Real Estate Sales Agents
SOC code 41-9022 · O*NET-SOC 41-9022.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Sales
Real estate is licence-gated rather than degree-gated: pre-licensing coursework takes weeks to months, and income is commission-based, so the published wage figures understate how wide the true earnings spread is between part-time agents and top producers.
Real Estate Sales Agents pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$52,830
a year
Hourly
$25.40
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$69,510
$33.42 per hour
Middle 50%
$40,040 – $82,020
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$32,970 – $123,590
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
193,370
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $32,970
- $15.85/hr
- 25th percentile
- $40,040
- $19.25/hr
- Median percentile
- $52,830
- $25.40/hr
- 75th percentile
- $82,020
- $39.43/hr
- 90th percentile
- $123,590
- $59.42/hr
What does a real estate sales 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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Present purchase offers to sellers for consideration.
- Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers, generally representing one or the other.
- 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.
- Appraise properties to determine loan values.
- Advise clients on market conditions, prices, mortgages, legal requirements, and related matters.
- Prepare documents such as representation contracts, purchase agreements, closing statements, deeds, and leases.
- Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
- Coordinate appointments to show homes to prospective buyers.
How to become a real estate sales agent
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
The federal survey did not capture education levels for this specific occupation, so the preparation-level card above is the best guide to the entry route.
Common questions
How much does a real estate sales agent earn?
The national median is $52,830 a year. The full range runs from $32,970 at the 10th percentile to $123,590 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a real estate sales agent without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking3.6/5
- Reading Comprehension3.4/5
- Writing3.3/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.4/5
- Sales and Marketing4.3/5
- English Language3.6/5
- Computers and Electronics3.4/5
- Administration and Management3.3/5
- Administrative3.3/5
- Mathematics3.3/5
- Communications and Media3.3/5
Transferable strengths: Negotiation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Persuasion, Service Orientation.