Careers in the Real Estate Field

• Selling and appraising homes are two career options in real estate. Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images

  The real estate field as a career choice can be both exciting and lucrative. Although the median annual salary and commissions of real estate sales agents nationwide was $40,150 in May of 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that the top 10 percent made more than six figures. Job growth in this field of sales is expected to grow faster than average through 2018. There are, however, jobs outside of the sales field you may also wish to consider.

Brokers and Sales Agents

• Real estate brokers and sales agents are the professionals in the field of real estate responsible for listing homes for sale and helping potential buyers locate the right home for them. Both perform the same basic job duties with one notable exception: Real estate brokers have received additional education and licensing that allows them to manage their own real estate business. A sales agent is limited to working as a contract laborer for a broker and must split the commission with the broker.

  To become a licensed agent or broker, most states require you to sit through pre-licensing courses and pass a state licensing exam. The amount of hours spent taking courses varies by state. Education to become a broker must be taken in addition to sales licensing work and may require several years of demonstrated experience before you can receive a license.

  The median earnings of brokers in May 2008 was $57,500.

Real Estate Appraisers

• If you don't like selling and want to look into other types of real estate careers, a career as a real estate appraiser could prove to be one viable option. Real estate appraisers determine the quality and the value of a property and provide an assessment or valuation that is usually used by the bank to determine a home's value.

  Appraisers are unbiased professionals who have neither the interest of the seller or the buyer in mind. Instead, their job is to give an honest evaluation of a property's worth. They provide evaluations for both home purchases and for refinancing.

  Real estate appraisers jump through the same hoops as sales professionals and brokers to obtain their jobs. They typically complete state required classwork and pass a licensing exam.

  PayScale notes that real estate appraisers nationwide made between $38,967 and $71,512 in October 2010.

Property Management

• Property management is a third option for a career in real estate. Property managers are qualified professionals who work for real estate developers.

  Property managers typically manage various types of rental properties such as apartment complexes or rental homes. They must have knowledge of how to negotiate leases, create contracts and manage several different properties at a time. Ohio State University's Fisher School of Business notes that property management careers can provide you with an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the real estate field.

  Property managers typically need to obtain some type of certification that indicates their aptitude for this type of work. For instance, the Institute of Real Estate Management offers professional certifications for property managers.

  PayScale notes that property managers made between $33,631 and $52,352 as of October 2010.