Real Estate Agent Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$60,000
national median salary
$40,000 to $92,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $52,830 for Real Estate Sales Agents (SOC 41-9022) across the United States, based on 193,370 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$32,970
25th percentile
$40,040
Median
$52,830
75th percentile
$82,020
90th percentile
$123,590
Workers surveyed
193,370
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$56,320
May 2025 release
$52,830
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Real Estate Sales Agents (SOC 41-9022) rather than Real Estate Agentspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 41-9022Highest Paying
$83,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$63,000
Raleigh, NC
Lowest Paying
$46,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 41-9022. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Real Estate Agent salary in the United States at $60,000 in 2026, within a range of $40,000 to $92,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $83,000, while Raleigh offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Market location and personal transaction volume create enormous salary variance.
Real Estate Agent salary by city.
Skills that increase Real Estate Agent pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Real Estate Agents based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $8,400 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$8,400 per year
≈ +$7,800 per year
≈ +$7,200 per year
≈ +$6,600 per year
≈ +$6,600 per year
≈ +$6,000 per year
≈ +$6,000 per year
≈ +$5,400 per year
What you should know.
Market location and personal transaction volume create enormous salary variance. Agents in high-value markets like San Francisco, New York, or Miami earn substantially more per deal. Top-producing agents closing 20 or more transactions annually can earn multiples of the median, while part-time agents may earn below minimum wage.
New agents typically earn $25,000 to $45,000 in their first year. Established agents with a referral network earn $60,000 to $100,000. Top producers consistently earn $120,000 to $250,000. Team leaders and broker-owners can exceed $300,000, though with significant business overhead.
Most agents are independent contractors earning 100% commission with no base salary. The listed figures reflect typical gross commission income. Agents pay their own health insurance, self-employment taxes, MLS fees, marketing costs, and brokerage splits of 20 to 50%.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Real Estate Agents typically earn $54,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Real Estate Agent pay.
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