Pay in real estate depends greatly on what you do. Some of the wealthiest people in the world have made it in the world of real estate. But, for most of us, salaries are lower. In a recent survey the median salary of property and real estate managers was $29,000 a year. However, many made more than $50,000 a year. This is a business where you can make good money with hard work and a little luck. Your responsibility matters too. For example, the median salary of property managers responsible for shopping malls is close to $80,000 an the median salary of those who manage office buildings was $95,000. Salaries in real estate sales are very difficult to characterize. It is said that one in thirteen Californians has a real estate sales license; but most do not make any money in a given year. That said, full-time, hard working sales people in real estate can make $70,000 a year after being in business long enough to build up a client base.