Also called: Tax Lien Certificate Investor, Tax Deed Investor
Buys the right to collect unpaid property taxes at county auctions, earning interest when owners pay or sometimes getting the property.
At the county's online tax sale, you bid on 300 liens after researching each property for weeks. Most owners pay back the taxes plus interest of up to 18% within two years. A few never do, and you go through the legal steps to take ownership, which means checking for problems like mold or a second mortgage.
Income depends on how much money you invest; many do it part-time.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school diploma; real estate and finance knowledge; often self-taught.
Ways in: Self-taught, On-the-job training, 4-year college. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Finance, Real Estate, Business Administration.
Growing about average. About half of states sell tax liens or deeds.
Medium risk for 10 years. Software screens thousands of liens fast; judging property risk and handling legal steps stays human.
Classes: Personal finance, Algebra II, Government.
Official data: O*NET occupation 13-2051.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.