How long does it take to become an Assistant Property Manager?

It takes 4 years of professional experience to become an assistant property manager. That is the time it takes to learn specific assistant property manager skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 7 to 9 years years to become an assistant property manager.

What are the top three skills for an assistant property manager?

The three top skills for an assistant property manager are personal communication skills, organizational skills, and basic technical abilities. Assistant property managers must both interact with people as well as have some basic technical abilities.

How To Become An Assistant Property Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is an assistant property manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

An assistant property manager oversees the management of a real estate property. They assist the property manager in tasks including leasing, rent collection, maintenance requests, and tenant relations. Assistant property managers typically work in apartment buildings, office complexes, and shopping centers. They help ensure that the property is well-maintained and profitable by keeping accurate records and overseeing day-to-day operations. They may also assist with marketing to attract new tenants and exhibit strong interpersonal skills.

ScoreAssistant Property ManagerUS Average

Salary

3.5

Avg. Salary $44,338

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.4

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.59%

Asian 5.22%

Black or African American 8.43%

Hispanic or Latino 17.34%

Unknown 4.12%

White 64.30%

Gender

female 74.12%

male 25.88%

Age - 49

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49

Stress level

8.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.8

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an assistant property manager?

Pros

Opportunities for advancement in the real estate industry
Competitive salary and benefits
Opportunity to learn about property management and real estate
Potential for flexible scheduling
Opportunity to gain experience in financial management

Cons

High levels of stress due to dealing with tenant complaints and property issues
Must be available to work outside of regular business hours for emergencies
High level of responsibility without always having full authority
The job can be emotionally taxing
Dealing with legal issues such as evictions can be stressful

Key steps to become an assistant property manager

Explore assistant property manager education requirements

Most common assistant property manager degrees

Bachelor's

52.1 %

Associate

22.1 %

High School Diploma

14.0 %

Start to develop specific assistant property manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	20.56%
Property Management	16.71%
Yardi	8.28%
Rent Payments	4.09%
Resident Relations	4.01%

Complete relevant assistant property manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New assistant property managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an assistant property manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real assistant property manager resumes.

Gain additional assistant property manager certifications

Assistant property manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific assistant property manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for assistant property managers include Certified Property Manager (CPM) and Medical Assistant.

More About Certifications

Research assistant property manager duties and responsibilities

Create and manage all marketing ads on websites (Craigslist, Facebook) using various design layouts monthly.
Post on Craigslist, manage and maintain insurance, pest control, and electric accounts for all residents.
Design and manage all company facebook accounts for residents and prospective residents regarding property information and general interest articles.
Process applications & re-certifications in accordance with LIHTC & corporate compliance requirements.

Prepare your assistant property manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your assistant property manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an assistant property manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable assistant property manager resume templates

Build a professional assistant property manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your assistant property manager resume.

Apply for assistant property manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an assistant property manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do assistant property managers rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Assistant property manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022

Pros

I believe that as a property manager you are trusted with one of the most intimate areas of a persons life!… their home! That’s one heck of a responsibility because , at the end of the day everything starts and ends with home!

Cons

The only thing I don’t like about working in the property management field is having to turn people away or add them to a waitlist. The demand/need for affordable quality housing is so great… it’s nearly impossible to assist everyone you meet because the demand far exceeds the supply. That is so frustrating and leaves me feeling like I’ve let people down when I don’t have anything available. Sometimes hearing the desperation in their voices gets to me and I find myself upset when I am unable yo help them.

A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2020

Pros

Just being able to take care of rent and things that broke . Living on the premises

Cons

I love it

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Pros

Working with people and providing 4 star service. Great opportunity to prove your leadership skills running a large scale operation.

Cons

If you are not a people person, don't like long hours, or keeping calm in stressful situations, this job is not for you.

What is an assistant property manager and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being an assistant property manager?

Assistant property manager career paths

Key steps to become an assistant property manager

Explore assistant property manager education requirements

Most common assistant property manager degrees

Start to develop specific assistant property manager skills

Complete relevant assistant property manager training and internships

Gain additional assistant property manager certifications

Research assistant property manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your assistant property manager resume

Choose from 10+ customizable assistant property manager resume templates

Apply for assistant property manager jobs

How did you land your first assistant property manager job

Average assistant property manager salary

How do assistant property managers rate their job?

Assistant property manager reviews

Assistant property manager FAQs

How long does it take to become an Assistant Property Manager?

What are the top three skills for an assistant property manager?

Search for assistant property manager jobs

Assistant property manager jobs by state