Real estate sales agents salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,970 | $15.85 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $52,830 | $25.40 |
| Mean (average) | $69,510 | $33.42 |
| 90th percentile | $123,590 | $59.42 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Real estate sales agents pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,890 | $24,750 | $236,210 | 1,580 | 0.6 |
| Alaska | $89,170 | $52,420 | $123,120 | 170 | 0.42 |
| Arizona | $58,780 | $35,160 | $113,460 | 5,610 | 1.39 |
| Arkansas | $38,180 | $24,600 | $100,800 | 1,640 | 1.01 |
| California | $57,560 | $40,150 | $111,320 | 17,500 | 0.77 |
| Colorado | $63,670 | $37,040 | $128,220 | 6,120 | 1.71 |
| Connecticut | $46,770 | $39,820 | $92,100 | ||
| Delaware | $47,180 | $34,220 | $103,140 | 900 | 1.49 |
| District of Columbia | $123,770 | $38,450 | $129,760 | 590 | 0.67 |
| Florida | $49,310 | $31,190 | $153,200 | 26,790 | 2.17 |
| Georgia | $46,730 | $30,220 | $130,460 | 9,940 | 1.63 |
| Hawaii | $46,220 | $36,030 | $101,750 | 690 | 0.89 |
| Idaho | $39,820 | $21,120 | $79,440 | 1,170 | 1.09 |
| Illinois | $59,220 | $35,830 | $79,750 | 6,030 | 0.79 |
| Indiana | $46,880 | $27,550 | $82,270 | 3,680 | 0.92 |
| Iowa | Data unavailable | 680 | 0.35 | ||
| Kansas | $39,770 | $30,190 | $83,760 | 1,450 | 0.81 |
| Kentucky | $58,610 | $34,320 | $105,000 | 1,120 | 0.45 |
| Louisiana | $45,850 | $20,210 | $86,590 | 1,940 | 0.8 |
| Maine | $56,930 | $30,920 | $114,130 | 740 | 0.93 |
| Maryland | $52,630 | $37,370 | $99,990 | 2,940 | 0.86 |
| Massachusetts | Data unavailable | 4,530 | 1 | ||
| Michigan | $57,880 | $31,590 | $104,170 | 2,210 | 0.4 |
| Minnesota | $46,410 | $36,150 | $108,040 | 2,530 | 0.69 |
| Mississippi | $39,550 | $20,950 | $94,500 | 670 | 0.46 |
| Missouri | $43,960 | $30,160 | $104,770 | 1,590 | 0.44 |
| Montana | $79,100 | $49,010 | $194,630 | 370 | 0.58 |
| Nebraska | $47,240 | $34,380 | $90,530 | 1,400 | 1.1 |
| Nevada | $79,990 | $28,340 | $153,680 | 1,490 | 0.77 |
| New Hampshire | $57,620 | $43,950 | $97,780 | 240 | 0.28 |
| New Jersey | $99,990 | $47,130 | $124,990 | ||
| New Mexico | $76,170 | $38,340 | $151,560 | 550 | 0.51 |
| New York | $102,990 | $48,350 | $178,710 | 8,660 | 0.72 |
| North Carolina | $51,240 | $27,940 | $126,380 | 7,960 | 1.3 |
| North Dakota | $73,920 | $36,500 | $115,920 | ||
| Ohio | $46,240 | $29,990 | $96,840 | 5,130 | 0.74 |
| Oklahoma | $47,980 | $27,480 | $120,690 | 3,710 | 1.75 |
| Oregon | $61,610 | $37,100 | $105,020 | 1,940 | 0.79 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,040 | $31,500 | $95,760 | 5,510 | 0.73 |
| Puerto Rico | Data unavailable | 330 | 0.28 | ||
| Rhode Island | $60,310 | $38,840 | $122,430 | ||
| South Carolina | $56,580 | $36,530 | $189,590 | 4,930 | 1.72 |
| South Dakota | $65,170 | $45,970 | $110,160 | 640 | 1.13 |
| Tennessee | $46,250 | $32,160 | $92,010 | 2,360 | 0.58 |
| Texas | $45,740 | $29,110 | $120,050 | 22,250 | 1.27 |
| Utah | $50,720 | $30,290 | $82,790 | 4,240 | 1.97 |
| Vermont | Data unavailable | 70 | 0.18 | ||
| Virginia | $63,980 | $36,610 | $122,100 | 5,750 | 1.13 |
| Washington | $79,130 | $48,680 | $114,090 | 5,150 | 1.17 |
| West Virginia | $59,050 | $32,180 | $97,470 | 370 | 0.43 |
| Wisconsin | $58,120 | $37,960 | $96,780 | 5,680 | 1.55 |
| Wyoming | $49,990 | $30,930 | $87,430 | 300 | 0.85 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for real estate sales agents
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 32,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 54.3%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for real estate sales agents
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Real Estate Development CIP 04.1001
- Real Estate CIP 52.1501
Licenses and certifications
Requirements for regulated professions are set by each state. Always confirm with the state regulator.
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Present purchase offers to sellers for consideration.
- Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers, generally representing one or the other.
- Confer with escrow companies, lenders, home inspectors, and pest control operators to ensure that terms and conditions of purchase agreements are met before closing dates.
- Advise clients on market conditions, prices, mortgages, legal requirements, and related matters.
- Prepare documents such as representation contracts, purchase agreements, closing statements, deeds, and leases.
- Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
- Coordinate appointments to show homes to prospective buyers.
- Generate lists of properties that are compatible with buyers' needs and financial resources.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Yardi software (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Canva (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Google Docs (hot technology)
- Intuit QuickBooks (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft Teams (hot technology)
- Zoom (hot technology)
- Agent Business Builder
- Argosy Legal Systems Power Closer
Transferable skills for career changers: Negotiation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Persuasion, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Real Estate Agent, Real Estate Salesperson, Realtor, Realtor Associate.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do real estate sales agents make?
The national median annual wage for real estate sales agents was $52,830 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $32,970 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $123,590. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do real estate sales agents need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is real estate sales agents a growing career?
BLS projects employment of real estate sales agents to change +1.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 32,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay real estate sales agents the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($123,770), New York ($102,990), New Jersey ($99,990). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.