Top 22 Best Paying Jobs In Real Estate Investment Trusts in 2024

The real estate industry is growing daily, creating opportunities for people to make money through real estate investment trusts. Whether you want to invest or develop a career in Real Estate Investment Trust, countless possibilities exist. The industry offers many career options to grow a lucrative yet satisfying career.

A Real Estate Investment Trust is a firm that owns and manages multiple real estates, such as commercial properties ranging from offices, apartments, warehouses, complexes, and shopping malls. Stakeholders can generate a passive income or own shares in prime properties by investing. Real estate is a great way to invest for the future, especially when market conditions are conducive. While owning assets, managing property, or investing in real estate are excellent investment options, there are other income-generating possibilities in real estate. There are plenty of rewarding job opportunities in Real Estate Investment Trust that you can consider venturing into.

Below we share some of the gratifying jobs in Real Estate Investment Trust.

1. Vice President Of Asset Management

Average salary: $199,000-$385,000 annually

The asset management department oversees the operational and financial work of the portfolio of assets within the real estate investment trusts. A vice president’s role is to offer guidance and support teams to reach targets while relying on real estate investment trust regulations. They also play a joint function in accounting, development, finance, and acquisition. A vice president is responsible for the financial performance of a portfolio. They oversee and help in finding investors, marketing, and managing teams.

It would be fantastic if you had a degree with at least ten years of working experience in this industry to qualify for this position. Exhibiting excellent leadership skills is required to perform well as the company’s vice president, as you will lead multiple teams within the organization.

2. Real Estate Acquirer 

Average salary: $140,000-$200,000 per year

After research, data, and acquisition teams complete assessing a property, the responsibility shifts to a real estate acquirer who will go out to negotiate the sale. The acquirer’s role is significant in this process as it cushions investors from overpaying for a property.

3. Head Of Marketing 

Average salary: $130,000-$160,000 per year

The head of marketing helps formulate sales strategies to attract new clients and investors. They help in promoting and creating visibility to generate business. Additionally, they train marketing teams and execute tactics to communicate their company’s brand message. Though senior marketing personnel mainly engage in business-to-business (B2B) marketing, you will occasionally find business-to-consumer (B2C) campaigns.

A marketing manager must have a portfolio demonstrating their work experience and skills. You will also need to have academic qualifications from an accredited institution of higher learning.

4. Site Acquisition Specialist 

Average salary: $130,000-$160,000 per year

A site acquisition specialist deals with the overall purchase of a property and takes care of the technicalities needed in drafting legal contracts. They offer operational support focusing on building codes, leases, and entitlements. These specialists work closely with architects, engineers, and contractors and are responsible for researching, identifying, analyzing, and negotiating lease contracts. They also make building applications as required by the municipality for wireless telecommunication. They have experience identifying candidates for specific land leases based on customers’ criteria, preferences, land use regulations, and jurisdictional zoning.

5. Real Estate Investors 

Average salary: $120,000-$160,000 per year

Real estate investors purchase properties and renovate them to add value before reselling them at a profit. While becoming a real estate investor can be a profitable venture, it takes patience, skill, and time before you achieve any gains. To thrive in this career path, you need to know when to buy, where, and when to sell. You also must be an excellent researcher and learn more about real estate market trends. Suppose real estate investment is something you’re interested in; in that case, you must be willing to take risks, be knowledgeable about the real estate industry trends, and be able to adapt different property buying and selling strategies.

6. Real Estate Attorney 

Average salary: $119,000 – $160,000 per year

A real estate attorney comes in handy to resolve a variety of asset ownership and property transfer complications. An attorney can act as a mediator in issues relating to documentation, contracts, titles, changeovers, settling disputes in property ownership or transfers, and any other legal challenge related to real estate.

Additionally, real estate attorneys offer legal advice to property owners, tenants, landlords, buyers, or sellers in the real estate industry. They also guide real estate transactions to prevent future misinterpretations, lawsuits, or disputes.

You must have a bachelor’s degree in law to qualify for this position.

7. Facility Manager 

Average salary: $90,000-$120,000 per year

While a facility manager and a property manager play similar roles, responsibilities may depend on the property’s size.

Facilities managers task 

  • Creates a conducive work environment for tenants and their clients.
  • Notify and update tenants on security, hygiene, and safety guidelines.
  • Hire maintenance, cleaning, and janitorial staff.
  • Ensure the building adheres to all building codes.
  • Take care of meeting spaces, furniture, fixtures, and office floor plans.

