How Many Jobs Are Available in Real Estate Investment Trusts? 326,000 Direct and 3.5 Million Total U.S. Roles Explained (2025)

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Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs, own buildings like offices, malls, and apartments. They make money by renting these spaces. REITs create many jobs for people who want to work in real estate. This article answers how many jobs are available in REITs in 2025. It explains 326,000 direct jobs and 3.5 million total jobs in the U.S. You’ll learn about job types, trends, and how to start a career. Peter Sadler, a real estate writer with 6 years of experience, wrote this simple guide to help you understand REIT jobs.

What Are REITs?

REITs are companies that buy and manage properties that make money. Think of offices, stores, or data centers. They let people invest in real estate without owning buildings. REITs must follow rules, like paying 90% of their profits to investors as dividends. This helps them grow and hire more workers.

REITs need people to run their properties, find new buildings, and handle money. In 2025, REITs are growing because of new needs, like data centers for computers and offices for workers. This means more jobs for everyone.

How Many Jobs Do REITs Create in 2025?

In 2023, REITs gave jobs to 3.5 million people in the U.S. This means 331,000 people worked directly for REITs, like property managers. Another 3.2 million had jobs like construction workers because of REITs. In 2025, experts think there will be 326,000 direct jobs and still 3.5 million total jobs. There are fewer direct jobs because some areas, like malls, are growing slowly. But new places, like data centers, keep the job numbers strong.

REITs are worth $243.7 billion in 2025. They grow a little, about 0.9% each year. Data centers and office buildings are making jobs quickly. This information comes from trusted groups like Nareit and EY.

What Kinds of Jobs Are in REITs?

REITs have many jobs for different skills. Some jobs need college, but others are good for beginners. Here’s what you can do in REITs, what the jobs are like, and how much they pay.

Property Management Jobs

Property managers take care of REIT buildings. They help tenants, fix problems, and collect rent. These jobs are busy because renters need help all the time.

  • What They Do: Talk to tenants, fix broken things, and keep buildings nice.
  • Skills Needed: Talking to people, solving problems, and staying organized.
  • Education: High school diploma. Some jobs want a college degree.
  • Salary: $50,000 to $80,000 a year.
  • Why It’s Growing: More apartments and data centers need managers.

Asset Management Jobs

Asset managers make sure REIT properties make money. They decide which buildings to buy or sell. They look at numbers to help the company grow.

  • What They Do: Check property values, plan budgets, and pick investments.
  • Skills Needed: Math, real estate knowledge, and making choices.
  • Education: College degree in finance or business.
  • Salary: $90,000 to $150,000 a year.
  • Why It’s Growing: REITs buy more buildings, like data centers.

Acquisition Jobs

Acquisition workers find new buildings for REITs to buy. They research properties and make deals with sellers. These jobs are fun if you like working with people.

  • What They Do: Find properties, talk to sellers, and sign deals.
  • Skills Needed: Making deals, research, and working with others.
  • Education: College degree in real estate or business.
  • Salary: $70,000 to $120,000 a year.
  • Why It’s Growing: REITs want new properties, like warehouses.

Leasing Jobs

Leasing agents find people to rent REIT spaces, like stores or offices. They show buildings and sign rent papers. These jobs are good if you like meeting people.

  • What They Do: Show spaces, sign rent papers, and answer questions.
  • Skills Needed: Selling, being friendly, and paying attention.
  • Education: High school diploma. Some need a real estate license.
  • Salary: $40,000 to $70,000 a year.
  • Why It’s Growing: More offices and stores need renters in 2025.

Tech and AI Jobs

REITs use computers and AI to make buildings better. Tech workers set up smart systems or study data. These jobs are new and exciting.

  • What They Do: Fix tech systems, study data, or use AI tools.
  • Skills Needed: Computer skills, solving problems, and new ideas.
  • Education: College degree in computers or engineering.
  • Salary: $80,000 to $130,000 a year.
  • Why It’s Growing: AI helps REITs work faster and save money.

Sustainability Jobs

Sustainability workers make buildings use less energy, like adding solar panels. These jobs help the planet and are growing fast.

