There is no way to guess how many land developers there are, says development
consultant Daren Fluke, although it wouldn't surprise him if there were 10,000
or more. The reason, he says, is that so many individuals give it a try. Whether
they go on to be developers will depend on the success of their first project.
Experts say this field grows with the economy and real estate market. If
people aren't buying homes, then developers can develop land all they like,
but no one is going to pay for their properties.
Developer Jim Siepmann says there are no salaries, starting or otherwise,
in land development. You find a piece of land, you buy it, you develop it,
you see if you make money selling your vision. If you do, you get a salary.
If you don't, you go broke.
The hours are pretty flexible, although most developers will find themselves
out at night for public hearings. Workweeks range from 35 to 60 hours.
Anyone, regardless of physical ability, can be a developer. Those with
a weak stomach for losing money may want to skip this career, though. "The
danger is that it's risky and you can lose all your money," says Fluke.
Earnings and employment information from the U.S. Department of Labor is
not available for this field at this time.