Real Estate Agent Salary in Butte, MT: $50,131 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time real estate agent in Butte, MT earns a median $50,131/year (≈ $24.11/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 41-9022). Once you factor in Butte's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.2), that paycheck buys what $52,111 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.8% below the Montana state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Butte, Montana, currently presents a real estate agent median annual salary of $50,131 according to estimates derived from 2025 BLS data, projected for 2026. In this local market, salaries range between a lower 10th percentile at $30,530 and an upper 90th percentile at $77,703. The shift brought about by the 2024 NAR settlement has altered traditional commission structures, impacting how compensation is structured and earned within the industry. Real estate professionals now find themselves adapting to changes that disconnect buyer agent commissions from listing agent fees, a transformation that is likely to reshape earnings for agents in Butte and beyond.
About the Butte Market
Salary estimated from Montana average ($62,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $30,530 | $14.68 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $38,863 | $18.69 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $50,131 | $24.11 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $64,167 | $30.85 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $77,703 | $37.36 |
Median Salary Position
6.51% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Butte
In Butte, MT, the real estate agent salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $47,173 (2026 est.). At $50,131, the local median is 6.51% below the national median of $53,622.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Butte: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Butte Real Estate Agent Pay Compares
Butte median: $50,131/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Butte Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Average | $51,575 | -2.80% less |
| National Average | $53,622 | -6.51% less |
Real Estate Agents in Butte, MT earn a median of $50,131 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.51% lower than the national median of $53,622 and 2.80% below the Montana state average of $51,575.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Butte has a cost of living 3.80% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Butte, MT has a cost-of-living index of 96.2 (below the national average of 100). A real estate agent earning $50,131 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $52,111 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.95% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$45,744
2025 BLS Actual
$49,390
2026 Current Est.
$50,131
2019–2027 Growth
+11.2%
Salary Trajectory for Real Estate Agents in Butte (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.50% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $45,744 | Actual |
| 2020 | $45,847 | Actual |
| 2021 | $45,192 | Actual |
| 2022 | $46,726 | Actual |
| 2023 | $50,764 | Actual |
| 2024 | $57,963 | Actual |
| 2025 | $49,390 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $50,131 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $50,883 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Butte metropolitan area, the median real estate agent salary grew 8.0% from $45,744 (2019) to $49,390 (2025). At a 1.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $50,883 by 2027 — a total increase of $5,139 (11.23%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Butte 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $30,530 – $38,863 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $38,863 – $50,131 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $50,131 – $64,167 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $64,167 – $77,703 |
REA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual real estate agent compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Real Estate Agent Job Market in Butte
Despite the regional average salary being below the national standard, the cost of living in Butte is comparatively lower, with a cost-of-living index of 96.2. With only seven real estate agents currently employed in the area, the competition remains both limited and specialized, with opportunities often found within local independent brokerages and national franchise firms. Firms like Keller Williams and RE/MAX typically offer competitive pay structures, which can significantly affect take-home income. To maximize earnings in Butte's real estate market, agents should consider focusing on niche markets, leveraging enhancements offered through team memberships, and actively building a referral network. The spread in compensation can be attributed to transaction volumes, average sale prices, and the specifics of commission splits, emphasizing the importance of strategy in navigating this evolving market.
More salary data for Butte, MT:
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
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $49,390 for real estate agentsin the Butte metropolitan area. A 1.50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Butte is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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