Real Estate Career Development Opportunities for the Undecided Student

If you’re exploring professional paths to pursue after you finish your real estate education, there are plenty of real estate career opportunities available to you in Ohio. Here’s what you need to know about real estate career development, including the average salary for each role. 

1. Commercial Leasing Manager

Commercial leasing managers are responsible for filling commercial offices and storefronts. Commercial leasing managers work closely with business owners and directors to negotiate costs and services. Having a background in real estate provides insight and experience that you can share with prospective lessors. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a commercial leasing manager in Ohio is $81,094.

2. Real Estate Appraiser

A real estate appraiser is licensed to determine the value of commercial or residential real estate properties. This requires appraisers to know how to value properties based on their location, condition, and comparison to similar properties. 

To become a real estate appraiser, you need to complete appraiser coursework and pass a state exam. Since appraisers work closely with business and finance professionals, having a background in those fields is helpful (although not required). According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a real estate appraiser is $87,247. 

3. Real Estate Researcher/Specialist

Staying on top of trends is a crucial component of work in the real estate industry. What’s happening on national, state, and local levels affects your day-to-day job. If you have a passion for data and storytelling, consider becoming a real estate research analyst to work as an advisor to other real estate professionals. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a real estate researcher is $77,895. 

4. Real Estate Developer

Real estate developers, also known as land developers, survey and purchase tracts of land for the construction of commercial, residential, or industrial properties. These professionals need a keen understanding of the laws and regulations surrounding development and construction in the areas where they work. For those who want to oversee development, experience in labor, sales, and engineering may be helpful. The income of real estate developers varies greatly. 

5. Real Estate Investor

Investing in real estate involves purchasing, owning, leasing, or selling land and property to build wealth. Investments can be residential (buying a house to rent out), commercial (owning an office space), or a combination of both. Real estate investments tend to appreciate in value and can produce cash flows from rental payments, making them lucrative opportunities for investors. If you want to invest in real estate, industry knowledge and an Ohio real estate license can be helpful and save you money.

6. Property Management

Property managers work on behalf of rental or ownership companies and coordinate the day-to-day management of commercial and residential facilities. They may be responsible for communicating with prospects and tenants, collecting rent, and scheduling maintenance and repairs. Real estate education provides property managers with valuable knowledge of real estate valuation, maintenance, and policies. And, having good people skills is a must for any good property manager. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a property manager in Ohio is $55,458. 

7. Foreclosure Specialist

A foreclosure specialist supports the foreclosure process by coordinating documents, deadlines, and communication among parties, including the loan servicer or lender, attorneys/trustees, title companies, and (in some cases) the homeowner. They review foreclosure files for completeness and accuracy (for example, loan and default documentation, legal notices, payoff figures, and title/lien information) and help resolve issues that could delay or complicate the case. Because the work involves high-stakes financial situations, strong attention to detail, clear communication, knowledge of foreclosure procedures, and professionalism are important—especially when interacting with borrowers. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a foreclosure specialist s $54,283. 

8. Real Estate Attorney

Real estate law is an ideal career path for those who want to continue their education. To become a real estate attorney, you need a bachelor’s degree and a JD from an accredited law program. Law schools don’t require you to have a specific undergraduate background. Having a background in real estate can be helpful because you’ll have industry knowledge that other lawyers may not have. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a real estate attorney in Ohio is $133,901. 

9. Home Inspector 

Home inspectors play a very important role in the homebuying process. Home inspectors are licensed professionals who conduct inspections on residential properties to identify structural defects, health and safety hazards, and compliance issues. If you have an eye for detail and enjoy the technical side of home maintenance (like plumbing, infrastructure, and electrical systems), you may want to become a home inspector. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a home inspector is $57,370. 

10. Real Estate Assistant

Real estate assistants provide administrative support for real estate agents or brokers. Running a business is a lot of work, so good assistants are valuable assets for real estate agents. Real estate assistants are often responsible for editing and posting property listings, organizing files and records, and interacting directly with clients. If you enjoy real estate work but don’t necessarily want to become a broker or agent, this career path would be great for you. According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a real estate assistant is $46,213. 

11. Real Estate Marketing specialist

Marketing is an essential building block of any successful business. However, real estate agents don’t have the time or resources to build a marketing program for their agency. As a real estate marketing specialist, you can work as a consultant or in-house employee to design communications and marketing strategies. 

No matter what career path you choose, having a strong foundation in real estate can set you apart from your peers and open up new career opportunities. Check out our Student Success Stories and see how other students have succeeded with help from Hondros. 

Ready to get licensed in Ohio? Enroll in Hondros College real estate pre-licensing courses and learn from active industry instructors, study online/in person/livestream (switch anytime), and prep with our Pass Or Don’t Pay Guarantee.