Is real estate a good career choice?

Real estate is a good career for someone who prefers autonomous work, a sales and marketing position, and unlimited income potential. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 52 percent of agents were self-employed as of 2012.

Average pay for agents was $53,140 as of May 2013, reports the BLS. This is above average pay for all occupations in the U.S. Top-end earning potential is even greater, as agents typically get paid on commission. Ten percent earned $98,090 or above as of May 2013. Long, irregular hours and weekend hours are common for sales agents that work full time. Flexible scheduling, however, is a plus.