Real Estate Agent
Real estate brokers and sales agents help clients buy, sell, and rent properties.
What the job is
- The work
- Real estate brokers and sales agents help clients buy, sell, and rent properties.
BLS
Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Work environment
- Most real estate brokers and sales agents are self-employed. Although they often work irregular hours, many are able to set their own schedules.
BLS
Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Good fit for
- Self-starters who like people and negotiating, and can live with irregular hours and income that depends on sales.
- Career cluster
- Financial Services
Key numbers
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, pay for May 2025 (real estate brokers and sales agents).
- Median pay
- $57,400 a year ($27.59 an hour)
BLS
Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs in 2025
- 530,600
- Typical entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- See How to Become One
- Training after hire
- See How to Become One
Job outlook, 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +2%, which BLS calls "slower than average"
BLS
Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Jobs added
- +8,300 over 2025–35
- All U.S. jobs
- 3.5% over the same period, for comparison
How to become one
- The usual route
- Real estate brokers and sales agents typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. Every state requires real estate brokers and agents to be licensed.
BLS
Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- In short
- Agents typically need a high school diploma, state prelicensing courses and a state licensing exam; every state requires a license. A broker's license usually needs at least 2 years as a licensed agent.
- License
- State real estate licensing commissions. Real Estate license steps
- By state
- Real Estate state matrix
- Paying for it
- File the FAFSA (opens by October 1) for grants, work-study and federal loans; a Pell Grant pays up to $7,395 a year (2026–27). Average public four-year tuition and fees: $11,950 in-state vs $31,880 out-of-state (2025–26). Residency rules and regional discounts · Save with 2+2 transfer
- Your state
-
StateChoose a state
- AlabamaState guide
- AlaskaState guide
- ArizonaState guide
- ArkansasState guide
- CaliforniaLicense rules
- ColoradoState guide
- ConnecticutState guide
- DelawareState guide
- District of ColumbiaState guide
- FloridaLicense rules
- GeorgiaState guide
- HawaiiState guide
- IdahoState guide
- IllinoisState guide
- IndianaState guide
- IowaState guide
- KansasState guide
- KentuckyState guide
- LouisianaState guide
- MaineState guide
- MarylandState guide
- MassachusettsState guide
- MichiganState guide
- MinnesotaState guide
- MississippiState guide
- MissouriState guide
- MontanaState guide
- NebraskaState guide
- NevadaState guide
- New HampshireState guide
- New JerseyState guide
- New MexicoState guide
- New YorkLicense rules
- North CarolinaLicense rules
- North DakotaState guide
- OhioState guide
- OklahomaState guide
- OregonState guide
- PennsylvaniaLicense rules
- Rhode IslandState guide
- South CarolinaState guide
- South DakotaState guide
- TennesseeState guide
- TexasLicense rules
- UtahState guide
- VermontState guide
- VirginiaState guide
- WashingtonState guide
- West VirginiaState guide
- WisconsinState guide
- WyomingState guide
Step-by-step roadmap
The routes step by step, the exam gates and the state license step are on one page.
Real estate sales agent and broker: prelicensing courses, state exam, then a broker's license
See the roadmap
Route 1: Prelicensing courses → state exam → sponsoring broker · Route 2: Agent → broker's license
More careers in Financial Services
Open the cluster hubEvery career page in this cluster, with entry, license, pay and outlook side by side.
Every number links to the BLS page it came from, checked 20 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses.