Key statistics
- The median annual wage for real estate sales agents was $52,830 in May 2025. (BLS OEWS)
- The median annual wage for real estate brokers was $73,220 in May 2025. (BLS OEWS)
- The mean annual wage for real estate sales agents was $69,510, about $16,700 above the median, a sign that a minority of high earners pulls the average up. (BLS OEWS)
- The top 10% of real estate sales agents earned more than $123,590 a year; the bottom 10% earned less than $32,970. (BLS OEWS)
- REALTORS® reported a median gross income of $59,200 for 2025, up from $58,100 in 2024 and $55,800 in 2023. (NAR Member Profile)
- REALTORS® with 2 years or less experience had a median gross income of $8,000; those with 16 or more years had $88,500. (NAR 2026 Member Profile)
- 62% of REALTORS® with 2 years or less experience grossed less than $10,000 in 2025. (NAR 2026 Member Profile)
- 33% of all REALTORS® grossed $100,000 or more in 2025. (NAR 2026 Member Profile)
- The median REALTOR® net income after taxes and expenses was $37,000 in 2025. (NAR 2026 Member Profile)
- Median business expenses rose to $9,530 in 2025 from $8,010 in 2024. Vehicle costs were the largest category at a typical $1,580. (NAR 2026 Member Profile)
- New York had the highest mean annual wage for real estate sales agents of any state at $112,730; Idaho had the lowest published mean at $46,650. (BLS OEWS May 2025)
- 86% of REALTORS® are independent contractors at their firms. (NAR 2026 Member Profile)
How much do real estate agents make?
Real estate sales agents earned a median of $52,830 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. REALTORS®, the agents and brokers who belong to the National Association of REALTORS®, reported a median gross income of $59,200 for calendar year 2025. Both numbers are correct. They measure different people in different ways.
The BLS figure comes from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, released May 15, 2026. OEWS surveys employers, so it covers agents who receive wage and salary pay through an establishment. It does not include self-employed workers. That matters in real estate, where BLS reports that 54% of sales agents and 55% of brokers are self-employed.
The NAR figure comes from the 2026 Member Profile, a survey of 5,116 REALTORS® fielded in March 2026. It asks members to report their own gross income from real estate for 2025, before taxes and expenses. It covers independent contractors, which is how 86% of REALTORS® are set up at their firms.
For a single "real estate agent salary" number to quote, use the BLS median for sales agents ($52,830) and name the source and date. For a "how much do realtors make" number, use NAR's $59,200 median gross and say it is gross income before expenses.
| Measure | Value | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage, real estate sales agents | $52,830 | May 2025 | BLS OEWS |
| Mean annual wage, real estate sales agents | $69,510 | May 2025 | BLS OEWS |
| Median annual wage, real estate brokers | $73,220 | May 2025 | BLS OEWS |
| Mean annual wage, real estate brokers | $83,950 | May 2025 | BLS OEWS |
| Median annual wage, brokers and sales agents combined | $57,400 | May 2025 | BLS OOH |
| Median annual wage, all US occupations | $50,980 | May 2025 | BLS OOH |
| Median gross income, all REALTORS® | $59,200 | 2025 | NAR 2026 Member Profile |
| Median net income after taxes and expenses, all REALTORS® | $37,000 | 2025 | NAR 2026 Member Profile |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents (last modified August 27, 2026); BLS OEWS Profiles, May 2025 (released May 15, 2026); NAR 2026 Member Profile, national figures as published in the 2026 Florida REALTORS® Member Profile (July 2026).
Real estate agent vs broker salary
Brokers out-earn sales agents at every point of the pay scale. The BLS median for real estate brokers was $73,220 in May 2025, $20,390 higher than the $52,830 median for sales agents. The gap is widest at the top: the 90th percentile broker earned more than $143,300, against $123,590 for the 90th percentile agent.
The difference reflects what a broker license allows. Brokers can run their own firms, supervise agents and collect a share of every commission their agents earn. Most states require at least two years as a licensed sales agent before someone can sit for the broker exam, so brokers are also more experienced on average.
