Real Estate Agent Salary in Durham, NC: $61,133 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time real estate agent in Durham, NC earns a median $61,133/year (≈ $29.39/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 41-9022). Once you factor in Durham's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.6), that paycheck buys what $62,654 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 26.9% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Real estate agent salaries in Durham, North Carolina, are experiencing a notable shift, particularly following the 2024 NAR settlement that has adjusted traditional commission structures. In 2026, the projected median annual salary stands at $61,133, reflecting a 14.01% increase compared to the national median of $53,622. Salaries in Durham vary significantly, with the range extending from $37,900 at the 10th percentile to $161,761 at the 90th percentile, indicating diverse earning potentials within the market. This data, derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, highlights how agents can navigate a changed market landscape while positioning themselves for success in a competitive environment where local conditions continue to evolve.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,900 | $18.22 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $46,852 | $22.52 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $61,133 | $29.39 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $122,176 | $58.74 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $161,761 | $77.77 |
Median Salary Position
14.01% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Durham
In Durham, NC, the real estate agent salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $123,861 (2026 est.). At $61,133, the local median is 14.01% above the national median of $53,622.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Durham: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Durham Real Estate Agent Pay Compares
Durham median: $61,133/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Durham Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $48,175 | +26.90% more |
| National Average | $53,622 | +14.01% more |
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.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Durham has a cost of living 2.43% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Durham, NC has a cost-of-living index of 97.572 (below the national average of 100). A real estate agent earning $61,133 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $62,654 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.49% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$35,930
2025 BLS Actual
$60,230
2026 Current Est.
$61,133
2019–2027 Growth
+72.7%
Salary 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 | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $35,930 | Actual |
| 2020 | $38,590 | Actual |
| 2021 | $55,540 | Actual |
| 2022 | $47,190 | Actual |
| 2023 | $48,760 | Actual |
| 2024 | $58,290 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,230 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,133 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $62,050 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Durham metropolitan area, the median real estate agent salary grew 67.6% from $35,930 (2019) to $60,230 (2025). At a 1.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $62,050 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,120 (72.70%) from 2019.
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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $37,900 – $46,852 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $46,852 – $61,133 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $61,133 – $122,176 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $122,176 – $161,761 |
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 Durham
In terms of job market stability, Durham is home to about 280 active real estate agents tackling the unique features of the local market. With a cost of living index sitting at 97.572, agents here enjoy relatively favorable conditions for maintaining purchasing power. National franchise brokerages like Keller Williams and RE/MAX tend to offer more competitive pay structures, with bigger cut percentages depending on the agent's status and volume of transactions. Local independent brokerages and fee-based firms like Redfin present alternative earning models. The disparities in how much real estate agents make in Durham stem from factors such as transaction volume, average sale prices, and the recent shifts in commission structures, which require agents to rethink their commission splits and operational strategies. For agents seeking to maximize their income, joining a team could leverage shared resources and clientele, particularly under new commission models that encourage collaboration.
More salary data for Durham, NC:
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
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 $60,230 for real estate agentsin the Durham 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
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