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The differences between real estate developers and general contractors 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 general contractor takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a real estate developer has an average salary of $93,510, which is higher than the $66,602 average annual salary of a general contractor.
The top three skills for a real estate developer include financial statements, property management and due diligence. The most important skills for a general contractor are plumbing, safety regulations, and contract negotiations.
| Real Estate Developer | General Contractor | |
| Yearly salary | $93,510 | $66,602 |
| Hourly rate | $44.96 | $32.02 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 87,865 | 66,218 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 48 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 8 |
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.
The job of general contractors is to oversee the day-to-day operations of projects in the organization. General contractors are considered seasoned experts when it comes to home improvement. They provide the material, equipment, labor, and services for a construction project. Often, they hire specialized subcontractors who will be working on some part of the construction work. They should have attained a bachelor's or associate's degree in construction management. Their experience in the industry is highly coveted.
Real estate developers and general contractors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Real Estate Developer | General Contractor | |
| Average salary | $93,510 | $66,602 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $131,000 | Between $41,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | Catonsville, MD | - |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | - |
| Best paying company | RSM US | - |
| Best paying industry | Media | - |
There are a few differences between a real estate developer and a general contractor in terms of educational background:
| Real Estate Developer | General Contractor | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo |
Here are the differences between real estate developers' and general contractors' demographics:
| Real Estate Developer | General Contractor | |
| Average age | 48 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.9% Female, 33.1% | Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4% |
| 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, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 4% |