The spread inside each occupation is large. A sales agent at the 25th percentile earned $40,040; one at the 75th percentile earned $82,020, more than double. Hourly, the mean was $33.42 for agents and $40.36 for brokers. BLS converts annual figures from hourly rates by multiplying by 2,080 hours, so these are full-year equivalents.
| Percentile | Real estate sales agents (41-9022) | Real estate brokers (41-9021) |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,970 | $37,110 |
| 25th | $40,040 | $46,480 |
| 50th (median) | $52,830 | $73,220 |
| 75th | $82,020 | $103,360 |
| 90th | $123,590 | $143,300 |
| Mean (annual) | $69,510 | $83,950 |
| Mean (hourly) | $33.42 | $40.36 |
| Wage and salary employment (OEWS) | 193,370 | 46,100 |
Source: BLS OEWS Profiles, SOC 41-9022 and 41-9021, May 2025 (released May 15, 2026; accessed October 8, 2026).
Real estate agent vs broker pay by percentile, May 2025
Chart data
| Category | Sales agents | Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | 32,970 | 37,110 |
| 25th | 40,040 | 46,480 |
| 50th | 52,830 | 73,220 |
| 75th | 82,020 | 103,360 |
| 90th | 123,590 | 143,300 |
Industry also moves the number. BLS reports a median of $56,310 for sales agents working in construction (mostly new-home sales for builders) against $49,850 for agents in real estate and rental and leasing. For brokers in real estate and rental and leasing, the median was $72,700.
Real estate agent income by years of experience
Experience is the single biggest driver of agent income in the NAR data. REALTORS® with 16 or more years in the business had a median gross income of $88,500 in 2025. Those with 2 years or less had a median of $8,000. That is an elevenfold gap between the newest and most established members.
Income climbs steeply through the first decade. The median for members with 3 to 5 years of experience was $38,800, and for 6 to 15 years it was $71,400. The jump at the top end was also large this year: the 16-plus group rose from $78,900 in 2024 to $88,500 in 2025.
NAR's explanation is that established agents run on referrals and repeat clients. In the 2026 Member Profile, the typical REALTOR® earned 28% of business from repeat clients and 22% from referrals from past clients. A new agent has neither.
| Experience | Median gross income, 2025 | Share earning under $10,000 | Share earning $100,000 or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years or less | $8,000 | 62% | 4.5% |
| 3 to 5 years | $38,800 | 21% | 19% |
| 6 to 15 years | $71,400 | 11% | 36% |
| 16 years or more | $88,500 | 8% | 45% |
| All REALTORS® | $59,200 | 19% | 33% |
Source: NAR, "What Does Experience Mean for REALTOR® Income?" interactive, data from the 2026 Member Profile (accessed October 8, 2026). The $100,000-plus share is the sum of NAR's four top brackets as published in that interactive.
Median REALTOR® gross income by years of experience, 2025
Chart data
| Category | Median REALTOR® gross income by years of experience, 2025 |
|---|---|
| 2 years or less | 8,000 |
| 3 to 5 years | 38,800 |
| 6 to 15 years | 71,400 |
| 16 years or more | 88,500 |
| All REALTORS® | 59,200 |
The experience mix of the membership explains why the overall median sits where it does. In the 2026 Member Profile, 15% of REALTORS® had 2 years or less of experience and 23% had 26 or more years. The median member had 13 years in the business, up from 12 a year earlier. For a full breakdown of who is licensed and how long they stay, see our companion page on how many real estate agents there are.
How many real estate agents earn under $10,000 or over $100,000?
19% of REALTORS® grossed less than $10,000 in 2025, and 33% grossed $100,000 or more. The income distribution is split, with a large group at the bottom, a thin middle and a heavy top end. That shape is why the BLS mean ($69,510) sits so far above the BLS median ($52,830) for sales agents.
