Property Manager
Property, real estate, and community association managers oversee many aspects of residential, commercial, or industrial properties.
What the job is
- The work
- Property, real estate, and community association managers oversee many aspects of residential, commercial, or industrial properties.
BLS
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Most property, real estate, and community association managers work full time. They usually work in an office setting but may spend part of their workday on tasks away from the office, such as showing apartments, inspecting the grounds, or meeting with owners.
BLS
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Organised problem-solvers who like dealing with tenants, owners and contractors, and can handle money and contracts.
- Career cluster
- Financial Services
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (property, real estate, and community association managers).
- Median pay
- $69,990 a year ($33.65 an hour)
BLS
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 460,400
- Typical entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- Training after hire
- Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +4%, which BLS calls "as fast as average"
BLS
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +17,100 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- Property, real estate, and community association managers typically need a high school diploma combined with several years of related work experience for entry-level positions, although employers may prefer to hire college graduates. Some managers also must have a state-issued license.
BLS
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- In short
- Entry-level positions typically need a high school diploma and several years of related work experience; employers may prefer college graduates for commercial roles. In most states property managers need a property management or real estate broker's license.
- License
- In most states. Many states require professional credentials or licensure, and requirements vary; in some states community association managers also need a real estate license. Managers of federally subsidized public housing must hold certifications.
- By state
- State rules on the roadmap
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
-
StateChoose a state
- AlabamaState guide
- AlaskaState guide
- ArizonaState guide
- ArkansasState guide
- CaliforniaState guide
- ColoradoState guide
- ConnecticutState guide
- DelawareState guide
- District of ColumbiaState guide
- FloridaState guide
- GeorgiaState guide
- HawaiiState guide
- IdahoState guide
- IllinoisState guide
- IndianaState guide
- IowaState guide
- KansasState guide
- KentuckyState guide
- LouisianaState guide
- MaineState guide
- MarylandState guide
- MassachusettsState guide
- MichiganState guide
- MinnesotaState guide
- MississippiState guide
- MissouriState guide
- MontanaState guide
- NebraskaState guide
- NevadaState guide
- New HampshireState guide
- New JerseyState guide
- New MexicoState guide
- New YorkState guide
- North CarolinaState guide
- North DakotaState guide
- OhioState guide
- OklahomaState guide
- OregonState guide
- PennsylvaniaState guide
- Rhode IslandState guide
- South CarolinaState guide
- South DakotaState guide
- TennesseeState guide
- TexasState guide
- UtahState guide
- VermontState guide
- VirginiaState guide
- WashingtonState guide
- West VirginiaState guide
- WisconsinState guide
- WyomingState guide
Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Property, real estate or community association manager: experience first, a state license in many states
See the roadmap
Route 1: Related work → onsite manager → property manager · Route 2: Degree → commercial property management
More careers in Financial Services
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 20 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.