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What is a land developer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

Land developers take over the development of private, commercial, and retail sites and supervise them. They partner with city councils to ensure the land is constructed in line with zoning laws. While there are no programs to train potential land developers, it is recommended to acquire a degree.

Land developers are in charge of the procurement of property and the subsequent planning and development for the specific use of the land. When evaluating land for future developments, land developers consider property, economic trends, and zoning ordinances. They can apply to localities and operate for rezoning or subdivide a plot of land with Municipal Planners.

They also investigate zoning codes, building regulations, and environmental limitations for land consideration. Land developers must arrange land acquisitions and oversee developers, building firms, and land managers. They apply for areas in which property is rezoned, results studies are conducted, and construction permits are issued.

ScoreLand DeveloperUS Average
Salary
6.3

Avg. Salary $80,553

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.4

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.60%

Asian 5.45%

Black or African American 9.21%

Hispanic or Latino 16.82%

Unknown 4.17%

White 63.74%

Gender

female 25.67%

male 74.33%

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

Land developer career paths

Key steps to become a land developer

  1. Explore land developer education requirements

    Most common land developer degrees

    Bachelor's

    63.2 %

    Associate

    14.9 %

    Master's

    10.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific land developer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Civil 3D35.27%
    Civil Engineering29.29%
    Development Projects14.37%
    Site Development6.10%
    Real Estate2.51%
  3. Complete relevant land developer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New land developers 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 land developer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real land developer resumes.
  4. Research land developer duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and coordinate creation of all HOA documents and set-up.
    • Complete development landscape construction and HOA maintenance contracts.
    • Work with Microsoft office, excel, power point and Quickbooks.
    • Perform the entire logical task to in co-operate the GIS functionality into the system.
  5. Prepare your land developer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your land developer 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 land developer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable land developer resume templates

    Build a professional land developer 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 land developer resume.
    Land Developer Resume
    Land Developer Resume
    Land Developer Resume
    Land Developer Resume
    Land Developer Resume
    Land Developer Resume
    Land Developer Resume
    Land Developer Resume
    Land Developer Resume
  6. Apply for land developer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a land developer 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 land developer job

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Average land developer salary

The average land developer salary in the United States is $80,553 per year or $39 per hour. Land developer salaries range between $58,000 and $111,000 per year.

Average land developer salary
$80,553 Yearly
$38.73 hourly

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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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