Among members with 2 years or less of experience, 62% made under $10,000. Only 4.5% of that group cleared $100,000. Among members with 16 or more years, 45% made over $100,000 and 14% made $250,000 or more.
| Gross income bracket | All REALTORS® | 2 years or less | 3 to 5 years | 6 to 15 years | 16 years or more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than $10,000 | 19% | 62% | 21% | 11% | 8% |
| $10,000 to $24,999 | 11% | 15% | 16% | 10% | 8% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 8% | 6% | 10% | 7% | 8% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 8% | 7% | 12% | 10% | 7% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 11% | 5% | 12% | 14% | 12% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 10% | 2% | 10% | 11% | 13% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 13% | 2% | 10% | 17% | 16% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 7% | 1% | 4% | 7% | 9% |
| $200,000 to $249,999 | 4% | 1% | 2% | 3% | 6% |
| $250,000 or more | 9% | 0.5% | 3% | 9% | 14% |
| Median | $59,200 | $8,000 | $38,800 | $71,400 | $88,500 |
Source: NAR, "What Does Experience Mean for REALTOR® Income?" interactive, 2026 Member Profile data (accessed October 8, 2026). Percentages may not total 100% because of rounding. NAR marks the 0.5% value as "less than 1%".
How REALTOR® gross income is distributed, by experience, 2025
Chart data
| Category | Under $50,000 | $50,000 to $99,999 | $100,000 or more |
|---|---|---|---|
| All REALTORS® | 46 | 21 | 33 |
| 2 years or less | 90 | 7 | 4.5 |
| 3 to 5 years | 59 | 22 | 19 |
| 6 to 15 years | 38 | 25 | 36 |
| 16 years or more | 31 | 25 | 45 |
Gross commission income vs take-home pay
The median REALTOR® grossed $59,200 in 2025 but took home $37,000 after taxes and business expenses. That $22,200 gap is the part of agent pay that salary aggregators skip.
Agent income is commission income. The commission on a sale is typically split between the listing and buyer sides, then each side's share is split again between the agent and the brokerage under the agent's commission plan. What NAR calls gross income is the agent's portion after the brokerage split, before the agent pays their own costs and taxes. As independent contractors, most agents cover their own self-employment tax, health insurance and retirement savings.
Business expenses take the next bite. The median REALTOR® spent $9,530 on business expenses in 2025, up from $8,010 in 2024 and $8,450 in 2023. The typical vehicle cost of $1,580 was the largest category. One in five members (19%) spent $30,000 or more.
| Line | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Median gross income (after brokerage split, before taxes and expenses) | $59,200 | NAR 2026 Member Profile |
| Median total business expenses | $9,530 | NAR 2026 Member Profile |
| Typical vehicle expense (largest category) | $1,580 | NAR 2026 Member Profile |
| Median net income after taxes and expenses | $37,000 | NAR 2026 Member Profile |
Source: NAR 2026 Member Profile, national figures as published in the 2026 Florida REALTORS® Member Profile (July 2026); NAR press release, June 25, 2026. Medians do not subtract from each other; each line is the median of its own distribution. NAR's text reports total expenses as $9,530 while its table shows a $9,520 median; we use the text figure.
| Bracket | Total business expenses (% of members) | Bracket | Net income after taxes and expenses (% of members) |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | 4% | Less than $10,000 | 26% |
| Less than $500 | 2% | $10,000 to $24,999 | 13% |
| $500 to $999 | 4% | $25,000 to $34,999 | 9% |
| $1,000 to $2,499 | 10% | $35,000 to $49,999 | 10% |
| $2,500 to $4,999 | 17% | $50,000 to $74,999 | 14% |
| $5,000 to $9,999 | 16% | $75,000 to $99,999 | 10% |
| $10,000 to $19,999 | 15% | $100,000 to $149,999 | 8% |
| $20,000 to $29,999 | 9% | $150,000 to $199,999 | 4% |
| $30,000 to $49,999 | 9% | $200,000 to $249,999 | 2% |
| $50,000 to $99,999 | 5% | $250,000 or more | 4% |
| $100,000 or more | 5% | Median net | $37,000 |
Source: NAR 2026 Member Profile, national column of the 2026 Florida REALTORS® Member Profile (July 2026).
