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The differences between real estate developers and builders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a real estate developer, becoming a builder takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a real estate developer has an average salary of $93,510, which is higher than the $33,117 average annual salary of a builder.
The top three skills for a real estate developer include financial statements, property management and due diligence. The most important skills for a builder are work ethic, safety rules, and construction sites.
| Real Estate Developer | Builder | |
| Yearly salary | $93,510 | $33,117 |
| Hourly rate | $44.96 | $15.92 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 87,865 | 4,074 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Average age | 48 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 12 |
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.
Builders are responsible for managing, coordinating, and working on the construction. They are also responsible for repairing and maintaining commercial and residential buildings. They oversee a project by either making arrangements with subcontractors to finish specific jobs or doing the work themselves. Builders need to ensure that the construction projects meet their client's requirements as well as the government and industry regulations. They often perform their work in an industrial setting. Their day-to-day activity depends on their specialization and level of experience.
Real estate developers and builders have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Real Estate Developer | Builder | |
| Average salary | $93,510 | $33,117 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $131,000 | Between $24,000 And $44,000 |
| Highest paying City | Catonsville, MD | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Washington |
| Best paying company | RSM US | |
| Best paying industry | Media | Finance |
There are a few differences between a real estate developer and a builder in terms of educational background:
| Real Estate Developer | Builder | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | - |
Here are the differences between real estate developers' and builders' demographics:
| Real Estate Developer | Builder | |
| Average age | 48 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.9% Female, 33.1% | Male, 79.1% Female, 20.9% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 1.7% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 2% |