Project REAP Executive Director Responds to CREW Benchmark Study on Commercial Real Estate Compensation Gaps

The Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network's 2025 Benchmark Study, released in September, revealed significant findings about compensation trends in the industry, drawing expert commentary from Project REAP Executive Director Taneshia Nash Laird. The CREW study, which surveyed 2,450 CRE professionals, found that while base salaries have reached near parity—with men earning $151K versus $146K for women—the overall pay gap narrowed primarily due to declining commissions and bonuses rather than expanded opportunities. Nash Laird emphasized to Bisnow that true progress requires structural changes beyond market fluctuations. "What I would love to see is more intentional placement of women of color in those revenue-driving and leadership-track roles," Nash Laird stated, stressing that effective sponsorship models—where advocates champion professionals in their absence—are essential for meaningful advancement. The CREW research particularly highlighted disparities for women of color, with Asian and Black women earning 79 and 74 cents, respectively, for every dollar earned by men, underscoring the continued importance of Project REAP's mission to develop exceptional talent and create strategic pathways to leadership roles in commercial real estate.

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