Lawrence, KS (September 26, 2025) — CREW Network has released its 2025 Benchmark Study, the fifth in a series tracking progress for women in commercial real estate over the past 20 years. Conducted in partnership with the MIT Center for Real Estate, the study surveyed 2,450 professionals across the industry, providing a comprehensive look at compensation, career advancement, workplace culture, and diversity.
Key findings show encouraging progress. The fixed salary gap between men and women has narrowed to just 4%, down from 10% in 2020. Overall compensation disparities, including bonuses and commissions, have decreased dramatically, with men now earning 13% more than women, compared to 34% in 2020. Women also reported greater stability in compensation and career satisfaction during economic downturns, as well as increased flexibility from hybrid and remote work arrangements.
However, significant challenges persist. Women still comprise only 38% of the commercial real estate workforce, a figure that has remained essentially unchanged for two decades. Non-salary compensation continues to favor men, who earn on average $23,856 more in commissions and bonuses annually. For the first time in the study’s history, women reported gender discrimination as their primary barrier to success.
The 2025 Benchmark Study highlights both the progress made and the urgent work still to be done. Companies must take deliberate action to close the compensation gap, eliminate discrimination, and expand leadership opportunities for women and underrepresented groups in the commercial real estate sector.
The report also highlights broader concerns regarding diversity. Approximately 22% of respondents described their workplace as “not very” or “not at all” diverse, and non-white professionals accounted for just 14% of the survey sample. CREW Network calls on industry leaders to conduct pay equity reviews, address unconscious bias, and commit to flexible, inclusive workplace models that ensure equitable advancement.
The full 2025 Benchmark Study is available for download at CREW Network Benchmark Study or at www.crewnetwork.org