Post job

What is a property administrator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Virginia Wilcox
introduction image

The property administrator is responsible for maintaining the value of a company or privately owned properties. As a property administrator, you are the middleman between property owners and tenants, and you might as well be an administrator of various company properties.

You are expected to show properties to potential tenants and answer their questions. You will also collect money from tenants and ensure rent is paid in due time to owners. The property administrator is also in charge of the eviction of defaulting clients and ensures the repair of damaged properties and regular maintenance. You will listen to tenants and resolve their complaints.

To be a successful property administrator, you should have strong communication skills and a good knowledge of real estate properties. You should be a certified professional property administrator or someone that has undergone some form of legal training. You are required to have a degree in business administration, real estate, or marketing. The average annual salary is $58,670.

What general advice would you give to a property administrator?

Virginia WilcoxVirginia Wilcox LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Education, Wesleyan College

Go into this knowing every single person you encounter was once in your shoes...new, confused, anxious, worried, etc.
The quickest way to make a friend is to ask for help. Everyone (even the most hardened) likes feeling needed and/or appreciated.
So...even if it's as minor as asking for advice on what color to use on the bulletin board or as major as asking for ideas on how to engage an unruly student...
ASK someone not only will you get the assistance you need, you will make their day...AND...you may find that you've made an invaluable step toward a new friendship.
ScoreProperty AdministratorUS Average
Salary
3.1

Avg. Salary $39,619

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 5.20%

Black or African American 8.39%

Hispanic or Latino 17.25%

Unknown 4.11%

White 64.46%

Gender

female 69.50%

male 30.50%

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

Property administrator career paths

Key steps to become a property administrator

  1. Explore property administrator education requirements

    Most common property administrator degrees

    Bachelor's

    60.2 %

    Associate

    21.8 %

    Master's

    6.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific property administrator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Property Management13.57%
    Customer Service12.00%
    Office Equipment5.41%
    Administrative Functions4.50%
    Budget Preparation4.49%
  3. Complete relevant property administrator training and internships

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

    Property administrator 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 property administrator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for property administrators include Certified Professional Property Administrator (CPPA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research property administrator duties and responsibilities

    • Recruit to manage the process of client-own REO properties.
    • Manage third party services including cleaning, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, specialty vendors and contracts.
    • Manage IP investigator/other service supplier relations.
    • Manage condominiums for individual investors; enforce lease requirements/community policies.
  6. Prepare your property administrator resume

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

    Choose from 10+ customizable property administrator resume templates

    Build a professional property administrator 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 property administrator resume.
    Property Administrator Resume
    Property Administrator Resume
    Property Administrator Resume
    Property Administrator Resume
    Property Administrator Resume
    Property Administrator Resume
    Property Administrator Resume
    Property Administrator Resume
    Property Administrator Resume
  7. Apply for property administrator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a property administrator 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 property administrator job

Zippi

Are you a property administrator?

Share your story for a free salary report.

Average property administrator salary

The average property administrator salary in the United States is $39,619 per year or $19 per hour. Property administrator salaries range between $27,000 and $57,000 per year.

Average property administrator salary
$39,619 Yearly
$19.05 hourly

What am I worth?

salary-calculator

How do property administrators rate their job?

4/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Property administrator reviews

profile
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.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
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.


profile
4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

Working hours- Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:30 pm

Cons

Working with vendors who lack workmanship skills


Working as a property administrator? Share your experience anonymously.
Overall rating*
Career growth
Work/Life balance
Pay/Salary

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.

Browse executive management jobs