8. Real Estate Developer 

Average salary: $88,00-$140,000 per year

Real estate development is one of the most fulfilling career options in the real estate investment trust. Unlike a real estate investor, who purchases and sells existing real estate assets, a developer acquires virgin land and develops properties for sale. Real estate developers collaborate with professionals like architects, engineers, contractors, surveyors, interior designers, landscapers, electricians, plumbers, and carpenters.

A real estate developer studies trends in real estate, devise strategies, and analyzes consumer needs. They also add value to a property in terms of design, price, and functionality to improve its value. To qualify as a real estate developer, it would help if you acquire a degree in engineering, management, or a related field.

9. Acquisition Expert 

Average salary $80,000-$200,000 per year

An acquisition expert sources new investment opportunities and seizes the deal to its end. You can apply for an acquisition expert position with formal education in capital markets, marketing, finance, or business administration. The beauty about a career in real estate acquisitions is that you can graduate from an associate to a manager, up to vice president of acquisitions level earning over $200,000.

10. Property Developer 

Average salary: $80,000-$160,000 per year

The property developer’s role is to ensure new buildings progress from the planning stage to completion while staying within the set budget. 

Other duties include:

  • They coordinate all real estate activities and employ, manage and fire contractors. 
  • They offer guidance on the tax implications of certain transactions and their long-term financial effects. 
  • They review contracts, budget preparation, audit properties, analyze financial information, report data, and forecast a company’s future financial health.

An MBA in real estate or any related field is a requirement for this job. 

11. Real Estate Investment Trust Analyst (Reit Analyst)

Average salary: $75,000-$110,000 per year

The REIT Analyst collaborates with other real estate experts to buy, sell, market, and offer financial management services. They assist real estate firms in making informed choices by contributing to research, analysis, and monitoring the real estate industry trends.

An analyst also helps the real estate finance team in acquisition, disposition, marketing, and financing. With different financial expertise and tools, an analyst develops economic models on the company’s current assets and helps the organization make wise decisions in property purchasing activities.

To qualify as a REIT Analyst, you need a bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, investment management, or real estate. Experience and knowledge in property markets and real estate trends make applicants marketable. Having organizational, analytical and research skills is also an added advantage.  

12. Property Manager 

Average salary: $70,000-$120,000 per year

A property manager oversees a property’s operations and helps investors by managing the properties on their behalf. Investors who live far away or don’t like dealing with tenants can hire a property manager to manage their investments.

Property managers are also in charge of marketing and assisting in finding credible tenants. They also lease properties and show interested tenants or buyers around. They take the burden of the property owner.

You will need a real estate broker’s license to qualify as a property manager. In some states, you must take and pass a written exam to get your broker’s license.

Other property manager tasks include: 

  • Devising ways to maximize profits that benefit the property owner. 
  • Develop budgets. 
  • Collect rent. 
  • Coordinate repair work
  • Pay bills, taxes, and utilities  

A property manager can get a job without any particular degree. Still, a comprehensive knowledge of the property market, current rules and regulations, and any real estate industry information are beneficial. 

13. Relations Consultant 

Average salary: $70,000-$90,000 per year

A relations consultant looks for prime properties and encourages investors to finance developments on those projects. Their roles focus on collaborating with stockholders, creating investment reports, and setting up teams for meetings and workshops. They also monitor and present to management the views of the investment community regarding the company’s performance.

Other duties include: 

  • Preparing investment events.
  • Analyzing data
  • Financial and research modelling
  • Research and data collection

14. Real Estate Broker 

Average salary: $67,000-$120,000 per year

Real estate brokers are not the same as agents. They are licensed, have passed the standard qualification test, and are excellent at negotiating properties. These experts can work independently or hire agents to work for them. A real estate broker has a more advanced license than an agent that can engage and manage teams of real estate agents. Due to the penalties and risks involved when operating a brokerage firm, brokers are responsible for training and monitoring the agents they hire.

15. Home Sale Consultant 

Average salary: $60,000-$140,000 per year

A home sales consultant’s role is to meet potential buyers, show them the property, and assist them with the paperwork. They are mainly the initial point of contact for property buyers. You must be knowledgeable about a property and its features to convince potential buyers to make a purchase. A high school diploma or equivalent certification is necessary to get this role.