On net income, 26% of REALTORS® cleared less than $10,000 in 2025 after taxes and expenses, and 18% netted $100,000 or more. For 48% of members, real estate was the household's primary source of income. For 27%, it sat alongside another job.
For brokers, these numbers are a recruiting and retention signal. An agent netting under $10,000 is an agent deciding whether to renew their license. Commission plans that are easy to understand, and statements agents can check, are part of keeping that agent long enough to reach the 6-to-15-year band where median income passes $70,000. If you track splits and caps across a roster, our commission software features page shows how brokerages handle that inside a transaction file.
Real estate agent salary by state
New York had the highest mean annual wage for real estate sales agents in May 2025 at $112,730, followed by New Jersey ($92,310), Montana ($89,580) and Alaska ($88,330). The District of Columbia, which BLS reports alongside the states, came in at $99,500 with the highest median of any area ($123,770). Idaho had the lowest published state mean at $46,650.
The ranking by median looks different. New York ($102,990), New Jersey ($99,990), Alaska ($89,170) and Nevada ($79,990) lead on median pay. In several states the mean and median diverge sharply. Alabama's mean ($80,820) is almost $20,000 above its median ($60,890), which points to a small group of high earners.
Florida, Texas and California employ the most wage and salary sales agents, with 26,790, 22,250 and 17,500 respectively. Their median pay sits below the national median in Florida ($49,310) and Texas ($45,740) and above it in California ($57,560).
Some cells are blank. BLS withholds an estimate when the sample is too small or the error is too high, and labels it "estimate not released". We show those cells as "Not released" and do not fill them from other sources.
| State | Employment | Annual mean wage | Annual median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1,580 | $80,820 | $60,890 |
| Alaska | 170 | $88,330 | $89,170 |
| Arizona | 5,610 | $70,070 | $58,780 |
| Arkansas | 1,640 | $55,080 | $38,180 |
| California | 17,500 | $67,570 | $57,560 |
| Colorado | 6,120 | $73,650 | $63,670 |
| Connecticut | Not released | $62,640 | $46,770 |
| Delaware | 900 | $58,630 | $47,180 |
| District of Columbia | 590 | $99,500 | $123,770 |
| Florida | 26,790 | $73,600 | $49,310 |
| Georgia | 9,940 | $65,250 | $46,730 |
| Hawaii | 690 | $61,130 | $46,220 |
| Idaho | 1,170 | $46,650 | $39,820 |
| Illinois | 6,030 | $57,260 | $59,220 |
| Indiana | 3,680 | $57,030 | $46,880 |
| Iowa | 680 | Not released | Not released |
| Kansas | 1,450 | $47,960 | $39,770 |
| Kentucky | 1,120 | $63,180 | $58,610 |
| Louisiana | 1,940 | $51,560 | $45,850 |
| Maine | 740 | $64,840 | $56,930 |
| Maryland | 2,940 | $67,460 | $52,630 |
| Massachusetts | 4,530 | Not released | Not released |
| Michigan | 2,210 | $64,380 | $57,880 |
| Minnesota | 2,530 | $61,420 | $46,410 |
| Mississippi | 670 | $52,680 | $39,550 |
| Missouri | 1,590 | $56,080 | $43,960 |
| Montana | 370 | $89,580 | $79,100 |
| Nebraska | 1,400 | $56,920 | $47,240 |
| Nevada | 1,490 | $83,470 | $79,990 |
| New Hampshire | 240 | $70,160 | $57,620 |
| New Jersey | Not released | $92,310 | $99,990 |
| New Mexico | 550 | $85,520 | $76,170 |
| New York | 8,660 | $112,730 | $102,990 |
| North Carolina | 7,960 | $74,610 | $51,240 |
| North Dakota | Not released | $72,320 | $73,920 |
| Ohio | 5,130 | $59,310 | $46,240 |
| Oklahoma | 3,710 | $69,060 | $47,980 |
| Oregon | 1,940 | $65,740 | $61,610 |
| Pennsylvania | 5,510 | $65,330 | $56,040 |
| Rhode Island | Not released | $64,260 | $60,310 |
| South Carolina | 4,930 | $79,100 | $56,580 |
| South Dakota | 640 | $69,510 | $65,170 |
| Tennessee | 2,360 | $57,350 | $46,250 |
| Texas | 22,250 | $63,610 | $45,740 |
| Utah | 4,240 | $53,610 | $50,720 |
| Vermont | 70 | Not released | Not released |
| Virginia | 5,750 | $72,040 | $63,980 |
| Washington | 5,150 | $84,480 | $79,130 |
| West Virginia | 370 | $61,300 | $59,050 |
| Wisconsin | 5,680 | $64,190 | $58,120 |
| Wyoming | 300 | $52,450 | $49,990 |
| United States | 193,370 | $69,510 | $52,830 |
Source: BLS OEWS Query System, May 2025 state estimates, SOC 41-9022 (May 2025 estimates released May 15, 2026; data extracted October 8, 2026). Employment excludes self-employed workers. Annual wages are hourly wages multiplied by 2,080 hours. "Not released" means BLS did not publish the estimate.
