CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Maryland
2,264 offices of real estate agents and brokers operated in Maryland in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 2,264CBP 2023
- Employees
- 5,720mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 36.1U.S. 48.2
- State rank
- 24th of 51by count
The real estate office industry in Maryland
County Business Patterns counts 2,264 establishments in Maryland classified as Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (NAICS 531210) for 2023. They employed 5,720 people in mid-March and reported $515.1 million in annual payroll. That is the 24th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Offices of real estate agents and brokers make up 1.6% of the 142,967 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Maryland has 36.1 offices of real estate agents and brokers, 25.0% below the national rate of 48.2. The average establishment has 2.5 employees against 2.4 nationally. Payroll per employee is $90,053, 13.9% above the U.S. figure of $79,090.
| Measure | Maryland | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 2,264 | 163,894 |
| Mid-March employees | 5,720 (moderate noise) | 395,264 |
| Annual payroll | $515,106,000 | $31,261,611,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 2.5 | 2.4 |
| Payroll per employee | $90,053 | $79,090 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 36.1 | 48.2 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Offices of real estate agents and brokers by metro area in Maryland
Census published real estate office counts for 10 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Maryland. The largest is Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV, with 2,873 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 60% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,873 | 9,168 | 44.6 |
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,940 | 6,220 | 30.6 |
| Baltimore, MD | 1,130 | 2,964 | 39.5 |
| Lexington Park, MD | 78 | 118 | 36.9 |
| Ocean Pines, MD | 64 | 134 | 117.8 |
| Hagerstown, MD-WV | 63 | — | 20.2 |
| Salisbury, MD | 61 | — | 46.4 |
| Easton, MD | 29 | 49 | 75.8 |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 16 | — | 17.0 |
| Cambridge, MD | 6 | — | 18.1 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at offices of real estate agents and brokers in Maryland
91.3% of Maryland's offices of real estate agents and brokers with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 92.2% nationally. 96.6% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 2,067 | 91.3% | 92.2% |
| 5–9 employees | 121 | 5.3% | 4.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 43 | 1.9% | 1.7% |
| 20–49 employees | 19 | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| 50 or more employees | 14 | 0.6% | 0.4% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a real estate office in Maryland has to catch
Real estate agents work on their cell phones from showings and open houses, and a missed call from a buyer can go to another agent. A business number that rings their cell, and that stays with the brokerage, keeps leads in one place. That holds for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Maryland as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to offices of real estate agents and brokers in Maryland:
- The agent calls a buyer back after an open house.
- A buyer calls about a listing they saw online.
- A seller calls to ask about a market valuation.
What offices of real estate agents and brokers text about
Agents text showing confirmations, offer updates and listing links.
Texting from a local number in Maryland requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
What a phone system costs a real estate office in Maryland
Offices of real estate agents and brokers in Maryland average 2.5 employees, so the comparison uses a 3-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 3 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $90.00 a month and 3 on Ooma Office Pro cost $74.85. Callata costs $99.00 a month ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), so at this team size both per-seat plans are cheaper; Callata drops below them from 4 users.
At this team size the per-seat plans cost less than Callata's $99 base price, which already covers 5 users; Callata becomes the lower price from 4 users.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $99.00 | $1,188.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $57.00 | $684.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $69.00 | $828.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $74.85 | $898.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $81.00 | $972.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $90.00 | $1,080.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Maryland
Maryland has 6 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a real estate office can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 240 | 785 | Eastern | 1997 | 227, 301 |
| 443 | 785 | Eastern | 1997 | 410, 667 |
| 301 | 784 | Eastern | 1947 | 240, 227 |
| 410 | 783 | Eastern | 1991 | 443, 667 |
| 667 | 452 | Eastern | 2012 | 410, 443 |
| 227 | 141 | Eastern | 2023 | 240, 301 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for offices of real estate agents and brokers in Maryland
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Maryland is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Marketing calls and texts to prospects require consent, and numbers on do-not-call lists must be respected.
Frequently asked questions
How many offices of real estate agents and brokers are in Maryland?
2,264 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 5,720 people in mid-March.
Which Maryland metro area has the most offices of real estate agents and brokers?
Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV, with 2,873 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 3-person real estate office?
$90.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $74.85 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $99.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Maryland number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.