Sales · Career brief

Real Estate Brokers

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Real Estate Brokers at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$73,220

Above the middle on pay

2025 national median. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for pay.

2Demand

0.8%

Slow projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Below the middle of ChooseField careers for growth.

3Openings

7,800

Above the middle on opening volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Above the middle of ChooseField careers for openings.

4Route in

High school

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent + related experience. Related work experience is typically required.

5The work

Persuasive / leading

Influence, decisions, and results matter

Sell, for a fee, real estate owned by others.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

ChooseField take

The national benchmarks are mixed, so the work itself and the route in matter more than any standout pay or demand signal. It makes the most sense if persuasive or leadership-oriented work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a high-school entry path. Main tradeoff: BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

Before choosing, compare:First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers Real Estate Agent First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Real Estate Brokers with another field Explore rankings in Sales Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$73,220

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

0.8%employment growth7,800openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent; Prior related experience: less than 5 years

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

103,500

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Real estate brokers (41-9021).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Sell, for a fee, real estate owned by others.
Obtain agreements from property owners to place properties for sale with real estate firms.
Manage or operate real estate offices, handling associated business details.
Maintain knowledge of real estate law, local economies, fair housing laws, types of available mortgages, financing options, and government programs.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.
BLS projects essentially flat employment (0.8%) through 2035. Annual openings mostly reflect replacement, not a rapidly expanding field.
Operating or riding in vehicles is a recurring part of the work rather than an occasional trip.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Getting Information4.4
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.3
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.3
Working with Computers3.9
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.8

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Enterprising6.5
Conventional5.8
Social2.9
Realistic2.7
Investigative1.5
Artistic1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Sales and Marketing Law and Government Economics and Accounting Computers and Electronics

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Work through a realistic case with incomplete information: make a recommendation, show the numbers behind it, and defend the tradeoffs.
Ask someone doing this job which feeder role built the required experience, what that earlier job paid, and how long the transition actually took.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Real estate brokers nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Speaking, Active Listening, Critical Thinking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

Prior related experience: less than 5 years. Look for the preceding roles and promotion route before treating this as a first job.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options