The median pay for Real Estate Brokers is $73,220 a year ($35.20/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 0.8% through 2035, with about 7,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 41-9021
- Sales and Related
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Real Estate Broker in four numbers
- Median pay
- $73,220a year, or $35.20/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $37KTop 10% $143K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +0.8%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+0.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +0.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 7,800103,500 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025103.5K
- Projected 2035104.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 103.5K Projected 2035 104.3K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Broker, Broker Associate, Commercial Leasing Broker, Commercial Real Estate Advisor, Commercial Real Estate Broker, Designated Broker.
Pay
How much do Real Estate Brokers make?
Every real estate broker in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$73,220
Middle half earn $46,480 to $103,360
- 10th
- $37,110
- 25th
- $46,480
- 75th
- $103,360
- 90th
- $143,300
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $37,110 |
| 25th | $46,480 |
| Median | $73,220 |
| 75th | $103,360 |
| 90th | $143,300 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $73,220
- Median hourly wage
- $35.20/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $83,950
- People employed
- 46,100
Versus all US occupations
At $73,220, Real Estate Brokers earn 44% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $22,240 a year.
Versus sales and related occupations
The median is typical for the Sales and Related group, where the middle occupation pays $73,220.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $143,300 or more while the bottom 10% earn $37,110, a gap of 3.9×. 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 47% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
New Jersey pays the most at $111,390, and still leads at $102,376 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Real Estate Brokers the most?
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.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1New Jersey | $111,390 | $102,376 | 1,290 |
| 2Connecticut | $105,800 | $102,114 | N/A |
| 3Utah | $92,830 | $93,897 | N/A |
| 4Washington | $82,790 | $77,364 | N/A |
| 5Alabama | $82,630 | $93,028 | 460 |
| 6Michigan | $82,510 | $85,754 | 1,150 |
| 7Maryland | $81,550 | $77,697 | 430 |
| 8California | $80,450 | $72,661 | 8,430 |
| 9New Mexico | $80,340 | $87,125 | N/A |
| 10Colorado | $79,970 | $77,602 | 3,280 |
Job outlook
Is Real Estate Broker a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +0.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Real Estate Brokers | +0.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Real Estate Brokers to change 0.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 7,800 openings are projected each year, 7.5% of the 103,500 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of real estate brokers and sales agents is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 40,400 openings for real estate brokers and sales agents are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most 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.
Getting in
How to become a Real Estate Broker
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.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Real Estate Broker do?
Operate real estate office, or work for commercial real estate firm, overseeing real estate transactions. Other duties usually include selling real estate or renting properties and arranging loans.
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
- Sell, for a fee, real estate owned by others.
- Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
- Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers over property prices and settlement details and during the closing of sales.
- Maintain awareness of current income tax regulations, local zoning, building and tax laws, and growth possibilities of a property's area.
- Maintain knowledge of real estate law, local economies, fair housing laws, types of available mortgages, financing options, and government programs.
- Obtain agreements from property owners to place properties for sale with real estate firms.
- Give buyers virtual tours of properties in which they are interested, using computers.
- Generate lists of properties for sale, their locations, descriptions, and available financing options, using computers.
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.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where real estate brokers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Self-employed workers55%
- Real estate and rental and leasing40%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Self-employed workers | 55% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 40% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Active Learning4.0
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Writing3.4
- Mathematics3.0
- Monitoring3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.4 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Negotiation4.1
- Persuasion3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4
- Service Orientation3.4
- Coordination3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Time Management3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Negotiation | 4.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.4 |
| Service Orientation | 3.4 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Real Estate Broker?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Real Estate Broker |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Enterprising6.5
- Conventional5.8
- Social2.9
- Realistic2.7
- Investigative1.5
- Artistic1.0
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.
Explore further
Careers related to Real Estate Broker
O*NET related occupations
- Sales and Related
- Management
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager
$69,990median a year
Most earn $41K to $140K
+3.7%High school - Business and Financial Operations
- Sales and Related
Security, Commodity, and Financial Services Sales Agent
$78,660median a year
Most earn $48K to $213K
+1.4%Bachelor's - Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
Appraiser of Personal and Business Property
$67,960median a year
Most earn $40K to $123K
+3.5%Bachelor's
More sales and related careers
Median annual pay, with real estate brokers highlighted
- Sales Engineer$124,900
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product$104,920
- Real Estate Broker$73,220
- Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,080
- Insurance Sales Agent$62,280
- Real Estate Agent$52,830
- Travel Agent$50,160
- Retail Salesperson$35,410
- Cashier$32,880
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Sales Engineer | $124,900 |
| Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product | $104,920 |
| Real Estate Broker | $73,220 |
| Sales Representative, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $72,080 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $62,280 |
| Real Estate Agent | $52,830 |
| Travel Agent | $50,160 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,410 |
| Cashier | $32,880 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within real estate broker
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Real Estate Broker appears on
Questions
Real Estate Broker: frequently asked questions
How much do Real Estate Brokers make?
Real Estate Brokers earn a median of $73,220 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 44% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $35.20/hr. The middle half earn between $46,480 and $103,360. The top 10% earn $143,300 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Real Estate Broker?
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 Brokers. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first.
Is Real Estate Broker a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.8% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 7,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Real Estate Broker do?
Real estate brokers and sales agents help clients buy, sell, and rent properties. A core O*NET task: sell, for a fee, real estate owned by others. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Customer relationship management CRM software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Real Estate Brokers the most?
The highest state medians for Real Estate Brokers are New Jersey ($111,390), Connecticut ($105,800), Utah ($92,830) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Real Estate Broker?
O*NET scores Real Estate Brokers highest on the Enterprising and Conventional 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 that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.