Entry-Level Real Estate Agent Salary (2026): What New Real Estate Agents Actually Make
The average entry-level real estate agent income is $35,532 per year ($17.08/hour) in 2026, based on the 10th percentile of BLS wage data. New agent first-year income ranges from $18,250 to $75,965 in Petaluma, CA — driven by metro median home price, brokerage commission split (Keller Williams, Compass, eXp, Coldwell Banker, RE/MAX), team mentor structure, NAR membership, and post-NAR settlement buyer-agent commission environment.
2019 BLS
$24,930
2025 BLS
$32,970
2026 Current Est.
$33,465
2019–2027 Growth
+36.2%
National Entry-Level Real Estate Agent Salary Trend (10th Percentile)
2019–2025: BLS OEWS actual data. 2026+: CAGR 1.50% projection.
| Year | Entry-Level Salary (P10) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $24,930 | Actual |
| 2020 | $25,100 | Actual |
| 2021 | $28,270 | Actual |
| 2022 | $29,130 | Actual |
| 2023 | $31,410 | Actual |
| 2024 | $31,940 | Actual |
| 2025 | $32,970 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $33,465 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $33,967 | Projected |
Entry-level real estate agent salaries (10th percentile) have shown consistent growth over 7 years of BLS data. The 10th percentile represents typical starting pay for new graduates and early-career professionals. At the current 1.50% CAGR, starting salaries are projected to continue rising through 2027.
Note: BLS actual data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Estimated and projected values are calculated using a 1.50% historical CAGR. Actual compensation may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Real Estate Agent Salary by State
Entry-level real estate agent pay varies dramatically by state. The top-paying states offer starting salaries well above $35,532, while others fall below the national average. Here are all 51 states ranked by average starting salary for real estate agents.
| # | State | Avg Starting Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $58,842 |
| 2 | Alaska | $50,543 |
| 3 | Washington | $49,122 |
| 4 | New York | $48,950 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $46,497 |
| 6 | Montana | $43,792 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $41,411 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $41,277 |
| 9 | Vermont | $40,873 |
| 10 | California | $40,671 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $39,442 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $39,314 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $38,861 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $38,600 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $37,686 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $37,370 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $37,301 |
| 18 | Maryland | $37,121 |
| 19 | Oregon | $36,903 |
| 20 | Illinois | $36,798 |
| 21 | Connecticut | $35,962 |
| 22 | Arizona | $35,913 |
| 23 | Virginia | $35,742 |
| 24 | Minnesota | $35,214 |
| 25 | Nevada | $35,028 |
| 26 | Colorado | $34,921 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $34,878 |
| 28 | Florida | $34,423 |
| 29 | Michigan | $34,192 |
| 30 | Alabama | $33,988 |
| 31 | Delaware | $33,844 |
| 32 | Tennessee | $33,371 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $33,324 |
| 34 | Missouri | $33,166 |
| 35 | Georgia | $32,452 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $32,209 |
| 37 | Utah | $32,018 |
| 38 | Maine | $31,596 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $30,943 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $30,677 |
| 41 | Iowa | $30,628 |
| 42 | Ohio | $30,491 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $29,519 |
| 44 | Texas | $29,446 |
| 45 | Indiana | $28,548 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $27,069 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $26,512 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $25,397 |
| 49 | Kansas | $25,001 |
| 50 | Idaho | $22,803 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $22,172 |
Beginner Real Estate Agent Pay: Top 20 Cities
These 20 metro areas offer the highest starting salaries for new real estate agents. Each figure represents the 10th percentile of local BLS wage data — the typical pay range for professionals with little to no experience.
