Real Estate Agent Pay

San Bernardino vs San Francisco: Real Estate Agent Salary (2026)

Compare real estate agent salaries between San Bernardino, CA and San Francisco, CA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

San Bernardino, CA
$64,827
$31.17/hr
San Francisco, CA
$72,055
$34.64/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSan Bernardino, CASan Francisco, CA
Median Salary$64,827$72,055
Hourly Rate$31.17$34.64
Entry Level (P10)$37,600$47,979
25th Percentile$49,640$57,094
75th Percentile$82,978$95,298
Top Earner (P90)$100,482$127,494
Total Employed332,100
Side-by-side bar chart comparing San Bernardino ($64,827) and San Francisco ($72,055) real estate agent salaries.San BernardinoSan FranciscoMedian Salary$64,827$72,055Entry Level (P10)$37,600$47,979Top Earner (P90)$100,482$127,494US Median $53,622

Verdict

San Francisco, CA offers better overall compensation for real estate agents, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to San Bernardino.

The salary gap between San Bernardino and San Francisco is $7,228 (11.15%). San Francisco's median is +34.38% compared to the US national median of $53,622.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in San Bernardino spans $62,882,San Francisco spans $79,515. San Francisco has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced real estate agents.

San Bernardino
P10 (Entry)$37,600
P25$49,640
Median$64,827
P75$82,978
P90 (Top)$100,482
San Francisco
P10 (Entry)$47,979
P25$57,094
Median$72,055
P75$95,298
P90 (Top)$127,494

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, San Francisco ($62,324 effective) pays 8.73% more than San Bernardino ($57,318 effective).

San Bernardino
Nominal: $64,827
CoL Index: 113.1
Adjusted: $57,318
San Francisco
Nominal: $72,055
CoL Index: 115.613
Adjusted: $62,324

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose San Bernardino if…

  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Choose San Francisco if…

  • Higher median salary ($72,055/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($127,494)
  • Larger job market (2,100 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $62,324)
  • You prefer the California area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, real estate agent salaries in San Bernardino grew -40.5% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 19.6% growth in San Francisco over the same period.

San Bernardino, CA

+-40.5%

$107,306 (2024) → $63,869 (2025)

San Francisco, CA

+19.6%

$59,350 (2019) → $70,990 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays real estate agents more: San Bernardino or San Francisco?

San Francisco has a higher median real estate agent salary at $72,055/year, compared to San Bernardino at $64,827/year — a difference of $7,228 (11.15%).

What is the hourly rate difference between San Bernardino and San Francisco?

San Bernardino real estate agents earn $31.17/hr while San Francisco hygienists earn $34.64/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from San Bernardino to San Francisco as a real estate agent?

Consider more than just salary when comparing San Bernardino and San Francisco. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: San Bernardino = $57,318, San Francisco = $62,324), job availability (33 vs 2,100 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level real estate agents earn in San Bernardino vs San Francisco?

Entry-level (10th percentile) real estate agents earn $37,600 in San Bernardino and $47,979 in San Francisco. The San Francisco area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

MG

Written by Maria Gonzalez, REALTOR®

Career Analyst

Maria has 10 years of experience as a real estate agent. She specializes in residential properties. She works with a large brokerage in Texas.

Clinically reviewed by David Chen, REALTOR®Data verified by Fatima Ali, REALTOR®

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 1.50% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, REALTOR®, a licensed real estate agent with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov