A career pivot can be intimidating at any time of life. However, if you are considering a career in real estate, it’s important to note that most agents get licensed after working in a non-related industry. We recently discovered fascinating information from a recent survey focused on real estate agent demographics that might put you at ease regarding your career change.
Here’s an overview of the type of people who want to become a real estate agent in California. We’ll share data collected at the end of 2023 that shows that new agents come from a variety of age groups and educational backgrounds.
Key Takeaways
- Most prospective real estate agents in California are aged 35 to 44, with many transitioning from other industries like healthcare, education, and finance.
- While 33% of prospective agents hold a bachelor’s degree, 30% have some college education but no degree, highlighting that diverse educational backgrounds are common among new agents.
- A significant number of experienced agents (73%) are confident they will remain active in the industry for the next two years, with real estate being the sole occupation for 75% of agents.
- Prospective agents are drawn to the profession due to income potential, flexibility, and the ability to be their own boss, making real estate an attractive career choice in California.
Overview of Current Real Estate Agents’ Career Outlook and Job Satisfaction
Before we dive into the survey results of those completing a career pivot into real estate, let’s examine the career outlook of active, experienced agents, as reported by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).
According to the 2024 Member Profile Highlights published by the NAR, 73% were very certain (and 19% were somewhat certain) that they would remain active as a real estate professional for the next two years.
Out of those surveyed, 75% said that real estate was their only occupation, and 51% said that their real estate earnings were their primary income source for their household.
This data shows that real estate agent job satisfaction is high regardless of the recent changes resulting from the NAR lawsuit settlement.
Survey Overview of Prospective Real Estate Agents in California
Our recent survey (conducted in November 2023) of those who purchased (or were planning to purchase) a real estate education program shows that people from many age groups and careers are interested in going into the profession. Here’s what we learned about people entering the real estate industry in California.
New real estate agent demographics in California
You can’t be too old to earn your real estate license in California. While the minimum age is 18, many enter the industry after spending time in other professions.
Real estate is a great part-time gig! You may want to keep your full-time job for a while after getting licensed in order to grow your business.
Here are the other occupations and fields that real estate students report working in prior to becoming a licensed real estate agent:
- Healthcare (19% of those surveyed report coming from the healthcare industry)
- Administrative assistant
- Education
- Finance
- IT
- Retail
- Sales
- Service
You don’t have to have a college degree to become a real estate agent in California. In fact, many find success in the industry with little to no college.
Real estate career plans
Most prospective or newly licensed real estate agents (51%) plan to make real estate their sole source of income. Learn how much part-time real estate agents make vs full-time agents by downloading our free California salary guide. You’ll learn that real estate can be an excellent side gig, as much of the work is completed on evenings and weekends.
Reasons why people want to earn a California real estate license
Why do current real estate agents report a high rate of career satisfaction? In addition, why are Californians leaving other industries and professions to work as real estate agents? Here are the reasons, according to our report:
- Income potential (Check out the average California real estate salary!)
- Flexibility
- Opportunity to be my own boss
- Love of houses
- Want to help people
- Increase career satisfaction
Why do you want to be a real estate agent in California?
Regardless of your reasons, you can get your license quickly by taking online real estate classes through Allied Schools.
