G
en Zers are shunning traditional office jobs and seeking careers that offer flexibility, autonomy, and high salaries. For some, real estate has become the latest "it" career. Toni Marmo, a 24-year-old Realtor with 40,000 TikTok followers, says she loves her job because it allows her to be her own boss and work on her own terms.

    Marmo's path into real estate was unconventional - she studied for her license only to help her boyfriend buy a house. However, she soon realized she enjoyed the subject and decided to pursue a career in real estate. She now leverages her social media following to get leads in her home state of New Jersey.

    The typical American Realtor is a 55-year-old white woman who went to college and owns a home, according to the National Association of Realtors' (NAR) 2024 member profile. However, Marmo defies this stereotype as a young, unfiltered, and energetic agent.

    Some Gen Zers are ditching four-year degrees in favor of work that offers more freedom and financial stability. Others are turning to blue-collar jobs or starting their own ventures via influencing and side hustles. The share of Realtors younger than 30 grew from 1% to 4% in 2024, according to NAR's member profile.

    Blake Garrett, CEO of Aceable, an online platform that focuses on licensing in industries like real estate, mortgage, and insurance, says autonomy is a key draw for Gen Zers. "You've got a direct correlation to your effort and your earning potential," he notes.

    Whitney Harvey, a 30-year-old Realtor in Tennessee, dropped out of college after realizing she didn't enjoy her studies. She then pursued a career in real estate and started making $80,000 within a year, while her friends were still accumulating debt.

    Social media is also giving these industries more cache among young people. Insurance brokers post videos on TikTok detailing their earnings, while real estate agents film themselves showcasing properties and interacting with clients.

    The rise of AI tools has led to concerns about job security in the tech industry, but it's less of a threat to replace workers in fields like real estate and insurance. Jamie Behymer, director of diversity, inclusion, and young agents at the Big "I," notes that relationships drive the insurance brokerage industry, making it more people-focused.

    Katie Kenny, a 24-year-old Realtor in Chicago's suburbs, uses AI to help stage houses and draft social media posts but emphasizes that human interaction is still essential. "It can't open the door, it can't negotiate with a seller's agent," she notes.