5,300 Property Manager Jobs Vacant: Your Chance to Step Up
Over 5,300 property manager roles were advertised across Australia this year and senior pay hits $120,000. Here's why, and how to win one and thrive.
If you work in property management, you already know the phone doesn't stop. What you might not know is just how badly agencies across Australia want more people like you.
The shortage in numbers
Analysis of Seek listings by property management software firm Kolmeo found more than 5,300 property manager roles advertised across Australia earlier this year, as reported by realestate.com.au and Elite Agent. About one in five, roughly 1,100, are in Victoria.
The average property manager looks after around 150 properties. Do the maths and Kolmeo estimates up to 800,000 rental homes are being looked after by stretched teams.
Recruiter people2people's market research backs it up: residential property managers are the hardest role to fill in the sector (named by 25% of employers), ahead of facilities and operations managers and commercial property managers. And while 65% of teams plan to grow, 62% say they're already under-resourced.
What it pays
Pay has moved, and it's worth knowing your numbers:
- Average property manager salary: $84,124, based on Indeed job ads, updated 15 October 2026. The typical range runs from about $58,000 to $121,000.
- Senior property managers: a national average of $113,500, according to people2people.
- Top advertised roles: up to $110,000 to $120,000 for senior roles in Victoria.
- Higher-paying areas: Indeed lists Sydney's Inner West, Canberra and Sydney among the best-paying spots.
That's a long way from where the job sat a few years ago.
So why can't agencies fill them?
Kolmeo's CEO Scott Bateman put it well: "throwing money at the problem isn't resolving it." The reasons are real:
- Rules keep changing. Victoria alone has introduced around 130 rental rule changes since 2021.
- The emotional load is heavy. You're the middle person between owners and renters in a tight rental market.
- People burn out fast. Bateman says the average career timeline is now about one year.
- Getting in takes time. In Victoria, an agent's representative now needs a Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice.
PropertyMe research found 62.3% of property managers feel underpaid. That tells me it's not just pay. It's support, tools and respect.
Why I'm still bullish on this career
Here's my glass-half-full take. When a skill is this scarce, the people who have it get to choose. Choose the agency with good systems. Choose a sensible portfolio size. Choose a manager who backs you.
And the tools are getting better fast. Modern property management software and AI assistants can now draft routine emails, summarise inspection notes, chase arrears reminders and keep compliance checklists up to date. Tools like Grok Bot, ChatGPT or Claude are good places to start for drafting and summarising. None of that replaces the human part of the job, the judgement, the calm phone call, the relationship with an owner. It just gives you more time for it.
Property management is also one of the best launch pads in property. Great PMs move into business development, senior and portfolio roles, commercial and strata management, or run their own rent roll one day.
How to land a great PM role (and stay happy in it)
- Get qualified. Check your state's licensing or registration rules. A Certificate IV opens the door, and a full licence opens more.
- Interview the agency too. Ask: how many properties per manager? Is there a leasing or admin assistant? What software do you use? Why did the last person leave?
- Ask about the tech. Agencies that invest in automation usually have calmer, happier teams.
- Know your worth. With averages above $84,000 and senior roles over $110,000, don't accept the first number without checking the market.
- Stay across the rules. Compliance knowledge is your edge. A PM who knows the latest changes is worth hiring and worth paying.
- Consider commercial. Commercial property managers are also in short supply and the work can be a nice change of pace.
- Protect your energy. Set boundaries on after-hours calls and agree on them upfront.
Coming from another industry?
Hospitality, retail, customer service and admin people often make brilliant property managers. You already know how to stay calm with upset customers and juggle lots of moving parts. Get the qualification, start in a leasing or assistant role, and you could be running your own portfolio within a year or two.
The bottom line
Australia has thousands of rental homes that need great people looking after them. If that's you, the market has rarely been more in your favour. Pick an agency that values you, use the tools, and enjoy being one of the most wanted people in property.
Check out the latest property management jobs on PropertyRoles and set up a job alert so new roles land in your inbox first.
