Real Estate Agent job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

16

O*NET task statements

Preparation

Job Zone 1-2 of 5

very little to some preparation

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

BLS 2025–35

Median pay

$52,830

BLS May 2025

Data Government data groups this job as Real Estate Sales Agents (O*NET-SOC 41-9022.00). Figures on this page are for that occupation.

1. Present purchase offers to sellers for consideration. importance 4.7 of 5
2. Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers, generally representing one or the other. importance 4.7 of 5
3. Confer with escrow companies, lenders, home inspectors, and pest control operators to ensure that terms and conditions of purchase agreements are met before closing dates. importance 4.7 of 5
4. Advise clients on market conditions, prices, mortgages, legal requirements, and related matters. importance 4.7 of 5
5. Prepare documents such as representation contracts, purchase agreements, closing statements, deeds, and leases. importance 4.7 of 5
6. Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price. importance 4.6 of 5
7. Coordinate appointments to show homes to prospective buyers. importance 4.5 of 5
8. Generate lists of properties that are compatible with buyers' needs and financial resources. importance 4.5 of 5
9. Interview clients to determine what kinds of properties they are seeking. importance 4.5 of 5
10. Promote sales of properties through advertisements, open houses, and participation in multiple listing services. importance 4.5 of 5
11. Accompany buyers during visits to and inspections of property, advising them on the suitability and value of the homes they are visiting. importance 4.4 of 5
12. Advise sellers on how to make homes more appealing to potential buyers. importance 4.3 of 5
13. Coordinate property closings, overseeing signing of documents and disbursement of funds. importance 4.3 of 5
14. Review property listings, trade journals, and relevant literature, and attend conventions, seminars, and staff and association meetings, to remain knowledgeable about real estate markets. importance 4.2 of 5
15. Answer clients' questions regarding construction work, financing, maintenance, repairs, and appraisals. importance 4.2 of 5
16. Display commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential properties to clients and explain their features. importance 4.1 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Getting Information, Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others, Performing for or Working Directly with the Public, Working with Computers and Making Decisions and Solving Problems.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Appraise properties to determine loan values.
• Investigate clients' financial and credit status to determine eligibility for financing.
• Secure construction or purchase financing with own firm or mortgage company.
• Locate and appraise undeveloped areas for building sites, based on evaluations of area market conditions.
• Conduct seminars and training sessions for sales agents to improve sales techniques.
• Arrange meetings between buyers and sellers when details of transactions need to be negotiated.

Knowledge areas: Customer and Personal Service, Sales and Marketing, English Language, Computers and Electronics and Administration and Management.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Yardi software, Canva. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education.
• Experience: BLS lists no work experience in a related occupation as typical to enter.
• Training on the job: BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical once hired.
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 1-2 of 5 (very little to some preparation). Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board and see how to become a real estate agent.

Most O*NET's occupation experts for this occupation (52%) name a high school diploma or equivalent as the education the job requires.

Job title: Real Estate Agent
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring a Real Estate Agent to rent, buy, or sell property for clients.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will do
- Present purchase offers to sellers for consideration.
- Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers, generally representing one or the other.
- Confer with escrow companies, lenders, home inspectors, and pest control operators to ensure that terms and conditions of purchase agreements are met before closing dates.
- Advise clients on market conditions, prices, mortgages, legal requirements, and related matters.
- Prepare documents such as representation contracts, purchase agreements, closing statements, deeds, and leases.
- Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
- Coordinate appointments to show homes to prospective buyers.
- Generate lists of properties that are compatible with buyers' needs and financial resources.

What we are looking for
- [Education: BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical for this occupation; set the level this role truly needs]
- [Experience: BLS lists no related work experience as typical to enter; set what this role needs]
- Strength in active listening, speaking and negotiation
- Working knowledge of Customer and Personal Service and Sales and Marketing
- [Software your team uses, e.g. Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Office software]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

The median annual wage was $52,830 in May 2025. The median hourly wage was $25.40. BLS estimates about 193,370 jobs in this occupation in the U.S.

BLS projects employment of Real Estate Sales Agents to grow 1.7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 32,600 openings a year over that period, including openings to replace workers who leave.

See the full real estate agent salary breakdown by percentile, state and metro.

• Read a real real estate agent posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Present purchase offers to sellers for consideration”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only real estate agent work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (active listening and speaking); real estate agent interview questions turns them into practice questions.