RERealtor
RE
Career

Realtor

By the numbers
Typical pay
$52,830 / yr
Education to start
High school diploma or equivalent
Future demand
+3.1% by 2034
People in this job
193K
Figures shown for ·closest of 2 O*NET occupations
The work
Watch · day in the life
A day, hour by hour

No two days are identical — but this captures the rhythm of a busy residential Realtor:

08:00
Morning triage

Scan emails, texts, and MLS alerts; flag anything urgent before the day explodes.

08:30
CMA & pricing

Pull recent comparable sales; decide if the seller's dream price is actually realistic.

09:30
Listing prep

Write the property description, upload photos, and push the listing live on MLS and social.

11:00
Buyer consultations

Two back-to-back calls — figure out who's ready to buy and who's just browsing.

13:00
Property showings

Drive three buyers through four homes; read their reactions and ask the hard questions.

15:30
Offer & negotiation

A lowball offer lands — counter, walk, or hold? Draft the response and call the seller.

16:30
Transaction check-in

Chase the lender, confirm the inspection time, and keep two pending deals from stalling.

18:00
Open house

Host a two-hour open house; pitch the property and collect leads from every visitor.

20:00
Prospecting & follow-up

Return missed calls, text warm leads, and book tomorrow's showings before signing off.

Things you do
  • Tour homes with buyers and help them find the right one.
  • Negotiate offers between buyers and sellers to close the deal.
  • Research recent sales to price a home competitively.
  • List a home for sale and market it across websites and social media.
  • Coordinate inspections, appraisals, and lenders to keep deals on track.
Decisions you’ll make
  • Is this home priced to sell, or am I just telling my client what they want to hear?
  • Should I push my buyer to make an offer now, or wait for a better property?
  • Is this a red flag I need to disclose, or something the inspector will catch?
  • Should I counter this lowball offer, or walk away from the deal entirely?
  • Is this client actually ready to buy, or are they just browsing?
Education Pathways · how you get there
24 in 100 went the college route · 76 in 100 found another way in None, typically

People usually reach this work through experience rather than a college program.

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