📈 Job Growth

+3.3%
As fast as average

🎓 Education

High school diploma or equivalent
Typical entry-level requirement

🚀 Annual Openings

10K
Projected average per year

👔 Work Experience

Less than 5 years
Required before entry

Employment Projections (2024-2034)

Current Employment (2024)

111,300

Projected Employment (2034)

115,000

Related Careers

Property, real estate, and community association managers

$66,700 • +3.6% growth
View →

Financial and investment analysts

$101,350 • +5.7% growth
View →

Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

$78,140 • +3.3% growth
View →

Real estate sales agents

$56,320 • +3.1% growth
View →

Top Skills Required

Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Active Learning

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

  • 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.
  • Maintain knowledge of real estate law, local economies, fair housing laws, types of available mortgages, financing options, and government programs.
  • Monitor fulfillment of purchase contract terms to ensure that they are handled in a timely manner.
  • Check work completed by loan officers, attorneys, or other professionals to ensure that it is performed properly.
  • Rent properties or manage rental properties.

Technology & Tools

Adobe Photoshop Facebook Intuit QuickBooks Microsoft Access Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word

📚 Entry-Level Education

High school diploma or equivalent
Most common requirement

🎯 Recommended Education

Bachelor's Degree
O*NET recommended level

Degree Programs for Real estate brokers

These degree programs can prepare you for a career as a real estate brokers:

Real Estate

7,906 degrees awarded • 209 colleges offer this program
View Colleges →

Real Estate Development

555 degrees awarded • 17 colleges offer this program
View Colleges →

Best Colleges for Becoming a Real estate brokers

Ranked by Repit grade, then by degrees in related programs. These are the top-rated colleges that prepare students to become real estate brokers.

# College Location Related Degrees Repit Grade
1 New York University New York, NY 269 A
2 University of Georgia Athens, GA 172 A
3 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 161 A
4 Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY 108 A
5 Harvard University Cambridge, MA 78 A
6 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 70 A
7 University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA 65 A
8 University of Florida Gainesville, FL 58 A
9 Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD 39 A
10 University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI 247 B+
11 Georgetown University Washington, DC 174 B+
12 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 130 B+
13 Florida International University Miami, FL 123 B+
14 Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA 118 B+
15 Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX 110 B+
16 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA 87 B+
17 Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH 76 B+
18 Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX 75 B+
19 University of Central Florida Orlando, FL 58 B+
20 CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY 43 B+

Want this ranking as a spreadsheet? Investor Pro+ members can export any Repit table to CSV. See plans →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do real estate brokers make?
The median annual salary for real estate brokers is $72,280.
What education do real estate brokers need?
Most real estate brokers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent. Common degree programs include Real Estate, Real Estate Development.
Is becoming real estate brokers a good career choice?
Real estate brokers is projected to see +3.3% job growth from 2024 to 2034, which is about average for all occupations. With approximately 9,700 job openings expected annually, there are good opportunities for those entering the field.
What are the best colleges for real estate brokers?
Top colleges for aspiring real estate brokers include New York University, University of Georgia, University of Southern California, Columbia University in the City of New York, Harvard University. These schools are ranked based on their Repit grade and the number of graduates in related programs.
What other job titles are similar to real estate brokers?
Real estate brokers may also be known as: Broker, Broker Associate, Buyer Broker, Closing Agent, Contract Specialist, Dealer, Designated Broker, Lease Administration Analyst, Lease Analyst, Lease Coordinator, Leasing Professional, Leasing Specialist, Licensed Real Estate Broker, Loan Specialist, Managing Broker, Occupancy Specialist, Property Broker, Real Estate And Rental Industry Specialist, Real Estate Associate, Real Estate Broker. These titles often refer to similar roles with varying responsibilities or specializations.