Negotiates with property owners to acquire land and easements for highways, pipelines, power lines and other public infrastructure. BLS does not publish separate figures for appraisers and assessors of real estate; it counts them within appraiser and assessor of real estate (SOC 13-2023), whose median pay is $67,960 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 13-2023
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Right-of-Way Agent in four numbers
- Median pay
- $67,960a year, or $32.67/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $40KTop 10% $123K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.5%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 5,20068,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202568.4K
- Projected 203570.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 68.4K Projected 2035 70.7K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school4.6%
- Certificate4.6%
- Some college9.1%
- Associate's27.3%
- Bachelor's54.6%
Highest education held by appraisers and assessors of real estate Segment Value High school 4.6% Certificate 4.6% Some college 9.1% Associate's 27.3% Bachelor's 54.6%
Also advertised as: Right-of-Way Specialist, Land Acquisition Agent, Real Property Agent, Easement Agent, Relocation Agent.
Pay
How much do Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate make?
Every right-of-way agent in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$67,960
Middle half earn $50,970 to $92,760
- 10th
- $40,030
- 25th
- $50,970
- 75th
- $92,760
- 90th
- $122,660
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,030 |
| 25th | $50,970 |
| Median | $67,960 |
| 75th | $92,760 |
| 90th | $122,660 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $67,960
- Median hourly wage
- $32.67/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $75,770
- People employed
- 57,070
Versus all US occupations
At $67,960, Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate earn 33% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $16,980 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 16% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $122,660 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,030, a gap of 3.1×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 42% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $107,980, and still leads at $98,252 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $107,980 | $98,252 | 110 |
| 2New Jersey | $92,390 | $84,913 | 1,190 |
| 3Massachusetts | $91,750 | $86,755 | 1,100 |
| 4California | $88,900 | $80,293 | 6,380 |
| 5Connecticut | $86,050 | $83,052 | 630 |
| 6Washington | $83,710 | $78,224 | 1,150 |
| 7Minnesota | $83,400 | $84,566 | 1,380 |
| 8Maine | $80,930 | $83,390 | 230 |
| 9Alaska | $80,330 | $78,479 | 200 |
| 10Iowa | $80,160 | $91,338 | 630 |
Job outlook
Is Right-of-Way Agent a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate | +3.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate to change 3.5% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 5,200 openings are projected each year, 7.6% of the 68,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Right-of-Way Agent
Agents come from real estate, appraisal, title, law and engineering backgrounds, and many employers prefer a bachelor's degree. Some states require a real estate license for agents working for private firms. Entry roles often begin with title research and document preparation on project teams.
The International Right of Way Association is the field's professional body and offers the Right of Way Agent and Senior Right of Way Professional designations, along with courses in negotiation, appraisal, relocation and law. The Federal Highway Administration publishes the acquisition and relocation rules agents must follow. Patience and the ability to talk with worried landowners are essential.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as appraisers and assessors of real estate.
- Bachelor's Degree54.6%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree27.3%
- Some College Courses9.1%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)4.6%
- Post-Secondary Certificate4.6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 54.6% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 27.3% |
| Some College Courses | 9.1% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 4.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 4.6% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Right-of-Way Agent do?
Before a highway can be widened, a transmission line strung or a pipeline buried, someone has to secure the land. Right-of-way agents do that. They research ownership records, meet with landowners, explain the project, present offers based on appraisals, and negotiate purchase or easement agreements.
On public projects funded by federal money, agents follow the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act, which sets rules for fair offers and for helping displaced homeowners and businesses relocate. Agents also coordinate surveys and title work, document every contact, handle damage claims after construction, and work with attorneys when a negotiated deal is not possible and condemnation follows.
Day-to-day tasks
- Research property ownership, title and easement records
- Meet with landowners to explain projects and present offers
- Negotiate purchase agreements and easements
- Administer relocation assistance for displaced residents and businesses
- Coordinate appraisals, surveys and title work
- Document all landowner contacts and negotiations
- Settle construction damage claims with property owners
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Right-of-way agents spend much of their time in the field, driving to farms, homes and businesses along a project route, often in rural areas. Office time goes to research, documentation and negotiations. Employers include state transportation departments, utilities, pipeline companies and consulting firms, and projects can require extended travel.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.6
- Active Listening3.5
- Critical Thinking3.5
- Writing3.4
- Speaking3.4
- Monitoring2.9
- Active Learning2.8
- Mathematics2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.6 |
| Active Listening | 3.5 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.4 |
| Speaking | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Mathematics | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Coordination2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Persuasion2.8
- Service Orientation2.8
- Time Management2.8
- Negotiation2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Persuasion | 2.8 |
| Service Orientation | 2.8 |
| Time Management | 2.8 |
| Negotiation | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Accounting software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Desktop publishing software
- Financial analysis software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Right-of-Way Agent?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ECS) built on O*NET's Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Right-of-Way Agent |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional5.8
- Enterprising5.2
- Social3.3
- Investigative2.9
- Realistic2.7
- Artistic1.6
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Right-of-Way Agent
O*NET related occupations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
Appraiser of Personal and Business Property
$67,960median a year
Most earn $40K to $123K
+3.5%Bachelor's - Sales and Related
- Sales and Related
- Management
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager
$69,990median a year
Most earn $41K to $140K
+3.7%High school - Business and Financial Operations
Government Property Inspector and Investigator
$80,730median a year
Most earn $48K to $134K
+3.8%Bachelor's
More business and financial operations careers
Median annual pay, with appraisers and assessors of real estate highlighted
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Accountant$83,680
- Insurance Underwriter$81,370
- Coroner$80,730
- Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator$78,000
- Loan Officer$76,690
- Human Resources Specialist$75,940
- Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate$67,960
- Right-of-Way Agent$67,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Advisor | $105,070 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 |
| Coroner | $80,730 |
| Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator | $78,000 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 |
| Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate | $67,960 |
| Right-of-Way Agent | $67,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Right-of-Way Agent appears on
Questions
Right-of-Way Agent: frequently asked questions
How much do Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for appraisers and assessors of real estate. It counts them within appraiser and assessor of real estate, whose median pay is $67,960 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $50,970 and $92,760, and the top 10% earn $122,660 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Right-of-Way Agent?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 54.6% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Right-of-Way Agent a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.5% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 5,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Right-of-Way Agent do?
Before a highway can be widened, a transmission line strung or a pipeline buried, someone has to secure the land. A typical task: research property ownership, title and easement records. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate the most?
The highest state medians for Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate are District of Columbia ($107,980), New Jersey ($92,390), Massachusetts ($91,750) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Right-of-Way Agent?
O*NET scores Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate highest on the Conventional, Enterprising and Social interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.