| # | City | Starting Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petaluma, CA | $75,965 |
| 2 | Walla Walla, WA | $67,183 |
| 3 | Billings, MT | $66,249 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $63,068 |
| 5 | Jersey City, NJ | $62,218 |
| 6 | Farmington, NM | $61,509 |
| 7 | Sunnyvale, CA | $61,245 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $61,050 |
| 9 | Newburgh, NY | $60,849 |
| 10 | Medford, MA | $60,841 |
| 11 | New Bedford, MA | $60,814 |
| 12 | Poughkeepsie, NY | $60,693 |
| 13 | Fall River, MA | $60,642 |
| 14 | Braintree, MA | $60,519 |
| 15 | Salem, MA | $60,452 |
| 16 | Methuen, MA | $60,374 |
| 17 | Natick, MA | $60,319 |
| 18 | Taunton, MA | $60,278 |
| 19 | Thousand Oaks, CA | $60,090 |
| 20 | Lowell, MA | $59,855 |
Real Estate Agent Salary With No Experience: New Agent Reality
The 10th percentile of BLS wage data is the standard proxy for entry-level real estate agent income — predominantly new agents (year 1–2) earning during license ramp before consistent deal flow. Nationally, that sits at $35,532 ($17.08/hour) for 2026. Real estate agent compensation is almost entirely commission-based — first-year income depends on metro home price, deals closed, commission split, and brokerage / team mentor structure.
What New Real Estate Agents Actually Earn (Year 1)
- High-COL coastal metros (top tier) — SF Bay Area, NYC, LA, Boston, Seattle, DC. Median home $800,000–$1.5M+. 3 deals × 2.5% × $1M = $75,000 GCI / 50% split = $37,500 net to agent year 1.
- Sunbelt growth metros — Austin, Phoenix, Nashville, Charlotte, Tampa, Denver. Median $450,000–$700,000. Strong investor + relocation deal flow.
- Mid-market metros — Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis, Columbus. Median $325,000–$475,000.
- Low-COL metros — Memphis, Birmingham, OKC, Cleveland. Median $200,000–$300,000. More volume needed.
- Luxury / HNW market (Hamptons, Aspen, Beverly Hills, Manhattan) — $5M+ medians. New agent typically on team starting at $30,000–$60,000 base + commission share.
- Keller Williams new agent — 70/30 split standard, capped. Strong training (Ignite program).
- Compass new agent — varies. Premium urban-coastal brand. Strong tech tools.
- eXp Realty new agent — 80/20 cloud-based. Revenue share component.
- Coldwell Banker / RE/MAX new agent — varies. Established brand.
- Team-based new agent (on top producer's team) — typically $40,000–$70,000 base + commission share. Strong ramp path.
Real Estate License + NAR + State Requirements
- State-specific real estate license — 60–180 hours pre-licensing course + state exam. State board-specific.
- NAR (National Association of Realtors) membership — required for MLS access. State + local board fees.
- Realtor designation — NAR member; ethics + code-of-conduct required.
- MLS access — via local board membership.
- E&O insurance — typically brokerage-provided or paid by agent.
- Brokerage affiliation requirement — agents cannot operate solo. Must hang license at sponsoring broker.
- Broker license (post-2-3 years) — required to open independent brokerage.
- CRS / ABR / SRES / GRI designations — specialty + advanced credentials.
- Commercial CCIM — premium commercial real estate credential.
- Background check + fingerprint — required for licensing.
Setting Selection: Big Franchise / Boutique / Team / Solo
- Big franchise (KW, Compass, Coldwell Banker, RE/MAX, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices) — strong training + brand. Higher splits and fees but lead-generation systems.
- Boutique / local brokerage — flexibility + local knowledge. Variable commission structures.
- Team-based new agent (top producer team) — strongest new-agent path. Base + share.
- eXp Realty / Real / cloud brokerages — 80/20+ splits. Revenue share components.
- Luxury team / HNW brokerage — Sotheby's, Douglas Elliman, The Agency. Premium clientele.
- Commercial / CRE (CBRE, Cushman, Colliers, JLL) — separate market. Premium specialty.
- Property management / leasing (alternative entry) — base + bonuses. Lower ceiling but stable.
- iBuyer / new construction sales (Opendoor, Zillow, Redfin) — base salary + bonuses.
Year-by-Year Progression
- Year 0–1 (P10 baseline, license ramp) — $35,532 national average.
- Year 1–2 (database build, sphere of influence) — most agents close 4–8 deals.
- Year 2–4 (consistent production) — 8–15 deals/year. Approaching state median.
- Year 4–7 (team building OR senior solo producer) — top quartile agents reach $150,000–$300,000+ GCI.
- Year 7+ (top producer / team leader / broker-owner) — top 1% agents = $500,000–$2M+ annual GCI.
