Real Estate Agent Salary: Median Pay by State
The median annual wage of real estate sales agents in the United States was $52,830 in May 2025, and the mean was $69,510, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These figures cover agents on payrolls, not self-employed agents, and they include commissions.
Real estate agent salary by state
States are sorted by median pay. The United States row covers all states.
| Area | Median pay | Mean pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $63,980 | $72,040 | 5,750 |
| Colorado | $63,670 | $73,650 | 6,120 |
| Alabama | $60,890 | $80,820 | 1,580 |
| Arizona | $58,780 | $70,070 | 5,610 |
| South Carolina | $56,580 | $79,100 | 4,930 |
| Maryland | $52,630 | $67,460 | 2,940 |
| North Carolina | $51,240 | $74,610 | 7,960 |
| Nebraska | $47,240 | $56,920 | 1,400 |
| Tennessee | $46,250 | $57,350 | 2,360 |
| Hawaii | $46,220 | $61,130 | 690 |
| Texas | $45,740 | $63,610 | 22,250 |
| Kansas | $39,770 | $47,960 | 1,450 |
| United States | $52,830 | $69,510 | 193,370 |
Source: bls.gov, checked U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, SOC 41-9022 Real Estate Sales Agents.
Highest and lowest pay
Among the 12 states listed, Virginia has the highest median, $63,980, and Kansas the lowest, $39,770. In all 12 of them, the mean is above the median: a smaller group of agents earns much more than the typical agent, which pulls the average up.
What these numbers leave out
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts wage and salary workers in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey and leaves out the self-employed, so agents who work for themselves are not in these numbers. The figures are not a starting salary either: they cover agents at every level of experience. Source notes: BLS OEWS frequently asked questions.
Getting licensed first
Before you can earn as an agent, you need a state license: see how to get a real estate license and compare online real estate schools by pass rate.
Frequently asked questions
How much do real estate agents make a year?
The median annual wage of real estate sales agents was $52,830 in May 2025, and the mean was $69,510, for agents on payrolls in the United States.
Which state pays real estate agents the most?
Of the states listed here, Virginia has the highest median pay for real estate sales agents, $63,980.
Where does this salary data come from?
From the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates of the Bureau of Labor Statistics for Real Estate Sales Agents (SOC 41-9022), May 2025. See the methodology.