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The differences between land development managers and real estate developers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a land development manager, becoming a real estate developer takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a real estate developer has an average salary of $93,510, which is higher than the $92,079 average annual salary of a land development manager.
The top three skills for a land development manager include civil engineering, project management and construction management. The most important skills for a real estate developer are financial statements, property management, and due diligence.
| Land Development Manager | Real Estate Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $92,079 | $93,510 |
| Hourly rate | $44.27 | $44.96 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 3% |
| Number of jobs | 67,359 | 87,865 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 46 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 6 |
The primary role of a land development manager is to approve and review land development requirements in a real estate business. The land development managers supervise field and section engineering operations. They handle engineering and construction professionals to meet corporate and project goals in time. It is their job to find and negotiate land acquisition for the property development programs of businesses. The skills necessary in carrying out this job include communication, negotiation, marketing, and knowledge in real estate.
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 development managers and real estate developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Land Development Manager | Real Estate Developer | |
| Average salary | $92,079 | $93,510 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $126,000 | Between $66,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | Roseville, CA | Catonsville, MD |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Best paying company | Amazon | RSM US |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Media |
There are a few differences between a land development manager and a real estate developer in terms of educational background:
| Land Development Manager | Real Estate Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Civil Engineering | Business |
| Most common college | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between land development managers' and real estate developers' demographics:
| Land Development Manager | Real Estate Developer | |
| Average age | 46 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 66.9% Female, 33.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.4% 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 Percentage | 4% | 12% |