  • What They Do: Plan green projects and follow eco-rules.
  • Skills Needed: Knowledge of energy and planning projects.
  • Education: College degree in environment or engineering.
  • Salary: $60,000 to $100,000 a year.
  • Why It’s Growing: People want buildings that help the earth.

Office and Support Jobs

REITs need workers like accountants, helpers, and HR staff. These jobs keep the company going. They’re good for starting out.

  • What They Do: Do paperwork, answer phones, or handle money.
  • Skills Needed: Staying organized, using computers, and helping others.
  • Education: High school diploma or two-year degree.
  • Salary: $30,000 to $60,000 a year.
  • Why It’s Growing: REITs need more helpers as they grow.

Jobs in Different REIT Types

REITs own different buildings, and each type has special jobs. Here’s how jobs change by what REITs own.

Office REITs

Office REITs own business buildings, like tall offices. They need managers, leasing agents, and tech workers to keep offices modern. Jobs are growing because more people work in offices again.

Retail REITs

Retail REITs own malls and stores. They hire agents to find shop renters and managers to keep malls busy. Retail jobs are okay, but they grow slower than others.

Apartment REITs

Apartment REITs own homes and apartments. They need managers and fixers to help renters. These jobs are growing because more people rent homes.

Warehouse REITs

Warehouse REITs own big storage buildings. They hire managers and tech workers to run them. Jobs are growing fast because online shopping needs warehouses.

Data Center REITs

Data center REITs own computer buildings for AI and internet. They need tech workers, engineers, and managers. These jobs are growing the most in 2025.

Hotel REITs

Hotel REITs own places for travelers. They hire staff to run hotels and book rooms. Jobs depend on travel, so they grow slower than data centers.

Why Are REIT Jobs Growing in 2025?

REIT jobs are growing for big reasons. First, the economy is better, and low interest rates help REITs buy more buildings. This means they need more workers. Second, new tech like AI makes REITs need tech workers. Third, people want green buildings, so eco-jobs are growing.

Data centers are a huge reason for jobs. Companies like Digital Realty need workers for computer buildings. Office REITs are also hiring because businesses want workers back. These changes make 2025 a great year for REIT jobs.

How to Start a REIT Job

Want a job in REITs? Here are easy steps to begin. They work for new or experienced people.

Learn About REITs

Know what REITs do and how they make money. Read simple books or free websites like Nareit. Learning the basics makes you ready for jobs.

Build Skills

Each job needs special skills. For property jobs, practice talking to people. For tech jobs, learn computers. Take short classes to get better fast.

Get Training

Some jobs need licenses, like a real estate license for leasing. Others, like property managers, might need a Certified Property Manager (CPM) paper. These show you’re good at the job.

Start Small

Try jobs like office helper or leasing assistant. These need less experience and teach you about REITs. Look on job sites like Indeed or LinkedIn.

Meet People

Talk to REIT workers at events or online groups. Meeting people helps you find jobs and learn secrets about the industry.

Apply to REITs

Big REITs like Prologis or American Tower hire many workers. Check their websites for jobs. Smaller REITs also have good jobs, so look locally too.

Challenges in REIT Jobs

REIT jobs are nice, but they have problems. Some jobs, like asset management, need a college degree, which is hard for some people. High-paying jobs have lots of competition. Retail REIT jobs are growing slowly, so they’re harder to find.

Money changes can affect jobs. If interest rates go up, REITs might hire less. But data centers and green jobs keep the market strong.

What’s Next for REIT Jobs?

REIT jobs will keep growing. By 2030, the REIT market might be worth $4 trillion, making more jobs. Data centers and tech jobs will grow a lot because of AI and internet needs. Green jobs will grow as buildings save energy.

For workers, learning tech or eco-skills will help. Even starting small, you can move up to big jobs. REITs are a great choice for a long career.

Conclusion

REITs create 326,000 direct jobs and 3.5 million total jobs in the U.S. in 2025. From property managers to tech workers, there’s a job for you. Data centers and offices are growing fast, making now a good time to start. Learn skills, get training, and apply to companies like Digital Realty. REIT jobs have a bright future, so begin your path today!

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