Hiring Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers

What do property, real estate, and community association managers 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.
• Direct and coordinate the activities of staff and contract personnel and evaluate their performance.

Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 11-9141.00.

What does it take to become one?

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

O*NET Job Zone 4, SVP (7.0 to < 8.0). O*NET OnLine.

Employers commonly list experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Yardi software for this role.

What do property, real estate, and community association managers get paid?

BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for property, real estate, and community association managers in 92 of the metro areas we publish data for. The median ranges from $46,530 to $128,710 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $63,390. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.

BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 11-9141.

What does hiring one cost?

The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest median any metro we publish data for pays property, real estate, and community association managers is $128,710 a year, place of work (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $25,742 to $38,613 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.

Frequently asked

How fast can a property manager search fill?

Typically 23 to 35 days, and typically 2 to 3x faster than a contingency search, per our recruiting partner's published figures. Both are typical rather than guaranteed.

What if the hire does not work out?

A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.