Real Estate Agent Salary By State: Highest-Paid Real Estate Agents by State [2023] - Zippia (2024)

Research Summary. After extensive research by the Zippia data science team, we identified these details of real estate agent salary by state for the United States:

You can read more on the specific methodology.

Background

Without fail, in surveys across basically every demographic, the number one most important aspect of a job for most people is the salary — how much do real estate agents get paid where I live?

And while there are many things to go into how much you, specifically, can expect to make, there’s really good data for average salaries for real estate agent by state across America broken down by seniority level. So while your city may be slightly different than the state average, these averages give you a rough sense of what to expect for your salary.

The state with the best salary for real estate agents after this adjustment? That would be West Virginia.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the top ten states for real estate agent salaries:

  1. West Virginia (Jobs)

  2. New York (Jobs)

  3. Massachusetts (Jobs)

  4. Vermont (Jobs)

  5. Washington (Jobs)

  6. Connecticut (Jobs)

  7. Montana (Jobs)

  8. Alaska (Jobs)

  9. South Dakota (Jobs)

  10. New Jersey (Jobs)

Let’s take a look at how we got here and a full ranking of all the states.

Highest-Paid Real Estate Agents By State

RankStateAverage Real Estate Agent Salary10th Percentile90th Percentile
1West Virginia$111,744$81,000$153,000
2New York$111,641$84,000$147,000
3Massachusetts$111,225$88,000$139,000
4Vermont$110,113$89,000$136,000
5Washington$105,662$76,000$145,000
6Connecticut$102,657$78,000$133,000
7Montana$102,469$73,000$141,000
8Alaska$101,152$87,000$116,000
9South Dakota$100,735$71,000$141,000
10New Jersey$100,016$75,000$132,000
11California$99,733$68,000$145,000
12Michigan$99,710$73,000$135,000
13North Dakota$99,600$73,000$134,000
14Virginia$97,278$71,000$132,000
15Maine$96,114$79,000$116,000
16Utah$95,336$65,000$138,000
17Pennsylvania$94,778$70,000$126,000
18Rhode Island$94,648$74,000$120,000
19New Hampshire$94,607$76,000$117,000
20Georgia$94,036$65,000$135,000
21Colorado$93,944$64,000$136,000
22Alabama$93,438$64,000$135,000
23Missouri$93,041$64,000$133,000
24Iowa$91,053$64,000$128,000
25Nebraska$88,923$62,000$127,000
26Idaho$88,878$62,000$126,000
27Oklahoma$87,080$59,000$127,000
28New Mexico$85,523$57,000$126,000
29Kentucky$85,320$60,000$120,000
30Indiana$85,122$60,000$119,000
31Arkansas$84,969$58,000$123,000
32Ohio$84,925$61,000$116,000
33Oregon$84,533$60,000$118,000
34Wisconsin$84,197$61,000$115,000
35Tennessee$84,064$58,000$120,000
36Texas$82,847$55,000$122,000
37Mississippi$80,383$54,000$117,000
38Arizona$80,237$54,000$118,000
39South Carolina$80,203$56,000$113,000
40Nevada$79,556$54,000$116,000
41Delaware$78,993$58,000$106,000
42Maryland$78,360$58,000$105,000
43Kansas$75,823$52,000$109,000
44Illinois$73,479$52,000$102,000
45Minnesota$72,392$52,000$99,000
46Florida$71,492$47,000$107,000
47North Carolina$68,227$48,000$95,000
48Louisiana$66,391$44,000$98,000
49Wyoming$61,945$43,000$88,000
50Hawaii$53,112$41,000$68,000

Methodology: Real Estate Agent Salary By State

To better understand real estate agent pay by state, Zippia has aggregated data across a multitude of channels including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We then supplement that data with actual listed salaries from job posts. Finally, the data science team calculates a weighted average of these inputs to create an average pay for real estate agents by state.

