Real Estate Agent Hourly Pay in Durham, NC: $29.39 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a real estate agent working in Durham, NC runs $29.39 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $61,133 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 41-9022). Weighted against Durham's regional price level (BEA RPP 97.6, 2% below national), each hour of work buys what $30.13 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $36,684 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Durham, North Carolina, real estate agents make a median hourly pay of $29.39, significantly higher than the national average of $25.78 per hour. This robust hourly rate suggests attractive earning potential for those in the industry, especially for agents working part-time or on a per-diem basis. For instance, a part-time agent working three days a week could earn around $1,200 weekly by closing sales and conducting client showings. The hourly pay varies widely, with entry-level agents earning about $18.22 per hour, while top earners can command hourly rates nearing $77.77. These figures are drawn from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics data, highlighting the competitive environment within Durham’s real estate sector where both established and new agents operate.
Real Estate Agent Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.22 | $145.75 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.52 | $180.18 |
| Median (P50) | $29.39 | $235.16 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $58.74 | $469.90 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $77.77 | $622.15 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Durham
Based on $29.39/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $29.39/hr, a real estate agent working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Durham, NC can expect to earn approximately $61,140 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $35,273. With a cost-of-living index of 97.57 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Durham.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Durham
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,175.78 | $5,095 | $61,140 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $705.47 | $3,057 | $36,684 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $470.31 | $2,038 | $24,456 |
Compare REA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Real Estate Agent (Durham) | $29.39 |
| 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 Durham, NC earn a median of $61,133 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.01% higher than the national median of $53,622 and 26.90% above the North Carolina state average of $48,175.
Real Estate Agent Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $29.39/hr = $36,684/year (purchasing power: $37,597).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $61,140/year (purchasing power: $62,662).
CoL index: 97.572 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$17.28/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$28.96/hr
2026 Current Est.
$29.39/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+72.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Real Estate Agents in Durham (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.50% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $17.28/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $18.55/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $26.70/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $22.69/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.44/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $28.03/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $28.96/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $29.39/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $29.84/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for real estate agents in Durham grew 67.6% from $17.28/hr (2019) to $28.96/hr (2025). At a 1.50% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $29.84/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 Durham 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 Durham
Examining the financial realities of part-time real estate agents in Durham reveals that those working three days a week, totaling about 24 hours, might take home just under $62,000 annually, a striking contrast to full-time earnings. The largely commission-based structure of real estate income, especially following the 2024 NAR commission settlement, often means that per diem real estate agent pay in Durham is rare, as agents typically work as independent contractors relying mostly on commission splits. For the top producers, hourly earning potential can range from $100 to $300, while new agents may find themselves earning less than minimum wage when factoring in unpaid time spent on prospecting. Hourly rates can differ significantly depending on the type of brokerage — national franchises typically offer structured support, whereas independent firms may provide greater flexibility but less stability in earnings. Agents must also weigh the benefits of higher hourly pay against essential offerings like health insurance, which is often provided by larger firms. When negotiating, understanding local market trends and the value of your specific skills can offer advantageous leverage in securing better hourly compensation in Durham’s competitive landscape.
More salary data for Durham, NC:
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.
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 Durham. 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, 7-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