State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Real Estate Agent Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Real Estate Sales Agents is $52,830 a year ($25.40/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.1% through 2034, with about 36,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
SOC 41-9022Sales and RelatedLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $52,830
- Projected growth
- +3.1%
- Openings a year
- 36,600
- Typical education
- High school
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Real Estate Agent, Real Estate Salesperson, Realtor, Realtor Associate, Sales Agent.
How much do Real Estate Sales Agents make?
10th percentile$32,970
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$40,040
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$52,830
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$82,020
Upper quartile
90th percentile$123,590
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $52,830 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $25.40/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $69,510 |
| People employed | 193,370 |
Versus all US occupations
At $52,830, Real Estate Sales Agents earn 4% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $1,850 a year.
Versus sales and related occupations
Inside the Sales and Related group, where the middle occupation pays $51,495, this is 3% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $123,590 or more while the bottom 10% earn $32,970, a gap of 3.7×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 34% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $123,770, and still leads at $112,620 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Real Estate Sales Agents the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $123,770 | $112,620 | 590 |
| New York | $102,990 | $95,431 | 8,660 |
| New Jersey | $99,990 | $91,898 | N/A |
| Alaska | $89,170 | $87,115 | 170 |
| Nevada | $79,990 | $80,007 | 1,490 |
| Washington | $79,130 | $73,944 | 5,150 |
| Montana | $79,100 | $83,575 | 370 |
| New Mexico | $76,170 | $82,603 | 550 |
| North Dakota | $73,920 | $83,094 | N/A |
| South Dakota | $65,170 | $73,567 | 640 |
Is Real Estate Agent a growing career?
Real Estate Sales Agents3.1%
All US occupations3.1%
+3.1% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Real Estate Sales Agents to change 3.1% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 12,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 36,600 openings are projected each year, 8.7% of the 420,900 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of real estate brokers and sales agents is projected to grow 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
There will be a continued demand for real estate brokers and sales agents because people turn to these workers when looking for a new home, relocating, or purchasing property for a business, among other reasons. Employment is projected to grow along with the real estate market.
Tighter credit regulations and increasing real estate prices may force some people to continue renting as opposed to entering the housing market, which may result in fewer new jobs for real estate brokers and sales agents.
How to become a Real Estate Agent
Every state licenses real estate sales agents. You complete the pre-licensing education your state sets, pass a licensing exam that in most states has a national portion and a state portion, and in most states you can only practice under a sponsoring broker. "REALTOR®" is a National Association of REALTORS® membership mark, not a license.
The credential path, step by step
- Check your state's basic eligibility
Minimum requirements vary by state but typically include being at least 18, holding a high school diploma or equivalent, and in some states passing a background check.
- Complete the state's pre-licensing educationVaries by state
This is a real gate and its size differs sharply by state — 60 class/clock hours of a Board-approved course in Virginia, three college-level courses in California. Take it from a provider your state's commission has approved.
- Pass the state licensing exam
Usually a national portion plus a state portion, delivered by the examination provider your state contracts with. Both portions must be passed, and if you already hold an active license in another state your state may exempt you from the national portion.
- Line up a sponsoring broker
In most states you cannot practice on your own. In Texas a sales agent may not lawfully engage in brokerage activity unless associated with and acting for a sponsoring broker at all times, all commissions must be paid through that broker, and the broker remains responsible for the agent's actions.
- Apply for the license and keep it current
Submit the license application to the state commission, then renew every 2 to 4 years, completing the continuing education your state requires.
- Optionally join NAR to call yourself a REALTOR®
This is a membership decision, not a licensing step. The REALTOR® marks identify NAR members and the right to use them ends automatically when membership does.
Exams you have to pass
Real estate salesperson or sales agent licensing examination
Taken after completing the state's pre-licensing education. In most states it has two parts — a national portion and a state portion — and you must pass both; Virginia, for instance, requires passing the state and national portions of the salesperson examination. Passing scores generally expire if you do not apply for the license within the state's window.
Administered by Examination providers under contract to each state (Pearson VUE and PSI Services LLC are the providers accredited by ARELLO).
- Program accreditation
ARELLO Examination Accreditation Program
An independent review of real estate licensing examinations and the methodology used to develop and maintain them, which promotes recognition of examination results between jurisdictions. Pearson VUE and PSI Services LLC are the currently accredited examination providers. Texas, for example, exempts an applicant from the national portion of its exam if they hold an active license in a state that participates in the national exam accreditation with ARELLO.
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
State licenses typically must be renewed every 2 to 4 years, and in most states brokers and agents must complete continuing education to renew. The amount is set by the state: Texas, for example, requires 18 hours of continuing education per two-year license period, including 4 hours of Legal Update I, 4 hours of Legal Update II, 3 hours of contract-related coursework and 7 elective hours, with an extra six-hour Broker Responsibility Course for brokers who sponsor sales agents.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
The pre-licensing requirement is set state by state and the formats are genuinely different: Virginia requires 60 class/clock hours of a Board-approved pre-licensing course, while California requires successful completion of three college-level courses (Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and one elective) and being at least 18 to be issued a license. Some states waive pre-licensing courses for candidates with college real estate coursework, and some add a background check. Licenses typically are not transferable between states, though some states have reciprocity agreements. Broker licensure requires additional experience — most states at least 2 years as a licensed sales agent — and further training; Virginia requires 180 class/clock hours for the broker pre-licensing requirement.
Who governs the credential
- State real estate commissions and boards — The regulators that set pre-licensing education, exam and sponsorship requirements, issue and renew licenses, and enforce the state's real estate license law. Examples include the Texas Real Estate Commission, the California Department of Real Estate and the Virginia Real Estate Board.
- Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) — International membership organization of real estate regulators. It accredits real estate licensing examination programs, certifies distance education courses, runs license verification, and maintains a disciplinary action database. Its exam accreditation is what lets jurisdictions recognize each other's exam results.
- National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) — A trade association, not a regulator. It owns the REALTOR® marks, which are collective marks identifying members of NAR and distinguishing them from non-members; a member's license to use the marks terminates automatically if they stop being a member in good standing. Being a REALTOR® is separate from, and additional to, holding a state real estate license.
Credential detail for real estate agents is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents, How to Become One · checked August 23, 2026
- ARELLO — What is ARELLO? · checked August 23, 2026
- ARELLO — Examination Accreditation Program (accredited providers Pearson VUE and PSI Services LLC) · checked August 23, 2026
- Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Real Estate Board — Pre-License Education · checked August 23, 2026
- California Department of Real Estate — Requirements to Apply for a Real Estate Salesperson License · checked August 23, 2026
- Texas Real Estate Commission — Become a Real Estate Sales Agent (sponsoring broker rules and continuing education) · checked August 23, 2026
- Texas Real Estate Commission — Exemption from the National portion of the exam via ARELLO participation · checked August 23, 2026
- National Association of REALTORS® — Membership Marks Manual: The MARKS · checked August 23, 2026
- National Association of REALTORS® — Limitations on License to Use the MARKS · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
Real estate brokers and sales agents typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. They also must complete a number of real estate courses and pass a licensing exam. States typically require licensed agents to have experience before obtaining a broker’s license.
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Some preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as real estate sales agents.
- High School Diploma42.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate23.8%
- Less than a High School Diploma9.5%
- Some College Courses9.5%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)4.8%
What does a Real Estate Agent do?
Rent, buy, or sell property for clients. Perform duties such as study property listings, interview prospective clients, accompany clients to property site, discuss conditions of sale, and draw up real estate contracts. Includes agents who represent buyer.
Real estate brokers and sales agents help clients buy, sell, and rent properties. Although brokers and agents do similar work, brokers are licensed to manage their own real estate businesses. Sales agents must work with a real estate broker.
Day-to-day tasks
- Prepare documents such as representation contracts, purchase agreements, closing statements, deeds, and leases.
- Present purchase offers to sellers for consideration.
- Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers, generally representing one or the other.
- Generate lists of properties that are compatible with buyers' needs and financial resources.
- 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.
- Promote sales of properties through advertisements, open houses, and participation in multiple listing services.
- Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
- Interview clients to determine what kinds of properties they are seeking.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most real estate brokers and sales agents work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Work schedules may vary and often include evenings and weekends to accommodate clients’ schedules. Many brokers and sales agents spend a significant amount of time networking and attending community events to meet potential clients. Although they frequently work irregular hours, many are able to set their own schedules.
Some brokers and sales agents work part time.
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Pressure and stakes
- Meeting strict deadlines at least weekly
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where real estate sales agents work
| Self-employed workers | 54% |
|---|---|
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 40% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.6/5
- Reading Comprehension3.4/5
- Writing3.4/5
- Mathematics3.1/5
- Active Learning3.1/5
- Monitoring3.0/5
Transferable skills
- Negotiation3.9/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8/5
- Coordination3.8/5
- Persuasion3.6/5
- Service Orientation3.5/5
- Time Management3.4/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video conferencing software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Real Estate Agent?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic2.1
Investigative1.5
Artistic1.9
Socialprimary3.5
Enterprisingprimary6.5
Conventionalprimary4.9
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Real Estate Agent: frequently asked questions
How much do Real Estate Sales Agents make?
Real Estate Sales Agents earn a median of $52,830 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 4% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $25.40/hr. The middle half earn between $40,040 and $82,020. The top 10% earn $123,590 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Real Estate Agent?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Real Estate Sales Agents. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 42.9% hold high school diploma.
Is Real Estate Agent a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.1% over 2024–2034, about the same as the 3.1% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 36,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Real Estate Agent do?
Real estate brokers and sales agents help clients buy, sell, and rent properties. A core O*NET task: prepare documents such as representation contracts, purchase agreements, closing statements, deeds, and leases. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Data base user interface and query software, Document management software.
Which states pay Real Estate Sales Agents the most?
The highest state medians for Real Estate Sales Agents are District of Columbia ($123,770), New York ($102,990), New Jersey ($99,990) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Real Estate Agent?
O*NET scores Real Estate Sales Agents highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESFJ, ESTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
Do you need a license to work as a Real Estate Agent?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. The pre-licensing requirement is set state by state and the formats are genuinely different: Virginia requires 60 class/clock hours of a Board-approved pre-licensing course, while California requires successful completion of three college-level courses (Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice and one elective) and being at least 18 to be issued a license. Some states waive pre-licensing courses for candidates with college real estate coursework, and some add a background check. Licenses typically are not transferable between states, though some states have reciprocity agreements. Broker licensure requires additional experience — most states at least 2 years as a licensed sales agent — and further training; Virginia requires 180 class/clock hours for the broker pre-licensing requirement.
What exams do you have to pass to become a Real Estate Agent?
The Real estate salesperson or sales agent licensing examination. Taken after completing the state's pre-licensing education. In most states it has two parts — a national portion and a state portion — and you must pass both; Virginia, for instance, requires passing the state and national portions of the salesperson examination. Passing scores generally expire if you do not apply for the license within the state's window.