Ever wondered how to make bank in real estate without actually buying property?

REITs might be your answer.

I was digging into Real Estate Investment Trusts recently and realized they’re basically the perfect blend of real estate, finance, and asset management careers all wrapped into one industry.

Let me break down why REIT careers are worth considering, what they pay, and whether they might be right for you.

What The Heck Is A REIT Anyway?

REITs (pronounced “reets”) are companies that own, operate, or finance income-producing real estate. Think apartment buildings, shopping malls, warehouses, hotels, data centers – basically any property that makes money.

The cool part? You can invest in them just like stocks, getting exposure to real estate without needing millions of dollars or dealing with toilet clogs at 2 AM.

But we’re not here to talk about investing in REITs – we’re talking about working for them.

In the US alone, publicly traded REITs provide over 300,000 direct jobs. When you include related industries, we’re talking about more than a million jobs worldwide connected to REITs.

The industry is massive and covers pretty much every aspect of real estate you can imagine:

• Investment analysis
• Portfolio management
• Property management
• Development and construction
• Legal and compliance
• Tech and data analytics

It’s like the Swiss Army knife of real estate careers.

Show Me The Money

Let’s be real – we all want to know about the cash.

The average salary across all REIT jobs sits around $86,722 per year. But that’s just the average – many positions pay significantly more.

Some of the fattest paychecks include:

• Real estate developers: $125,000+
• Financial analysts: Around $97,000
• Investor relations specialists: About $95,000

And if you make it to the executive suite? REIT CEOs earn an average of $147,469, with top performers at bigger firms making multiples of that.

Top Jobs in REITs

The most influential (and well-compensated) positions include:

Chief Executive Officer (CEO): The big boss who sets the vision and makes the major investment calls. You’ll need serious real estate AND finance knowledge for this gig.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO): Manages all things money – accounting, reporting, capital structure, you name it.

Investment Analyst: These folks dig through market data and property financials to find the next great acquisition or investment opportunity.

Asset Manager: Once a property is acquired, these people make sure it’s performing at its best. They’re basically the property portfolio doctors who diagnose problems and prescribe solutions.

Development Manager: Oversees new construction projects from concept to completion.

Property Manager: Handles the day-to-day operations of properties, including tenant relations, maintenance, and budgeting.

The beauty of REIT careers is that there’s a clear path upward. Start as an analyst or assistant property manager, work your way up to senior roles, and eventually, you could be calling the shots as an executive.

Getting Your Foot in the Door

Most successful REIT professionals have at least a bachelor’s degree in finance, real estate, business, or economics. But education doesn’t stop there.

Want to really stand out? Consider:

• MBA with real estate focus
• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification
• Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)
• Real Estate Investment Trust Professional (REITP) designation

Programs like Cornell’s Baker Program in real estate are basically golden tickets into high-level REIT roles. These specialized degrees give you the technical knowledge and the network connections that are crucial in this industry.

Remember: In REITs, who you know matters almost as much as what you know. The industry runs on relationships and reputation.

The Good, The Bad, and The REIT-ly

Pros of REIT Careers:

• Fat paychecks that typically outpace many other industries
• Job stability (people always need places to live, work, and shop)
• Diverse career paths within one industry
• Continuous learning opportunities as markets evolve
• Work-life balance that’s often better than traditional real estate sales

Cons to Consider:

• High entry barriers – not the easiest industry to break into
• Need for specialized knowledge in both finance and real estate
• Pressure-cooker decisions when dealing with multi-million dollar properties
• Competitive advancement – everybody wants those executive spots

Industry Outlook: Is This Thing Growing?

Good news! The REIT sector currently employs around 196,596 people and is projected to grow at about 1.7% annually through 2025.

What makes REITs particularly stable is their diversification across property types. Even when one sector struggles (like retail during the pandemic), others boom (like data centers and logistics).

REITs also tend to weather economic storms better than pure development or brokerage firms because they generate ongoing income from existing properties rather than relying solely on transactions.

So Should You Pursue a REIT Career?

If you’re passionate about real estate but also love the analytical side of finance, REITs offer a sweet spot that combines both worlds.

Yes, you’ll need to invest in your education and continuously build your network. Yes, competition can be fierce. But the rewards – both financial and professional – are substantial.

The ideal REIT professional is someone who:

• Can analyze numbers AND understand physical properties
• Enjoys both detailed analysis AND big-picture strategy
• Values stability but still craves variety in their work
• Is willing to continuously learn as markets evolve

Remember that REITs aren’t just about commercial buildings and shopping centers anymore. Today’s REITs include cutting-edge sectors like data centers, cell towers, and even cannabis facilities. It’s an industry that’s constantly evolving, which means your career will never get stale.

So if you’re looking for a career path that combines real estate’s tangible assets with finance’s analytical rigor, all while offering legit growth potential and solid compensation, a REIT career might just be the perfect fit for your professional future.