What Real Estate Sales Agents do
The U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET database describes the work of Real Estate Sales Agents this way: "Rent, buy, or sell property for clients. Perform duties such as study property listings, interview prospective clients, accompany clients to property site, discuss conditions of sale, and draw up real estate contracts. Includes agents who represent buyer."
The core tasks O*NET records for this occupation include: "Present purchase offers to sellers for consideration"; "Confer with escrow companies, lenders, home inspectors, and pest control operators to ensure that terms and conditions of purchase agreements are met before closing dates"; "Interview clients to determine what kinds of properties they are seeking"; "Prepare documents such as representation contracts, purchase agreements, closing statements, deeds, and leases"; "Coordinate property closings, overseeing signing of documents and disbursement of funds".
Education, experience and training
According to the BLS Employment Projections, the typical education needed to enter this occupation is high school diploma or equivalent. Typical on-the-job training to reach competency is moderate-term on-the-job training.
Job outlook for Real Estate Sales Agents
The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 427,000 jobs in this occupation in 2025 and projects 434,500 in 2035, an increase of 7,500 jobs (+1.7%). That is slower than the 3.5% projected for all occupations.
About 32,600 openings a year are projected on average, counting both new positions and positions vacated by workers who retire or switch occupations. Relative to today's employment that is 7.6% a year, against 10.3% for all occupations. 54.3% of workers in this occupation are self-employed; the wage figures below cover wage and salary workers. BLS lists a national median annual wage of $52,830, compared with $50,980 for all occupations.
Where Real Estate Sales Agents earn the most
Across the 3 states with published data, the employment-weighted average of local median wages for this occupation ranges from $52,090 in Florida to $101,992 in New York, a gap of $49,902 (1.96 times). 2 of those 3 states average above the BLS national median of $52,830 and 1 average at or below it.
Florida employs the most people in this occupation among the states covered, 22,800, which is 52.7% of the 43,270 counted across them. New Jersey follows with 11,440.
Highest-paying states
New York ($101,992), New Jersey ($90,205) and Florida ($52,090) lead the ranking, while Florida ($52,090) and New Jersey ($90,205) are at the bottom. The table below lists every state with a link to its county-level detail.
Real Estate Sales Agents: pay against the cost of living
We compare 3 labor markets, each represented by its most populous county. After federal, Social Security, Medicare and state taxes and the four basics (a one-bedroom rental, food, home energy and gasoline), the largest yearly margin is in Bergen County, NJ (New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ) at $45,667. The smallest margin is $7,144 in Miami-Dade County, FL.
The median wage for this occupation covers all four basics in 3 of the 3 markets. A one-bedroom apartment takes between 31.0% and 63.7% of take-home pay, depending on the market.
Frequently asked questions about Real Estate Sales Agents
How much do Real Estate Sales Agents earn in the United States?
BLS lists a national median annual wage of $52,830. Across the states covered here the average local median ranges from $52,090 to $101,992.
Which state pays Real Estate Sales Agents the most?
New York, with an employment-weighted average local median wage of $101,992. New Jersey is next at $90,205.
Is Real Estate Sales Agents a growing occupation?
BLS projects employment to grow by 1.7% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, with about 32,600 openings a year.
What education do Real Estate Sales Agents need?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent and moderate-term on-the-job training, according to BLS.
Where can Real Estate Sales Agents afford to live best?
Among the markets covered, Bergen County, NJ leaves the largest yearly margin after taxes, rent, food, energy and gasoline: $45,667 on a median wage of $103,550.