16. Property Investment Strategist 

Average salary: $50,000-122,000 per year

To invest in property, you need the services of experts like property strategists who offer invaluable advice and guidance in selecting and purchasing prime properties. These experts utilize their market analysis knowledge to identify locations and properties that provide the best opportunities. 

Additionally, property investment strategists monitor client investments and give valuable feedback. They also guide you on how to grow your collection of properties.

An excellent strategist keeps up to date with trends in the industry and finds ways to identify opportunities to help you grow your portfolio. They are knowledgeable in property contracts, consultation, title deeds, and property sale processes.

Property investment strategists also help draft contracts, strategize, invest, handle clients, market, and sell a property.

17. Real Estate Agent 

Average salary: $50,000-$106,000 per year (But mainly work on a commission basis)

Real estate agents support people and help them sell or purchase a property by connecting buyers and sellers. They obtain a professional license and mainly work for a brokerage firm. A real estate agent’s job varies and may consist of helping buyers find homes and sellers find buyers. If you’re interested in this field, choose to focus on residential or commercial real estate.  

Some agents specialize in residential properties like homes, condo units, apartments, beach houses, cottages, and much more. In contrast, others focus on commercial real estate, specializing in business premises like shopping malls, hotels, warehouses, office premises, rental apartments, etc.

To excel as a real estate agent, you must have excellent research skills and strong negotiation and communication skills.

18. Real Estate Property Appraiser 

Average salary: $47,000-$75,000 per year

A real estate property appraiser is an expert who can determine the worth of a residential or commercial property. Several factors affect the value of a property, including the market, the property’s location and the economy.

To qualify as an appraiser, you need proper academic qualifications and must have passed fundamental appraisal courses. An education background in finance, economics, or any related real estate courses will help kick-start your professional career. You also need an operating license and good mathematical skills, as this job requires one to analyze large amounts of data.

19. Property Accountant 

Average salary: $47,000-$80,000 per year

A property accountant is responsible for the financial aspect of real estate transactions. Every real estate investment trust company must have an accountant to actively handle financial matters during purchase, sale, or investment. You will need comprehensive knowledge of real estate practices and relevant academic qualifications in accounting to gain credibility in this field.

A degree in accounts, finance, or business administration will pave the way for property accountant job opportunities. If you desire to advance in this career, you may need to undertake a master’s degree in business administration or accounting. While certificates are not usually a requirement for a property accounting role, having them can help you stand out in job application processes. In-house training that includes learning the company’s accounting procedures and software can help you gain the necessary work-related experience.

20. Investor Relations Officer 

Average salary: $40,000-$142,000 per year

An Investor Relations Officer coordinates shareholder interactions and organizes annual meetings. They prepare financial statements and summary reports and work with investors or shareholders to achieve significant investment returns. To thrive in this role needs a keen eye, excellent communication, and critical analytic skills. 

21. Leasing Consultant 

Average salary: $40,000-$140,000 per year

A leasing consultant is a rental property specialist who goes between a landlord and tenants. Leasing consultancy can be an excellent career option, especially if you enjoy managing properties and have knowledge of interpreting lease terms. They assist people in selecting appropriate property or housing options that fit their budgets and preferences.  

Tenants can be a handful. Therefore, as a leasing consultant, you must have excellent interpersonal skills to analyze tenants and match them with properties that meet their needs and preferences.

22. Mortgage Loan Officer 

Average salary: $35,000-$217,000 per year

Banks, financial institutions, or independent lenders employ mortgage loan officers to help clients acquire appropriate loan types or mortgages. The minimum academic qualification for this role is a bachelor’s degree in finance, business, or accounting. You also need an active mortgage loan license for the state you want to operate in.

Conclusion 

The real estate industry is massive and rapidly ballooning without showing signs of slowing down anytime soon. With the population explosion experienced each year, there will always be a demand for housing and entrepreneurs looking for business premises to meet rising customer demands. For this reason, Real Estate Investment Trusts have come of age to manage investor interests and increase their net worth. Whatever transaction you need to make in real estate to safeguard your interests, you will need the input of REIT professionals at different stages of your investment.

Alternatively, you can also grow your career working in real estate to attain financial freedom.

Once you identify how lucrative the real estate investment trust is, you can confidently proceed, prepare and get a job in this industry. The first step is to acquire relevant knowledge on topics that improve your authority in the real estate industry. Frequent new trends and current developments influence the specific REIT career path you want to take. Be it an appraiser, agent, or analyst, there’s a wide range of opportunities in the REITs learn industry that you consider and grow in your career.