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What is a commercial property manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

Commercial property managers oversee the day-to-day operations of buildings and complexes, such as malls or office parks. Their duties typically include collecting rent, negotiating leases, and supervising cleaning and maintenance activities.

Educational requirements for commercial property managers can range from a high school diploma to a master's degree level in business or public administration, finance, or real estate management, among other fields of study. Also, they must possess good communication and customer skills; knowledge of building and legal codes is essential; multitasking and organizational abilities are also important.

Professionals employed in the commercial property manager position might earn median annual salaries of $60,479 or $29.08 per hour.

ScoreCommercial Property ManagerUS Average
Salary
4.8

Avg. Salary $61,361

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 8.45%

Hispanic or Latino 17.39%

Unknown 4.12%

White 64.22%

Gender

female 60.18%

male 39.82%

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

Commercial property manager career paths

Key steps to become a commercial property manager

  1. Explore commercial property manager education requirements

    Most common commercial property manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    64.6 %

    Associate

    18.7 %

    Master's

    6.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific commercial property manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Property Management12.37%
    Real Estate11.43%
    Portfolio8.91%
    Commercial Property6.72%
    Yardi5.13%
  3. Complete relevant commercial property manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New commercial 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 a commercial property manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real commercial property manager resumes.
  4. Gain additional commercial property manager certifications

    Commercial 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 commercial property manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for commercial property managers include Certified Property Manager (CPM) and Certified Practice Manager (CPM).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research commercial property manager duties and responsibilities

    • Manage vendors including developing key performance indicators plus RFP and provider selection.
    • Manage segment's treasury function including equity forecasting and investment requests as well as lender relations in a difficult banking environment.
    • Train entire company on new software OneSite from old version of YARDI.
    • Employ contractors to repair and maintain the building, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and operating equipment.
  6. Prepare your commercial property manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your commercial 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 a commercial 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 commercial property manager resume templates

    Build a professional commercial 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 commercial property manager resume.
    Commercial Property Manager Resume
    Commercial Property Manager Resume
    Commercial Property Manager Resume
    Commercial Property Manager Resume
    Commercial Property Manager Resume
    Commercial Property Manager Resume
    Commercial Property Manager Resume
    Commercial Property Manager Resume
    Commercial Property Manager Resume
  7. Apply for commercial property manager jobs

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

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

How did you land your first commercial property manager job

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Average commercial property manager salary

The average commercial property manager salary in the United States is $61,361 per year or $30 per hour. Commercial property manager salaries range between $36,000 and $103,000 per year.

Average commercial property manager salary
$61,361 Yearly
$29.50 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do commercial property managers rate their job?

-/5

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Commercial property manager reviews

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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.


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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.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Cons

Occasionally having to fight owner to buy the appropriate matereals when he’d prefer to save $ on it some stuff just has to be done correctly .


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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