Top 10 states by real estate sales agent mean wage, May 2025
Chart data
| Category | Top 10 states by real estate sales agent mean wage, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| New York | 112,730 |
| New Jersey | 92,310 |
| Montana | 89,580 |
| Alaska | 88,330 |
| New Mexico | 85,520 |
| Washington | 84,480 |
| Nevada | 83,470 |
| Alabama | 80,820 |
| South Carolina | 79,100 |
| North Carolina | 74,610 |
Bottom 10 states by real estate sales agent mean wage, May 2025
Chart data
| Category | Bottom 10 states by real estate sales agent mean wage, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Idaho | 46,650 |
| Kansas | 47,960 |
| Louisiana | 51,560 |
| Wyoming | 52,450 |
| Mississippi | 52,680 |
| Utah | 53,610 |
| Arkansas | 55,080 |
| Missouri | 56,080 |
| Nebraska | 56,920 |
| Indiana | 57,030 |
| State | Employment | Annual mean wage | Annual median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 8,430 | $89,020 | $80,450 |
| Arizona | 3,790 | $76,350 | $74,260 |
| Florida | 3,640 | $88,370 | $66,010 |
| Colorado | 3,280 | $91,510 | $79,970 |
| Texas | 2,040 | $68,410 | $63,390 |
| Missouri | 1,980 | $68,080 | $62,280 |
| Oregon | 1,670 | $69,140 | $63,070 |
| North Carolina | 1,560 | $67,600 | $52,830 |
| Virginia | 1,500 | $97,560 | $77,270 |
| New Jersey | 1,290 | $105,630 | $111,390 |
| Michigan | 1,150 | $86,600 | $82,510 |
| Illinois | 990 | $78,710 | $62,540 |
| Indiana | 740 | $92,470 | $75,000 |
| Tennessee | 540 | $62,910 | $60,150 |
| Alabama | 460 | $76,830 | $82,630 |
| Maryland | 430 | $97,390 | $81,550 |
| Montana | 400 | $67,900 | $63,240 |
| United States | 46,100 | $83,950 | $73,220 |
Source: BLS OEWS Query System, May 2025 state estimates, SOC 41-9021 (data extracted October 8, 2026). States with at least 400 published broker jobs and published wages, sorted by employment. BLS did not release broker estimates for several states, including Georgia, New York, Massachusetts and Nevada.
How many real estate agents are on a payroll?
Only 193,370 real estate sales agents were counted as wage and salary employees in May 2025, against 427,000 total sales agent jobs once self-employed workers are included. The difference is the self-employed majority that OEWS does not survey.
