How much can you make as a real estate agent?

Income for real estate agents can vary greatly and is dependent on years of experience, hours worked, market conditions, specializations and more. A 2023 survey of nearly 11,000 licensed real estate professionals shows that their average gross income was $157,000.

Market conditions aside, four factors determine how much real estate agents make — Hours Worked, Location, Specialty/Niche and Years of Experience

Hours Worked

For most real estate agents, income is highly dependent on the number of hours worked, creating a wide pay gap where full-time agents earn considerably more than part-time agents. If you’re not sure you can work full-time as a real estate agent, you can test the waters by becoming a part-time agent and earn extra income while keeping your current job.

Location

Average income for real estate agents is highly variable based on region, state, city, and the health of the local market. In general, if you want to earn more, you need to work primarily in urban or suburban areas where the average cost per home is higher.

States with the highest, average real estate agent salaries:

Vermont

Vermont

$330,714

Nebraska

Nebraska

$185,966

Oregon

Oregon

$167,658

Illinois

Illinois

$164,859

Specialty
or Niche

Just like doctors or nurses specialize in certain areas of medicine, real estate agents often specialize in different areas of real estate. Regardless of state, agents who specialize in commercial and luxury residential properties typically earn more than their counterparts as these types of properties have higher price points and therefore higher commissions.

Years of Experience

The first year in real estate is always the hardest, but agents who stick with it see the payoff within a year. After getting at least one year of experience under their belt, agents typically earn over $20,000 more per year. Agents who have the most success in the first year are those who find a supportive brokerage and seek out a knowledgeable mentor for guidance.

Want to see how your state compares to the rest of the country?
This table outlines the average salary for real estate agents in each state.

State
Salary
State
Salary
Alabama
$94,783
Alaska
$140,437
American Samoa
$67,333
Arizona
$115,274
Arkansas
$111,321
California
$110,945
Colorado
$116,036
Connecticut
$159,583
Delaware
$114,274
District of Columbia
$160,385
Florida
$79,537
Georgia
$110,036
Hawaii
$123,526
Idaho
$101,032
Illinois
$164,859
Indiana
$105,000
Iowa
$100,185
Kansas
$132,234
Kentucky
$80,213
Louisiana
$114,889
Maine
$124,975
Maryland
$62,637
Massachusetts
$80,980
Michigan
$114,123
Minnesota
$77,853
Mississippi
$45,600
Missouri
$71,759
Montana
$41,307
Nebraska
$185,966
Nevada
$87,819
New Hampshire
$138,640
New Jersey
$82,383
New Mexico
$77,595
New York
$89,849
North Carolina
$124,940
North Dakota
$140,437
Northern Marianas Islands
$101,883
Ohio
$77,205
Oklahoma
$101,110
Oregon
$167,658
Pennsylvania
$83,422
Puerto Rico
$65,141
Rhode Island
$115,514
South Carolina
$70,700
South Dakota
$82,208
Tennessee
$93,135
Texas
$106,823
Utah
$54,810
Vermont
$330,714
Virgin Islands
$89.190
Virginia
$68,130
Washington
$109,210
West Virginia
$71,500
Wisconsin
$83,000
Wyoming
$61,000

Start your journey to become a real estate agent