Urban and Regional Planners
Median wage · national
$89,320
Range: $72K – $110K
Employed
44K
Openings/yr
3K
Typically: master's degree
STEM
Property Managers
Property Managers earn $69,990 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $50,720 and $97,910. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Property Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate the selling, buying, leasing, or governance activities of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate properties. Includes managers of homeowner and condominium associations, rented or leased housing units, buildings, or land (including rights-of-way).
- Median Wage
- $69,990
- Employed Nationally
- 311K
- Openings / Year
- 39,000
- Entry Education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Apartment Community Manager
Apartment House Manager
Apartment Manager
Apartment Property Manager
Building Rental Manager
How Much Do Property Managers Make?
Property Managers earn $69,990 nationally, near the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $50,720 and $97,910. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$69,990
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$51K–$98K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$50,720
Entry-level
$69,990
Median
$97,910
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $83,710, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do Property Managers Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Property Managers roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Prepare detailed budgets and financial reports for properties.
- Manage and oversee operations, maintenance, administration, and improvement of commercial, industrial, or residential properties.
- Plan, schedule, and coordinate general maintenance, major repairs, and remodeling or construction projects for commercial or residential properties.
- Direct collection of monthly assessments, rental fees, and deposits and payment of insurance premiums, mortgage, taxes, and incurred operating expenses.
- Meet with clients to negotiate management and service contracts, determine priorities, and discuss the financial and operational status of properties.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Speaking
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Coordination
Writing
Who Thrives Here
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
Where Do Property Managers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Property Managers?
The BLS projects +3.6% employment change for Property Managers through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 39,000 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +3.6%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
About as fast as average.
39,000
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
311K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Property Managers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $69,990 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 50,410 | $75,140 | +7.4% |
| 2 | Florida | 30,350 | $65,160 | -6.9% |
| 3 | New York | 12,940 | $77,320 | +10.5% |
| 4 | Illinois | 10,070 | $73,250 | +4.7% |
| 5 | North Carolina | 9,850 | — | — |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Property Managers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent to qualify. The 2 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Estate | 7,783 | $84,821 | 234 |
| 2 | Real Estate Development | 549 | $106,061 | 21 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Property Managers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 3 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 4 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Atlanta, GA | 91 | $12,116 | $102,772 |
| 5 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 6 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA | 90 | $20,111 | $143,372 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Property Managers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Property Managers pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Property Managers Pros & Cons
The data on Property Managers shows 3 measurable strengths and 3 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Competitive salary $69,990 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- Wide job market 311K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
- Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
- High earnings variance The gap between the 25th ($50,720) and 75th ($97,910) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, location, and specialization.
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $69,990 median while building the experience employers require.
- Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $50,720 is considerably below the $69,990 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.
Property Managers Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Property Managers professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Property Managers is $69,990, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $50,720 and $97,910. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Property Managers a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $69,990 median, with +3.6% projected growth through 2034, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How long does it take to become a Property Managers?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Real Estate are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $69,990 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Property Managers?
The BLS projects +3.6% employment change for Property Managers through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 39,000 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 311K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Property Managers professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Property Managers roles: Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Coordination, and Writing. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
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- Median wage
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Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
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- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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