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What is a real estate broker and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Experts
Dave Bunton,
Daniel Wright
introduction image

The job of a real estate broker involves property management and marketing. He/She works with clients to buy, sell and rent real estate properties. He/She also finds clients by promoting the brand, networking, advertising, and offering services to prospective parties. The broker serves as an intermediary between buyers and sellers during negotiations over property prices and settlement details. A real estate broker works for a commercial real estate firm or operates a real estate office. As a result, you must have a minimum of an associate's degree in real estate, business, or a related field with at least three years of work experience.

Real estate brokers often need a state-issued real estate broker license to practice. Apart from this, you must possess selling abilities, communication and networking skills, and attention to detail. You must also be conversant with relevant computer software and be self-motivated. A real estate broker earns about $78,102 per year. This varies between $39,000 and $158,000.

What general advice would you give to a Real Estate Broker?

Dave BuntonDave Bunton LinkedIn Profile

President, The Appraisal Foundation

During the pandemic, we've seen an increase in the number of people hoping to join the appraisal profession. This makes sense because appraisal work allows you to work out of your home independently, has flexible hours, and takes advantage of the latest technology. While many industries have had to make these shifts after the pandemic started, appraisers have been working this way for years, and we're pleased that folks looking to start or shift their careers are discovering these benefits in the appraisal profession.
ScoreReal Estate BrokerUS Average
Salary
6.3

Avg. Salary $80,250

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.9

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.32%

Asian 6.87%

Black or African American 5.30%

Hispanic or Latino 13.21%

Unknown 4.31%

White 69.99%

Gender

female 45.66%

male 54.34%

Age - 50
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 - 50
Stress Level
7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
9.1

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
3.6

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

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Real Estate Broker career paths

Key steps to become a real estate broker

  1. Explore real estate broker education requirements

    Most common real estate broker degrees

    Bachelor's

    64.9 %

    Associate

    14.7 %

    Master's

    10.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific real estate broker skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Real Estate Sales13.84%
    Purchase Agreements10.56%
    Financial Resources7.53%
    Property Management7.01%
    Open Houses4.86%
  3. Complete relevant real estate broker training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New real estate brokers 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 real estate broker based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real real estate broker resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed real estate broker usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed real estate broker in most of states. 46 states require real estate brokers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    StateEducationExamLicense Url
    Alabama-State exam requiredLicensed Real Estate Broker
    MarylandDegree requiredState exam requiredREAL ESTATE BROKER
    Alaska--Real Estate Broker
    ArkansasSpecific course requiredState exam requiredReal Estate Broker
    CaliforniaDegree requiredState exam requiredReal Estate Broker License
  5. Research real estate broker duties and responsibilities

    • Manage all accounting, cash management, budgeting and financing for individual LLC's and for corporate entity.
    • Prepare all marketing materials, coordinate closings, enter necessary data into the MLS to ensure homes are represent correctly
    • Review, analyze and process moderately complex homeowner property, contents and liability claims within assign work with REO properties.
    • Stabilize operations and financial performance of underperforming properties, directing investors in maximizing value and/or divesting assets to optimize ROI.
  6. Get real estate broker experience

  7. Prepare your real estate broker resume

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

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Real Estate Broker Resume templates

    Build a professional Real Estate Broker 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 Real Estate Broker resume.
    Real Estate Broker Resume
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    Real Estate Broker Resume
  8. Apply for real estate broker jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a real estate broker 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 Real Estate Broker Job

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Average real estate broker salary

The average Real Estate Broker salary in the United States is $80,250 per year or $39 per hour. Real estate broker salaries range between $56,000 and $114,000 per year.

Average Real Estate Broker Salary
$80,250 Yearly
$38.58 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do real estate brokers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

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1 Star

Real Estate Broker reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

My own schedule and meeting great people.

Cons

No guarantee on income or relevance


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2021
Pros

Flexible Schedule. Accompanying New Agents with business operation skills, critical communication skills, contract negotiation, problem solving, proactive approach to obtaining purchase agreement, assisting brokers with avenues to increase network for sales agent, conducting feasibility study for outmoded business models, providing ongoing business operation training, training programs for leadership/business development, building trust for agent sustainability.

Cons

Continuous solicitation of businesses to sustain. Louisiana has small window for Real Estate Consultants.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

Flexibility and potential for making great money.

Cons

Not knowing where my next paycheck is coming from. Being unemployed in between clients.


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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.