Real Estate Agent Salary in Houston, TX: $49,989 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time real estate agent in Houston, TX earns a median $49,989/year (≈ $24.04/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 41-9022). Once you factor in Houston's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.6), that paycheck buys what $50,684 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 10.5% above the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the projected annual salary for real estate agents in Houston, Texas, stands at $49,989, reflecting a competitive position within the broader national context, where the median is $53,622. This discrepancy of approximately 6.78% underlines the region's unique market dynamics, influenced by the changes implemented after the 2024 NAR commission settlement, which altered traditional commission structures. For agents in Houston, income potential varies greatly, with a salary range from $30,491 at the 10th percentile to $142,090 at the 90th percentile. This wide range highlights the diverse revenue streams available to agents, depending on their transaction volume, specialization, and commission arrangements. Data sourced from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, projected to 2026, reveals that Houston’s real estate market offers both opportunities and challenges, shaped significantly by evolving commission norms.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $30,491 | $14.66 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $37,068 | $17.82 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $49,989 | $24.04 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $84,935 | $40.83 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $142,090 | $68.31 |
Median Salary Position
6.78% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Houston
In Houston, TX, the real estate agent salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $111,599 (2026 est.). At $49,989, the local median is 6.78% below the national median of $53,622.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Houston: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Houston Real Estate Agent Pay Compares
Houston median: $49,989/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Houston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $45,239 | +10.50% more |
| National Average | $53,622 | -6.78% less |
Real Estate Agents in Houston, TX earn a median of $49,989 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.78% lower than the national median of $53,622 and 10.50% above the Texas state average of $45,239.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Houston has a cost of living 1.37% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Houston, TX has a cost-of-living index of 98.629 (below the national average of 100). A real estate agent earning $49,989 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $50,684 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.39% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$68,560
2025 BLS Actual
$49,250
2026 Current Est.
$49,989
2019–2027 Growth
+-26.0%
Salary Trajectory for Real Estate Agents in Houston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.50% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $68,560 | Actual |
| 2020 | $41,890 | Actual |
| 2021 | $38,340 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,450 | Actual |
| 2023 | $50,670 | Actual |
| 2024 | $50,130 | Actual |
| 2025 | $49,250 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $49,989 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $50,739 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Houston metropolitan area, the median real estate agent salary grew -28.2% from $68,560 (2019) to $49,250 (2025). At a 1.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $50,739 by 2027 — a total increase of $-17,821 (-25.99%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Houston 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) | $30,491 – $37,068 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $37,068 – $49,989 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $49,989 – $84,935 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $84,935 – $142,090 |
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 Houston
Employment for real estate agents in Houston is robust, with around 5,320 agents active in the market. The cost of living index in the area is notably favorable at 98.629, which means that agents may find their take-home pay stretching further than in many high-cost cities. Notably, agents affiliated with national franchise brokerages such as Keller Williams or RE/MAX may leverage more substantial support and training, often leading to higher earnings compared to independent firms. The variance in agent pay can stem from multiple factors, including transaction volumes, commission splits, and specialization in luxury or commercial real estate versus standard residential properties. Furthermore, those who capitalize on referral networks or join team-based operations often increase their income potential significantly. With the evolving commission landscape, agents focusing on building strong client relationships and maximizing their market efficiency in Houston will be best positioned to increase their earnings in this competitive field.
More salary data for Houston, TX:
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 $49,250 for real estate agentsin the Houston 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