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Rental agent: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$41,300median pay per year, or $19.86 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $29,800lowest 10% earn less
  2. $35,63025th percentile
  3. $41,300median
  4. $50,19075th percentile
  5. $65,370top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

A rental agent falls under the BLS category counter and rental clerks, which had a median pay of $41,300 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3%[2]
Openings per year
46,100[5]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[6]

How much do rental agents make?

The median pay for counter and rental clerks was $41,300 a year, or $19.86 an hour[1]. The average was $45,700 a year, or $21.97 an hour[7]. The median annual wage for all occupations was $50,980[4]. So the median for this job sat below the all-occupation figure.

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $29,800 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $35,630[3]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $50,190, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $65,370[3]. By the hour, those marks were $14.33, $17.13, $24.13 and $31.43[8].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[3][8] $29,800 $14.33
Median[1] $41,300 $19.86
90th percentile[3][8] $65,370 $31.43

A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10].

Pay by state and city

Among the 50 states and DC with published data, the District of Columbia had the highest median at $53,760, followed by New Jersey at $48,900 and Vermont at $48,430[11]. West Virginia had the lowest listed median at $34,780[11].

California had the most jobs at 67,770, followed by Texas with 36,600 and Florida with 27,160[12]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue had the highest median at $49,350, then Burlington-South Burlington at $48,630 and Trenton-Princeton at $48,600[13]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the most jobs at 26,870, with New York-Newark-Jersey City next at 16,880[14].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[11]$53,760480
New Jersey$48,9009,540
Vermont$48,430750
Washington$47,82014,600
New Hampshire$47,2501,590
Maine$46,8701,180
Rhode Island$46,360840
New York$46,27018,320
Colorado$46,24013,900
Wisconsin$45,7206,600
Virginia$45,54012,910
California$45,01067,770
Minnesota$44,8504,710
North Dakota$44,6201,460
Hawaii$44,4201,700
Massachusetts$44,0708,220
Arizona$43,92011,080
Montana$43,9001,490
Wyoming$43,860900
Oregon$43,8205,450
Alaska$43,450660
Pennsylvania$42,91010,780
Connecticut$39,4903,060
Maryland$39,4904,060
Idaho$39,3702,070
Michigan$39,35013,410
Nevada$39,1402,460
Kansas$39,0902,990
Kentucky$38,9902,960
Iowa$38,9601,900
Delaware$38,600870
Georgia$38,59011,490
Ohio$38,5909,400
North Carolina$38,23017,580
Illinois$38,1408,440
Tennessee$37,9607,640
Missouri$37,9204,880
Florida$37,87027,160
Utah$37,5503,280
South Carolina$37,3406,280
Texas$37,25036,600
Oklahoma$37,1603,920
Indiana$36,6807,990
Nebraska$36,4503,960
South Dakota$36,400690
Mississippi$36,1602,820
New Mexico$35,5802,360
Alabama$35,1708,010
Arkansas$34,9403,560
Louisiana$34,9103,740
West Virginia$34,7802,300

How to become a rental agent

The typical entry route needs no formal credential[6].

ONET places the job in a group needing very little to some preparation[15]. In an ONET survey of 24 workers, 56% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required and 20% said a bachelor's degree[16]. Another 13% said some college courses and 9% said an associate's degree[16]. This is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture only.

O*NET lists titles such as Leasing Consultant, Rental Associate, Rental Clerk and Counter Service Representative for this work[17].

What rental agents do

These workers take orders for rentals, repairs and services, usually in person[18]. They may explain options, work out the cost and take payment[18]. Common tasks include:

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of counter and rental clerks to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 409,400 to 421,900 jobs[2]. Employment across all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[20]. These counts include the self-employed, who were 1.3% of this group in 2025[2][21].

About 46,100 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs that come up when workers retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 5% of workers leave the labor force and 5.8% move to a different occupation[22].

Is it a good fit?

The job has a very low barrier to entry, with no formal credential and short on-the-job training[6]. Median pay is below the all-occupation median[1][4]. Growth is projected at 3%, a little under the 3.5% for all occupations[2][20]. The job is large, with about 400,810 wage and salary jobs[23]. Pay differs by place, so checking the median for your own state is worthwhile[11].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a rental agent make an hour?
Counter and rental clerks had a median of $19.86 an hour in May 2025, and an average of $21.97[1][7].
What education do you need to be a rental agent?
The typical entry education is no formal credential, with short-term on-the-job training[6].
Is rental agent work in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 46,100 openings a year[2][5].
What is the highest paying state for rental agents?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $53,760, then New Jersey at $48,900[11].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Counter and Rental Clerks in the US was $41,300 per year and $19.86 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Counter and Rental Clerks is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 409,400 to 421,900 jobs (a change of +12,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Counter and Rental Clerks: 10th percentile $29,800, 25th percentile $35,630, 75th percentile $50,190, 90th percentile $65,370. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 46,100 openings for Counter and Rental Clerks are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Counter and Rental Clerks: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Counter and Rental Clerks was $45,700 per year and $21.97 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Counter and Rental Clerks: 10th percentile $14.33, 25th percentile $17.13, 75th percentile $24.13, 90th percentile $31.43. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Counter and Rental Clerks in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Counter and Rental Clerks jobs: California 67,770; Texas 36,600; Florida 27,160; New York 18,320; North Carolina 17,580. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Counter and Rental Clerks (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $49,350; Burlington-South Burlington, VT $48,630; Trenton-Princeton, NJ $48,600; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $48,570; Portland-South Portland, ME $48,090; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $48,040; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $48,010; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $47,740. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Counter and Rental Clerks jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 26,870 (median $44,460); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 16,880 (median $48,040); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 10,860 (median $38,110); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 9,140 (median $49,350); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 8,100 (median $44,760); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 7,920 (median $37,710). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. O*NET 41-2021.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  16. O*NET 41-2021.00 survey of workers (24 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 56%, Bachelor's Degree 20%, Some College Courses 13%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET 41-2021.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Counter Clerk, Counter Service Representative, Leasing Consultant, Rental Agent, Rental Assistant, Rental Associate, Rental Clerk, Rental Counter Clerk. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET description of Counter and Rental Clerks. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET task list for Counter and Rental Clerks. O*NET OnLine
  20. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  21. BLS Employment Projections: 1.3% of Counter and Rental Clerks were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Counter and Rental Clerks: 5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 400,810 people were employed as Counter and Rental Clerks in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  24. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.