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Real estate agents and salespersons (NOC 6232)

High demand occupation
Table of contents
About this job Earnings and Outlook Duties Work environment
Workforce and employment statistics Job requirements Related careers Career paths and resources
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About this job

Real estate agents and salespersons help with the process of buying or selling houses, apartments, commercial buildings and other real estate.

Want to learn more? Watch this WorkBC Career Trek video and see what it’s like to work in this type of career.

Real estate agents and salespersons may specialize in specific property types, such as residential, commercial, industrial and institutional, recreational or rural.

Time management and being able to adapt to and use technology are important skills to have in this career.

Common job titles
  • real estate agent / broker / dealer
  • real estate agent supervisor
  • REALTOR®
  • salesperson, new home
  • real estate agent / broker / dealer
  • real estate agent supervisor
  • REALTOR®
  • salesperson, new home

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

$44,753

Source: 2017 Job Bank Annual Wage Data

Provincial hourly rate

  • High
  • Median
  • Low

N/A - Data not available

Source: 2017 Job Bank Wage Report

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2018-2028)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

  • 2018 - 2023
  • 2023 - 2028

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job openings

10 year expected job openings: 7,100

  • 2018
  • 2023
  • 2028

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Composition of job openings

 
New jobs due to economic growth:
24.1%
1,710 openings
 
Replacement of retiring workers:
75.9%
5,400 openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Regional outlook

Select a region to view regional outlook
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
Cariboo
Employment in 2018:
200
Average annual employment growth:
1.3%
Expected number of job openings:
100
Kootenay
Employment in 2018:
330
Average annual employment growth:
0.2%
Expected number of job openings:
120
Mainland / Southwest
Employment in 2018:
14,900
Average annual employment growth:
0.8%
Expected number of job openings:
4,740
North Coast & Nechako
Employment in 2018:
50
Average annual employment growth:
0.4%
Expected number of job openings:
20
Northeast
Employment in 2018:
120
Average annual employment growth:
0.7%
Expected number of job openings:
50
Thompson-Okanagan
Employment in 2018:
1,750
Average annual employment growth:
1.2%
Expected number of job openings:
890
Vancouver Island / Coast
Employment in 2018:
2,820
Average annual employment growth:
0.9%
Expected number of job openings:
1,190

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Duties

Real estate agents and salespersons:

  • solicit property sales listings from prospective vendors
  • help vendors sell property by establishing asking price, advertising the property, listing the property and conducting open houses for prospective buyers
  • help prospective buyers in selecting, visiting, inspecting and making offers of purchase on real estate properties
  • advise clients on market conditions, prices, mortgages, legal requirements and related matters
  • draw up sales agreements for approval of purchaser and seller
  • rent or lease properties on behalf of clients

Special duties

Real estate agents and salespersons may specialize in residential, commercial, industrial/institutional or rural real estate sales.

Work environment

Key aspects of the work in this occupation:

  • Work takes place in a conventional office setting, with time spent outdoors when going to properties.

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

16,900 workers are employed
53% of workers are working mostly full time

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by gender

  Men
  Women

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by age group

  15 - 24 years
  25 - 44 years
  45 - 64 years
  65+ years

Source: 2016 Census

Labour force by industry

Finance, Insurance and Real Estate:
99%
View more industry data

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by region

Select your region:
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
  % employment of this occupation
  % employment of all occupations
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland / Southwest
North Coast & Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island / Coast

Source: 2016 Census

Career paths and resources

Career paths

Real estate agents and salespersons normally work on a commission basis.

Real estate agents may operate independently by obtaining a broker’s licence in accordance with the regulations of the province of employment. A broker’s licence is required to become a manager in real estate.

Additional resources

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Profile last updated:
December 11, 2018
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