BLS's Employment Projections program, which does count the self-employed, put total jobs at 530,600 for brokers and sales agents combined in 2025: 427,000 sales agents and 103,500 brokers. Of those, 54% of sales agents and 55% of brokers were self-employed. Most of the rest worked in the real estate and rental and leasing industry.
| Measure | Sales agents | Brokers | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total jobs, 2025 (incl. self-employed) | 427,000 | 103,500 | 530,600 |
| Share self-employed | 54% | 55% | n/a |
| Wage and salary jobs (OEWS, May 2025) | 193,370 | 46,100 | 239,470 |
| Projected jobs, 2035 | 434,500 | 104,300 | 538,800 |
| Projected change, 2025 to 2035 | 2% | 1% | 2% |
| Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035 | n/a | n/a | 40,400 |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents (last modified August 27, 2026); BLS OEWS Profiles, May 2025. Combined OEWS figure is the sum of the two occupations.
BLS projects about 40,400 openings a year for brokers and sales agents through 2035, almost all from replacing people who leave the occupation or retire. Total employment is projected to grow 2%, slower than the 3% average for all occupations. The NAR membership count is far larger than either BLS number, at 1,438,569 in June 2026, because it counts every licensed member, active or not. Our real estate commission statistics page covers how the commission pool those members share is changing.
Hours worked and production
The typical REALTOR® worked 35 hours a week in 2025. Sixteen percent worked under 20 hours, 37% worked 20 to 39 hours, 36% worked 40 to 59 hours and 11% worked 60 hours or more.
Production was modest for the median member. Individually, the typical REALTOR® closed 9 transaction sides in 2025, and the median individual sales volume for brokerage specialists was $2.5 million in NAR's report tables. (NAR's June 2026 press release quotes $2.7 million; we use the table value.) Six percent of REALTORS® closed no residential sides at all.
Teams change the math. For the first time, the 2026 Member Profile separated individual and team production. Twenty-one percent of REALTORS® worked on a team, with a median of four members. Teams had a median of 31 residential sides in NAR's table (the press release says 32) and a median team sales volume of $17.5 million.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median hours worked per week | 35 |
| Share working 40 or more hours per week | 47% |
| Median individual residential transaction sides | 9 |
| Share with zero individual residential sides | 6% |
| Median individual sales volume, brokerage specialists | $2.5 million |
| Share of REALTORS® on a team | 21% |
| Median team size | 4 |
| Median team residential sides | 31 |
| Median team sales volume, brokerage specialists | $17.5 million |
Source: NAR 2026 Member Profile, national column of the 2026 Florida REALTORS® Member Profile (July 2026); NAR press release, June 25, 2026.
Nine sides a year at a median gross of $59,200 works out to about $6,600 of gross income per side for the median agent. That is our arithmetic on two separate medians, so treat it as a rough guide.
How realtor income has changed since 2023
Median REALTOR® gross income rose from $55,800 in 2023 to $58,100 in 2024 and $59,200 in 2025, a 6% increase over two years in nominal terms. Expenses rose faster. The median expense bill climbed 19% from $8,010 to $9,530 in the latest year after dipping from $8,450.
The experienced end of the membership pulled ahead. Members with 16 or more years went from a median $78,900 to $88,500, a 12% rise. New members went the other way, from $8,100 to $8,000.
| Report year (income year) | Median gross income | Median gross, 16+ years | Median gross, 2 years or less | Median business expenses | Median transaction sides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Profile (2023) | $55,800 | n/a | n/a | $8,450 | 10 |
| 2025 Profile (2024) | $58,100 | $78,900 | $8,100 | $8,010 | 10 |
| 2026 Profile (2025) | $59,200 | $88,500 | $8,000 | $9,530 | 9 (individual) |
Source: NAR REALTOR® News, "Income Steady, Even as Market Slows: 2025 Member Trends" (August 6, 2025); NAR press release, June 25, 2026. The 2026 Profile counted individual and team sides separately for the first time, so the 9-side figure is not directly comparable to earlier years.
Median REALTOR® gross income and expenses, 2023 to 2025
Chart data
| Category | Median gross income | Median business expenses |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 55,800 | 8,450 |
| 2024 | 58,100 | 8,010 |
| 2025 | 59,200 | 9,530 |
All of this happened in a slow market. NAR notes that existing-home sales have hovered just above 4 million a year for three and a half years, the lowest level since 1995. Agents who held on did so with fewer deals per head and a bigger share of business from past clients.
