The real estate industry appears to be dominated by women, but a closer look at some industry figures indicate that women are taking a back seat - in earnings.

According to a 1996 report by the National Association of REALTORS^® the 720,000 member professional association breaks down almost evenly in membership between women and men. Female members constitute 54% of NAR membership, while men constitute 46%. Of those, 48% are male brokers and 52% are female.

Historically, males have dominated the broker ranks, and females have dominated the sales ranks, but over the last twenty years, an increasing number of women have chosen to take on the role of broker. In 1978, 21% of brokers were women, with the figure rising steadily to 33% in 1984 and to 52% in 1996.

The latest NAR figures indicate that male Realtors in 1995 earned an average of $36,000. Female Realtors earned $31,800. A breakdown was not available for male brokers and female brokers in terms of earnings.

These figures are mirrored by RE/MAX International. In its "RE/MAX Associate Profile," U.S. male associates earned an average of $96,319 while female associates earned $91,325. Female associates are 54% of RE/MAX's associate population.

Males make up 43% of the residential work force in the real estate industry, yet they have pulled ahead of women in earnings. The NAR offers no studies on why this is so.

The earnings differential does not appear to be related to part time vs full time status. In 1978, 36% of part time agents were female. Twenty years later part timers have nearly reversed with 53% of part time agents female opposed to 47% males.

NAR has promised an update on male/female Realtor earnings to be published next year.