We took the average annual salary data for real estate agents from these estimates and ranked every state on this criteria with the state with the highest salary ranking as highest average salary for real estate agents.

Real Estate Agent Salary By State FAQs

  1. What is the highest-paid state for real estate agents?

    The highest-paid state for real estate agents is West Virginia with an average salary of $111,744 per year.

  2. What city pays real estate agents the most?

    Long Beach, NY pays real estate agents the most with an average salary of $111,838 per year.

  3. What is the worst state for real estate agents?

    The worst state for real estate agents is Hawaii with an average salary of $53,112 per year.

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Real Estate Agent Salary By State: Highest-Paid Real Estate Agents by State [2023] - Zippia (1)

Author

Chris KolmarReal Estate Agent Salary By State: Highest-Paid Real Estate Agents by State [2023] - Zippia (2)

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job.His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news.More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

Real Estate Agent Salary By State: Highest-Paid Real Estate Agents by State [2023] - Zippia (2024)

FAQs

What states do realtors make the most money 2023? ›

Highest-Paid Real Estate Agents By State
RankStateAverage Real Estate Agent Salary
1West Virginia$111,744
2New York$111,641
3Massachusetts$111,225
4Vermont$110,113
46 more rows
Apr 17, 2023

What state has the highest salary for real estate agents? ›

The following are the 10 states where real estate agents earn, on average, the most money:
  • New York: $111,800 (average real estate agent salary)
  • Massachusetts: $84,180.
  • Connecticut: $79,780.
  • Alaska: $79,360.
  • Colorado: $76,850.
  • Utah: $75,170.
  • California: $74,140.
  • Texas: $72,830.
Jul 28, 2020

What is the salary of a top 25% real estate agent? ›

National estimates for Real Estate Sales Agents:
Percentile10%25%
Hourly Wage$ 14.01$ 17.35
Annual Wage (2)$ 29,130$ 36,090

Which cities do real estate agents make the most money? ›

Real estate agents in high cost of living cities such as New York and San Francisco tend to be the highest earners.

What is the best state to sell real estate in 2023? ›

The best states include Washington, Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Georgia, Nevada, Virginia, Tennessee, Delaware, and Wyoming. What are the top markets for 2023? Some of the top markets for 2023 include Atlanta, Dallas, Knoxville, Jacksonville, Seattle, Charleston, and Virginia Beach.

What is the hardest state to get a real estate license in? ›

Of all states, Colorado and Texas come on top as the hardest in terms of granting a real estate license. Each of the states requires some education and a test, which you must pass before being issued with a real estate license.

Where do the most successful real estate agents live? ›

The Best Cities for Real Estate Agents
  • Washington, D.C. ...
  • San Antonio, TX. ...
  • Oakland, CA. ...
  • Oklahoma City, OK. ...
  • New York City, NY. ...
  • Honolulu, HI. ...
  • San Francisco, CA. ...
  • Tulsa, OK.

How much do top 1% realtors make? ›

Each real estate office sets its own standards for top producers, but it's safe to say that a top producer would have to sell at least one home per month to qualify. Top producers earn around $112,610 a year to start, according to the BLS. 1 Mega-stars could earn $500,000 per year and up.

Where is the most profit in real estate? ›

What Types of Commercial Properties Are the Most Profitable? High-Tenant Properties – Typically, properties with a high number of tenants will give the best return on investment. These properties include RVs, self-storage, apartment complexes, and office spaces.

How to make $1000000 a year in real estate? ›

How To Make A Million Dollars In Real Estate
  1. Learn About Real Estate Investing.
  2. Establish Your Goals.
  3. Start Now, But Start Small.
  4. Write Offers For Affordable Deals.
  5. Generate Cash Flow.
  6. Start Growing Your Portfolio.
  7. Invest In Larger Properties.
  8. Continue Growing To 1 Million Dollars.

Is it hard to make 100K as a real estate agent? ›

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a real estate agent.

