Real Estate Careers in Brisbane, Ranked by Pay (2026)
Every seat in a residential real estate office, ranked by what it actually pays in 2026 — and the three doors most people walk in through.
By Braydan Hartigan
There are about a dozen distinct careers inside a residential real estate office, and they pay anywhere from $55k to well past $300k. Here they are, ranked by the top of the 2026 base range — with the commission roles marked, because for those the base is only half the answer.
The ranking
| # | Role | Also called | 2026 salary (AUD base plus super) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sales Agent | Sales Consultant, Sales Executive, Licensed Agent | Retainer $60k–$90k · OTE $120k–$300k+ |
| 2 | Sales Manager / Director of Sales | Head of Sales, Sales Director | $120k–$180k plus override |
| 3 | Head of Property Management | Department Manager, GM Property Management | $120k–$170k plus bonus |
| 4 | Trust Accountant | Trust Account Manager, Property Accountant | $85k–$120k |
| 5 | Office Manager | Practice Manager, Client Services | $80k–$120k |
| 6 | Senior Property Manager | Portfolio Manager, Senior PM | $90k–$115k |
| 7 | Business Development Manager | BDM, Growth Manager, New Business Manager | $80k–$110k plus commission on managements won |
| 8 | Senior Sales Administrator | Contracts Administrator (residential) | $85k–$105k |
| 9 | Property Manager | PM, Portfolio Manager | $70k–$95k |
| 10 | Sales Administrator | Sales Support | $70k–$90k |
| 11 | Sales Associate | Associate to an agent, Sales Cadet | $55k–$80k plus a commission share |
| 12 | Assistant Property Manager | Assistant PM | $60k–$75k |
| 13 | Leasing Consultant | Leasing Officer, Leasing Executive | $60k–$75k |
| 14 | Lead Generator / Prospector | Business Development Associate, Prospector | $55k–$70k plus a bonus per appraisal |
| 15 | Receptionist | Front desk | $55k–$70k |
Principals and licensees-in-charge are not on the list. Their income is profit-based and highly variable — it is an equity conversation, not a salary one.
Reading the ranking honestly
Sales is number one and the most uncertain. A sales agent's retainer ranks near the bottom of this table. The on-target figure ranks at the top. Everything between those two numbers depends on the commission split and how much you write — see how much real estate agents actually earn.
The best-paid non-sales seats are the ones nobody advertises well. Trust accountants are legally gated and permanently short. Office managers hold the whole place together. Both out-earn a property manager, and neither role gets the airtime.
Property management pays for portfolio, not title. A property manager on a heavy book with no support and a senior on a light one with an assistant can be the same money. Ask for the portfolio number every time.
"Contracts administrator" means two different jobs. In a residential sales office it is the settlements and contracts seat at $70k–$105k. On a commercial builder's site the same title is a $95k–$165k commercial negotiator. Do not price one against the other.
The three doors in
- Sales associate — the apprenticeship for a sales career. Modest base, a share of the lead agent's commission, and the only reliable way to learn to list and sell.
- Assistant property manager — the feeder into property management, and the fastest conversion into build-to-rent later.
- Reception — a genuine feeder into every other seat in the office. More heads of department started on the front desk than will admit it.
And the doors out
Property managers who want a quieter phone and more money move into strata ($90k–$130k) or build-to-rent ($110k–$150k plus bonus for a community manager). Sales administrators move into project marketing settlements. Leasing consultants move into BTR lease-up teams. Real estate is a set of connected ladders, not one.
All figures are 2026 ranges, AUD base plus super, from the ANOTHR Salary Guide. The desk is at Residential Real Estate, and live roles are on the Job Board.
Hiring, or thinking about a move? The first conversation is free and honest — 0483 938 694, or start below.