Why salary websites show different numbers
Salary aggregators often show a real estate agent "average salary" far above the BLS median. The gap usually comes from how the number is built. Most aggregators model pay from job postings and user reports. Real estate job ads tend to advertise potential commission earnings, and averages are pulled up by top producers.
Here is how the main sources differ:
| Source | Who is counted | What is measured | Latest period | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLS OEWS | Wage and salary agents and brokers reported by employers; excludes self-employed | Annual wages incl. commissions, median and mean | May 2025 | The official "salary" figure; state comparisons |
| BLS Employment Projections | All jobs including self-employed | Job counts and 10-year outlook | 2025 base, 2035 projection | How many people work as agents |
| NAR Member Profile | Surveyed REALTORS® (5,116 responses) | Self-reported gross and net income from real estate | Calendar 2025 | Income by experience; take-home after expenses |
| Salary aggregators | Job ads and user submissions | Advertised or self-reported pay, often averages | Varies, often undated | Local job-ad benchmarks only |
Sources: BLS OOH; NAR 2026 Member Profile methodology, via the 2026 Florida REALTORS® Member Profile.
Two practical rules for anyone citing agent pay. Quote a median when you want "what a typical agent makes", because top earners pull the mean up. And say whether the figure is gross or net, because the difference for the median REALTOR® was $22,200 in 2025.
What agent pay data means for brokerages
With 62% of first- and second-year members grossing under $10,000, the economics of a brokerage depend on getting new agents to year three. Agents with 3 to 5 years of experience earned a median of $38,800, almost five times the newest group.
The time an agent spends on paperwork and chasing missing documents is time they are not producing. The typical REALTOR® worked 35 hours a week in 2025 and closed 9 sides. Brokerages that give agents a clear checklist for each file, deadline reminders and one place to upload documents take some of that friction away. That is the job transaction management software for brokerages is built to do, from compliance review to commission tracking.
Brokers recruiting new agents can use these figures honestly in interviews: first-year income is low for most people, the median grows quickly with experience, and expenses run near $10,000 a year. Our guide to recruiting real estate agents covers how to build that conversation, and the real estate commission calculator lets agents test split scenarios for themselves.
How we compiled these statistics
We built this page from primary sources only and opened every source during research in October 2026.
- BLS OEWS, May 2025. National percentile wages and employment for real estate sales agents (SOC 41-9022) and real estate brokers (SOC 41-9021) come from the BLS OEWS Profiles tool. State employment, mean and median wages come from the BLS OEWS Query System, May 2025 state estimates, extracted on October 8, 2026. BLS released these estimates on May 15, 2026. The next OEWS release (May 2026 data) is expected in spring 2027.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Combined median pay, industry medians, job counts including the self-employed, self-employment shares and 2025 to 2035 projections, from the OOH page last modified August 27, 2026.
- NAR 2026 Member Profile. Released June 25, 2026. Income, expenses, hours, production and experience figures for 2025. NAR surveyed a random sample of 286,777 REALTORS® in March 2026 and received 5,116 responses (adjusted response rate 1.7%, confidence interval ±1.37%). National detail tables were taken from the "All REALTORS®" column of the 2026 Florida REALTORS® Member Profile, which NAR Research produced and which reprints the national figures. Income by experience comes from NAR Research's published interactive.
- NAR 2025 Member Profile. 2024 and 2023 comparison figures, from NAR's August 6, 2025 article.
Definitions. A median is the middle value: half earn more, half earn less. A mean is the arithmetic average, which high earners pull upward. BLS annual wages are hourly wages times 2,080 hours, and include commissions and production bonuses for wage and salary workers. NAR gross income is a member's income from real estate before taxes and expenses. NAR net income is after taxes and expenses.