The chances of earning over $100k for a real estate agent are actually pretty good because the highest-paid real estate agent positions typically pay at least $126,000 per year. The average annual salary is $93,146 for real estate agent jobs.

What is the highest paying agent? ›

What is the highest-paid agent job? The highest-paid agent job is a life insurance agent. Life Insurance Agents earn an average salary of $62,552, which is $ 30.07 hourly. A life insurance agent is responsible for offering life insurance services for clients according to their needs and qualifications.

Where is real estate growing the fastest? ›

U.S. metros with the biggest increases in home values in 2022
Metro areaGrowth
1.FarmingtonNew Mexico20.3%
2.North Port-Sarasota-BradentonFlorida19.5%
3.Naples-Immokalee-Marco IslandFlorida17.2%
4.Greensboro-High PointNorth Carolina17%
11 more rows
Feb 13, 2023

Why are most millionaires in real estate? ›

Because of the many tax benefits, real estate investors often end up paying less taxes overall even as they are bringing in more income. This is why many millionaires invest in real estate. Not only does it make you money, but it allows you to keep a lot more of the money you make.

Do most millionaires do real estate? ›

Some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world have built their wealth through real estate. In fact, it's estimated that 90% of all millionaires invest in some form of real estate. There are several reasons for this, but in today's article, we'll share seven reasons why millionaires invest in real estate.

What state has the hottest real estate market? ›

The hottest housing markets include those markets in North Carolina, Colorado and Texas that were also popular during the pandemic, including Raleigh and Durham, Denver and Austin. Markets to watch that improved the most between November and December 2022 include Portland, Oregon, Richmond, Virginia, and St. Louis.

What state sells houses the fastest? ›

California leads the nation for fastest home sales, with the average property snapped up in just 52 days. Compare that to Vermont, the slowest of all 50 states, where it takes nearly half a year — 161 days on average — just to lock down a buyer.

What state has the best ROI for real estate? ›

Investors probably need no explanation why and convincing that Florida tops the list of the best states for the long term rental investment strategy. Our nationwide rental market analysis shows that, on average, you can expect the highest rate of return in the Sunshine State.

What is the easiest state to get a real estate license in? ›

According to our analysis, Massachusetts is the best state for Real Estate examinations in the US. There, most candidates have it relatively simple. This is true since the state only needs 40 hours of pre-licensing training. Before sitting for the test, you must first complete a state-approved real estate school.

What is the hardest part of real estate? ›

Here are some of the toughest struggles that every realtor has to deal with on a daily basis.
  • Uncertainty about real estate market. ...
  • Constantly being on the go. ...
  • Commission is by no means a guarantee. ...
  • Being underpaid for hard work. ...
  • Dealing with difficult clients.

Is real estate major hard? ›

A real estate education will be challenging, especially if you don't have prior experience. The courses you take in a California real estate school are college-level, so there is a degree of difficulty, particularly for some students. Because everyone is different, everyone will have different experiences.

Who is the best real estate company to work for? ›

Best Real Estate Companies to Work for in 2023
BrokerageBest For
eXp RealtyBest overall, featuring an agent-forward virtual approach
Keller WilliamsBuilding a team
RE/MAXHigh-performing, established agents
Coldwell BankerNew agents
2 more rows
Mar 27, 2023

What do most realtors make their first year? ›

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $144,000 and as low as $28,000, the majority of First Year Real Estate Agent salaries currently range between $65,000 (25th percentile) to $100,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $125,000 annually across the United States.

What percentage do most realtors take? ›

What percent commission do most real estate agents charge? The traditional standard commission is 6 percent of a home's purchase price, which is split evenly (3 percent each) between the buyer's agent and the seller's agent.

What percent commission do most real estate agents make? ›

Commissions are typically calculated as a percentage of a property's sale price, though some brokerages will charge a flat fee. The average agent commission rate nationwide is 5.8% of the home sale price, according to HomeLight's real estate transaction data of thousands of home sales each year.

What type of real estate is the most profitable? ›

Commercial real estate is known to yield higher returns than residential real estate. If you can afford to manage a commercial space, it can prove lucrative over time, depending on your area.

Is real estate a good investment in 2023? ›

In my opinion, real estate is one intelligent option to consider in 2023, as it often has excellent returns, tax advantages and provides diversification even in the face of a challenging economic climate. Real estate also has the potential to compound your investment.

Is real estate the fastest way to get rich? ›

There is no quick way to make money or get rich in real estate, but you can grow wealth gradually and consistently by investing correctly. You are probably aware that there are numerous ways to accumulate wealth, but real estate is one of the most effective.

Can I afford a 1 million dollar house if I make 100k a year? ›

Experts suggest you might need an annual income between $100,000 to $225,000, depending on your financial profile, in order to afford a $1 million home. Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), credit score, down payment and interest rate all factor into what you can afford.

Can you buy a million dollar house making 200k a year? ›

And some say even higher. There are a ton of variables, and these are just loose guidelines. That said, if you make $200,000 a year, it means you can likely afford a home between $400,000 and $500,000.

How can you become a millionaire from real estate? ›

8 Tips On How To Become A Real Estate Mogul or Millionaire
  1. Have a Good Business Plan. ...
  2. Find Sustainable Real Estate Markets. ...
  3. Narrow Down Your Scope. ...
  4. Build Your Real Estate Team. ...
  5. Acquire Your First Investment Real Estate. ...
  6. Step Back and Evaluate Your Investments. ...
  7. Step Back and Wait.
May 18, 2023

Is it hard to be successful as a realtor? ›

Real Estate Agent Job Duties

Becoming successful and making a sustainable income as a real estate agent or broker is hard work. In most cases, it requires a substantial commitment of time, effort, and even money.

Can you become a billionaire as a real estate agent? ›

Yes, you can become a billionaire with significant real estate holdings and investments. It is unlikely that you will reach billionaire status as a real estate agent. Some of the richest people in the world have achieved their wealth through real estate investments.

Can real estate make you a lot of money? ›

Can real estate make you rich? It can, but it's not a sure bet. The real estate market has boom and bust cycles, and real estate investors can lose money as well as make money.

What is the #1 highest paid position? ›

1. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) This post comes with a lucrative salary and high authority, with an overall employment rate supposed to show an average rise of 8% between 2020 and 2030. Approximately 247,100 openings for top executives are posted on job portals each year.

What roles make 500k a year? ›

500k salary jobs in california
  • IT Manager (Newport Beach, CA) ...
  • National Account Executive (local candidates only) ...
  • National Equipment Financing Account Executive (local candidates only) ...
  • Lead Paint Program Manager. ...
  • Sales Representative. ...
  • Social Media Manager. ...
  • Content Operations Coordinator. ...
  • Recruiting & HR Coordinator.

Why buying real estate in 2023 could be a good idea? ›

2023 is a balanced year for housing supply and demand. This is ideal for retail purchasers and rental property investors. No longer a “seller's” market. Rising interest rates raise the monthly mortgage payment, which reduces homebuyers and lowers property values.

What are the real estate challenges in 2023? ›

Top 10 Issues Affecting Real Estate 2022-2023
  • Inflation and Interest Rates.
  • Geopolitical Risk.
  • Hybrid Work.
  • Supply Chain Disruption.
  • Energy.
  • Labor Shortage Strain.
  • The Great Housing Imbalance.
  • Regulatory Uncertainty.

Can you make $1000000 a year in real estate? ›

If You're Going to Dream, Dream Big (and Plan Even Bigger) Consider what it would take to make $1 million in gross commissions your first year selling real estate (before expenses and taxes). It would involve selling approximately $50 million of real property with an average salesperson commission of 2%.

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