2026 New Real Estate Agent Salary Outlook
Entry-level real estate agent income has grown at a compound annual rate of 1.50% nationally — but with substantial post-NAR settlement (Aug 2024) structural shifts to buyer-agent commission models. Median home price appreciation, inventory recovery, mortgage rate stabilization, and structural agent attrition all shape new-agent opportunities. The BLS projects real estate sales agent employment growth at 2% through 2033 — slow growth but high turnover creates continuous entry-level opportunities.
Entry-Level to Mid-Career: Real Estate Agent Salary Growth
Real Estate Agent salaries follow a predictable growth curve. Here's how pay typically progresses from entry-level to experienced:
How to Maximize Your Starting Real Estate Agent Salary
New real estate agents who strategically choose high-price metro, join a top producer's team, master lead generation systems, and stack designations consistently land first-year GCI 2–3x the national average. Here's how to maximize your first real estate agent income:
1. Target High-Price Metro or Luxury Niche
- High-COL coastal (SF Bay Area, NYC, LA, Boston, Seattle, DC) — $800,000–$1.5M+ median home. Higher GCI per deal.
- Sunbelt growth (Austin, Phoenix, Nashville, Charlotte, Tampa, Denver) — $450,000–$700,000 median with strong investor + relocation deals.
- Luxury / HNW niche (Hamptons, Aspen, Beverly Hills, Manhattan) — $5M+ medians.
- Commercial / CRE (CBRE, Cushman, Colliers, JLL) — premium specialty market.
- New construction / iBuyer (Opendoor, Zillow, Redfin) — base salary + bonuses.
- Highest-paying new agent metro — Petaluma, CA at $75,965.
2. Complete License + NAR Membership Before Job Hunt
- State pre-licensing course — 60–180 hours depending on state.
- State licensing exam — pass before brokerage interviews.
- NAR + state + local board membership — required for MLS access.
- Background check + fingerprint — typically required.
- E&O insurance — typically brokerage-provided.
- Realtor.com / Zillow Premier Agent / Trulia profiles — set up immediately.
- Social media presence (Instagram, TikTok real estate) — modern lead gen channel.
3. Join Top Producer's Team for Fastest Ramp
- Top producer team (highest first-year income for new agents) — base + commission share. Buyer agent / showing agent roles.
- Mentor-driven new agent program (Keller Williams Ignite, Compass mentorship) — structured first 6 months.
- Avoid solo unless strong sphere — solo new agents have lower first-year success rate.
- Brokerage training quality varies — verify training program before signing.
- Lead source clarity — verify lead-generation systems (Zillow leads, team referrals, geographic farming).
- Cap structure — verify when agent goes to higher split.
- Desk fees / monthly fees — verify ongoing cost structure.
4. Master Lead Generation Systems
- Sphere of influence (warm leads) — start with everyone you know. Database build year 1.
- Geographic farming (postcards, door-knocking, neighborhood events) — local consistency play.
- Open house lead generation — most reliable year-1 lead source for new agents.
- Online lead generation (Zillow Premier Agent, Realtor.com Connections, OpCity) — paid leads.
- Social media + video (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) — modern brand channel.
- Referral partner network (lenders, attorneys, CPAs, contractors) — premium B2B leads.
- Past client + sphere reactivation — long-term repeat / referral business.
- Niche specialty (relocation, divorce, probate, first-time buyer) — niche premium.
5. Plan Broker / Team Leader / Investor Path
- Top producer solo path (years 3–7) — $150,000–$500,000+ GCI for top quartile.
- Team leader path (years 3–5) — own team of buyer/showing agents.
- Broker license + own brokerage (years 5+) — open boutique brokerage.
- Real estate investor path — agent income + portfolio + flips + STR.
- Property management firm (alternative) — stable monthly fees.
- Commercial CCIM transition — premium CRE credentials.
- Luxury / HNW specialty (Sotheby's, Douglas Elliman, The Agency) — premium AUM-scale.
- Designations stack (CRS, ABR, SRES, GRI) — credibility + niche.
More Salary Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
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
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. We applied a 1.50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS trends, to estimate current 2026 compensation.