Caveats. BLS and NAR cover different populations and different periods (BLS: a May reference period; NAR: calendar year). They should not be subtracted from each other. NAR medians for gross income, expenses and net income are separate medians and do not add up arithmetically. Where NAR's text and tables differ (expenses $9,530 vs $9,520; individual sales volume $2.7 million vs $2.5 million; team sides 32 vs 31), we say so in place. State cells marked "Not released" were withheld by BLS.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a real estate agent make a year?
The median annual wage for real estate sales agents was $52,830 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The mean was $69,510. The bottom 10% earned under $32,970 and the top 10% earned over $123,590.
How much do realtors make?
REALTORS® reported a median gross income of $59,200 for 2025 in NAR's 2026 Member Profile. After taxes and business expenses, the median net income was $37,000.
What is the average salary for a real estate agent?
The average (mean) annual wage for real estate sales agents was $69,510 in May 2025, per BLS. Because a minority of high earners pulls the average up, the median of $52,830 is a better guide to what a typical agent earns.
How much do new real estate agents make in their first year?
REALTORS® with 2 years or less of experience had a median gross income of $8,000 in 2025. Sixty-two percent of that group grossed less than $10,000.
Do real estate brokers make more than agents?
Yes. The median annual wage for real estate brokers was $73,220 in May 2025, compared with $52,830 for sales agents. Brokers earn more at every percentile BLS publishes.
Which state pays real estate agents the most?
New York had the highest mean annual wage for real estate sales agents in May 2025 at $112,730, followed by New Jersey at $92,310. The District of Columbia reported $99,500.
Which state pays real estate agents the least?
Idaho had the lowest published mean annual wage for real estate sales agents in May 2025 at $46,650, followed by Kansas at $47,960. BLS did not release wage estimates for Iowa, Massachusetts or Vermont.
How much do real estate agents spend on business expenses?
The median REALTOR® spent $9,530 on business expenses in 2025, up from $8,010 in 2024. Vehicle costs were the largest category at a typical $1,580.
What percentage of realtors make over $100,000?
Thirty-three percent of REALTORS® grossed $100,000 or more in 2025. Among members with 16 or more years of experience, the share was 45%.
How many hours do real estate agents work?
The typical REALTOR® worked 35 hours per week in 2025. Forty-seven percent worked 40 hours or more, and 16% worked fewer than 20.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents. Last modified August 27, 2026. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/real-estate-brokers-and-sales-agents.htm
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. OEWS Profiles, May 2025, SOC 41-9022 Real Estate Sales Agents and SOC 41-9021 Real Estate Brokers. Released May 15, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/oesprofile/
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. OEWS Query System, May 2025 state estimates for SOC 41-9021 and 41-9022. Data extracted October 8, 2026. https://data.bls.gov/oes/
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. OEWS Tables (release index, May 2025). Last modified May 15, 2026. https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm
- National Association of REALTORS®. "Experienced REALTORS® Anchor the Industry as Housing Affordability Remains Top Hurdle, New NAR Report Finds" (2026 Member Profile press release). June 25, 2026. https://www.nar.realtor/newsroom/experienced-realtors-anchor-the-industry-as-housing-affordability-remains-top-hurdle-new-nar-report
- National Association of REALTORS®. "The Feature Sheet: 2026 Member Profile." August 19, 2026. https://www.nar.realtor/news/economists-outlook/the-feature-sheet-2026-member-profile
- National Association of REALTORS® Research. "What Does Experience Mean for REALTOR® Income?" interactive, 2026 Member Profile data. Accessed October 8, 2026. https://nar-research.github.io/projects/interactive/nar-member-profile-annual-income-realtors-2025/
- National Association of REALTORS® Research Group. 2026 Florida REALTORS® Member Profile (includes All REALTORS® national column). July 2026. https://www.floridarealtors.org/sites/default/files/basic-page/attachments/2026-08/2026%20Florida%20Member%20Profile%20Oversample.pdf
- National Association of REALTORS®. "Income Steady, Even as Market Slows: 2025 Member Trends." August 6, 2025. https://www.nar.realtor/news/real-estate-news/sales-marketing/income-steady-even-as-market-slows-2025-member-trends
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