Real Estate Agent Hourly Pay in Helena, MT: $38.60 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a real estate agent working in Helena, MT runs $38.60 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $80,286 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 41-9022). Weighted against Helena's regional price level (BEA RPP 95.7, 4% below national), each hour of work buys what $40.35 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $48,173 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Helena, Montana, the real estate agent hourly pay stands at a median rate of $38.60, significantly surpassing the national median of $25.78. This competitive hourly wage allows part-time agents working three days a week to earn a respectable income while balancing other commitments. In a profession that often entails flexible working conditions—whether in brokerage offices for administrative tasks, on-site property tours, or during client meetings—this pay rate can enable agents to thrive across various settings. Entry-level agents may earn around $28.18 per hour, while top earners can command up to $65.32 per hour, reflecting a wide range of earning potential within Helena's real estate market. These figures, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data and projected to 2026, provide an essential framework for understanding hourly compensation in this evolving field.
Real Estate Agent Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $28.18 | $225.41 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $30.46 | $243.68 |
| Median (P50) | $38.60 | $308.80 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $44.17 | $353.38 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $65.32 | $522.52 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Helena
Based on $38.60/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $38.60/hr, a real estate agent working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Helena, MT can expect to earn approximately $80,289 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $46,321. With a cost-of-living index of 95.67 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Helena.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Helena
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,544.02 | $6,691 | $80,289 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $926.41 | $4,014 | $48,173 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $617.61 | $2,676 | $32,116 |
Compare REA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Real Estate Agent (Helena) | $38.60 |
| Real Estate Broker (National Avg) | $42.96 |
| Insurance Sales Agent (National Avg) | $29.02 |
| Property / Real Estate Manager (National Avg) | $33.79 |
| Appraiser / Assessor of Real Estate (National Avg) | $37.18 |
Real Estate Agents in Helena, MT earn a median of $80,286 per year (2026 est.), which is 49.73% higher than the national median of $53,622 and 55.60% above the Montana state average of $51,598.
Real Estate Agent Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $38.60/hr = $48,173/year (purchasing power: $50,351).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $80,289/year (purchasing power: $83,918).
CoL index: 95.675 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$35.22/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$38.03/hr
2026 Current Est.
$38.60/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+11.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Real Estate Agents in Helena (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.50% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $35.22/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $35.30/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $34.80/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $35.98/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $39.09/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $27.46/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $38.03/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $38.60/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $39.18/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for real estate agents in Helena grew 8.0% from $35.22/hr (2019) to $38.03/hr (2025). At a 1.50% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $39.18/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem real estate agents can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Helena metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 1.50% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Real Estate Agent in Helena
Exploring the part-time earning potential further illustrates the dynamics of real estate compensation in Helena. For agents working 24 hours per week, their annual income can significantly differ from that of full-time professionals, who generally have greater opportunities to maximize their commission earnings. Given that most real estate practitioners operate as independent contractors, per diem real estate agent pay in Helena is uncommon; instead, many agents rely on commission-based income. In the current climate after the 2024 NAR settlement, agents often face structural choices between joining team-based operations offering stability with salary bases ranging from $40,000 to $80,000 and independent practices, which may yield higher hourly earnings but lack benefits. Furthermore, the real estate market in Helena includes various types of brokerages—from national franchises to independent firms—resulting in a diversification of hourly rates and compensation packages. Negotiating for a better hourly rate often involves weighing the benefits of health insurance and job stability against potentially higher pay without such perks.
More salary data for Helena, MT:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Pages
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 1.50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for real estate agents in Helena. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 2-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.50%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for real estate agents (SOC 41-9022).
Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, REALTOR®, a licensed real estate agent with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov