Other Sales and Related Workers

How to become a Real Estate Broker

Official title: Real Estate Brokers

Also called: Broker, Broker Associate, Commercial Leasing Broker, Commercial Real Estate Advisor, Commercial Real Estate Broker, Designated Broker, Managing Broker, Real Estate Associate, Real Estate Sales Associate, Realtor

Operate real estate office, or work for commercial real estate firm, overseeing real estate transactions. Other duties usually include selling real estate or renting properties and arranging loans.

Main tasks

Obtain agreements from property owners to place properties for sale with real estate firms.
Sell, for a fee, real estate owned by others.
Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers over property prices and settlement details and during the closing of sales.
Generate lists of properties for sale, their locations, descriptions, and available financing options, using computers.
Maintain knowledge of real estate law, local economies, fair housing laws, types of available mortgages, financing options, and government programs.
Rent properties or manage rental properties.
Monitor fulfillment of purchase contract terms to ensure that they are handled in a timely manner.

How to become one

Real estate brokers and sales agents typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. Every state requires real estate brokers and agents to be licensed.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Licence: A licence is required in 49 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $73,220 a year The middle half earn $46,480 to $103,360.
About 103,500 people work in this job now, and about 104,300 are projected by 2035. (+0.8%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Real Estate Broker?

Real estate brokers and sales agents typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. Every state requires real estate brokers and agents to be licensed.

How much does a Real Estate Broker earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $73,220 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $46,480 to $103,360.

Is a Real Estate Broker a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 103,500 people now and 104,300 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Real Estate Broker?

Not always. 53% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Real Estate Broker?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.