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Land developer vs real estate developer

The differences between land developers and real estate developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a land developer and a real estate developer. Additionally, a real estate developer has an average salary of $93,510, which is higher than the $80,553 average annual salary of a land developer.

The top three skills for a land developer include civil 3d, civil engineering and development projects. The most important skills for a real estate developer are financial statements, property management, and due diligence.

Land developer vs real estate developer overview

Land DeveloperReal Estate Developer
Yearly salary$80,553$93,510
Hourly rate$38.73$44.96
Growth rate3%3%
Number of jobs70,17487,865
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4848
Years of experience66

What does a land developer do?

A land developer is responsible for converting land into a residential or commercial property. They may build houses, offices, condominiums, sports complexes, or malls. They begin by providing suggestions to clients. They must ensure that all the land that will be transformed is under the correct zoning requirements. They often work at a company or a government agency.

What does a real estate developer do?

A real estate developer obtains and develops land, turning it into a real estate asset. Part of their job is to conduct extensive research and analyses, coordinate with experts, gather and analyze data, negotiate with land sellers, and prepare properties for development. They also oversee construction operations from planning to execution, set budgets and guidelines, establish timelines and objectives, generate leads for potential clients, and maintain an active communication line with contractors for a smooth and efficient workflow.

Land developer vs real estate developer salary

Land developers and real estate developers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Land DeveloperReal Estate Developer
Average salary$80,553$93,510
Salary rangeBetween $58,000 And $111,000Between $66,000 And $131,000
Highest paying City-Catonsville, MD
Highest paying state-Connecticut
Best paying company-RSM US
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between land developer and real estate developer education

There are a few differences between a land developer and a real estate developer in terms of educational background:

Land DeveloperReal Estate Developer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Land developer vs real estate developer demographics

Here are the differences between land developers' and real estate developers' demographics:

Land DeveloperReal Estate Developer
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 74.3% Female, 25.7%Male, 66.9% Female, 33.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 5.5% White, 63.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 5.4% White, 63.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between land developer and real estate developer duties and responsibilities

Land developer example 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.
  • Direct and coordinate the total company financial planning and budget management functions - including total oversight of the budget management program.
  • Direct and coordinate the total company financial planning and budget management functions - including total oversight of the budget management program.

Real estate developer example responsibilities.

  • Manage segment's treasury function including equity forecasting and investment requests as well as lender relations in a difficult banking environment.
  • Convert FTTH's accounting to QuickBooks
  • Install windows, doors and put on metal roof.
  • Remodel entire building, add bathroom, and double glaze windows for views of mountains.
  • Assist in the preparation of GAAP, statutory, management, and other financial reporting on monthly and quarterly basis.
  • Conduct semi-annual asset valuations and pro-forma analyses using ARGUS and self-developed models.
  • Show more

Land developer vs real estate developer skills

Common land developer skills
  • Civil 3D, 35%
  • Civil Engineering, 29%
  • Development Projects, 14%
  • Site Development, 6%
  • Real Estate, 3%
  • CAD, 2%
Common real estate developer skills
  • Financial Statements, 14%
  • Property Management, 10%
  • Due Diligence, 8%
  • General Contractors, 7%
  • Payroll, 4%
  • Real Estate Development, 4%

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