Real Estate Agent Salary 2026 — Take-Home Pay by State
Real estate agents help clients buy, sell, and rent residential or commercial properties, earning income primarily through commission. Top 20% earn 3-5x median through luxury specialization, team-build models, and referral pipelines.
National Median
$85,000
Best State (Net)
$69,941
New York
Take-Home TX
$68,386
No state tax
Job Growth
3%
Key Facts — Real Estate Agent 2026
BLS median: $54,300 for real estate sales agents (BLS May 2023 OES) — but top 20% routinely earn $200K+
AB5 (CA) and similar laws specifically EXEMPT real estate — 1099 status preserved
Section 199A QBI 20% deduction applies (real estate brokerage is NOT an SSTB)
Solo 401(k) at $200K+ + Defined Benefit at $400K+ shelters $250K-$300K/year for top producers
Keller Williams HQ (Austin), RE/MAX HQ (Denver), Compass HQ (NYC) — major brokerage origins
Top luxury markets: Beverly Hills, Manhattan, Palm Beach, Atherton — $20M+ deals routine
Salary by Experience Level
New Agent (year 1-2)
$35,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$30,171
Building book; marketing costs eat most of commission
Established Agent (year 3-5)
$80,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$64,868
7-10 deals/year median
Senior Producer (year 5-10)
$200,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$148,663
Top 20%; referral pipeline
Luxury Specialist / Team Lead
$500,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$342,792
Top tier; $2M-$10M+ for top luxury
Specialties & Salary Premiums
| Specialty | Est. Salary | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Luxury Specialist (Beverly Hills/Manhattan/Palm Beach) | $510,000 | +500% |
| Tech-Buyer Specialist (Bay Area/Seattle/Austin) | $212,500 | +150% |
| Commercial Real Estate Agent | $187,000 | +120% |
| New Construction (Sponsor-paid) | $127,500 | +50% |
| Buyer's Agent (Team Member) | $68,000 | -20% |
| Property Manager | $76,500 | -10% |
Best States for Real Estate Agents — Real Take-Home Pay
Ranked by estimated take-home pay (single filer, no additional deductions). The highest gross salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
▲Top 5 — Highest Take-Home
Real Estate Agent Salary by State — All 50 States
Take-home estimates for a single filer with no additional deductions. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Gross Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $95,000 | $69,941 | |
| $85,000 | $68,386 | |
| $88,000 | $66,846 | |
| $90,000 | $64,928 | |
| $80,000 | $64,868 | |
| $80,000 | $64,868 | |
| $78,000 | $63,461 | |
| $82,000 | $62,925 | |
| $82,000 | $62,007 | |
| $75,000 | $61,351 | |
11Maryland | $78,000 | $60,469 |
12Arizona | $75,000 | $59,851 |
13Virginia | $78,000 | $59,839 |
| $72,000 | $59,240 | |
15Colorado | $75,000 | $58,711 |
16Hawaii | $78,000 | $57,791 |
17Oregon | $78,000 | $57,224 |
| $72,000 | $56,960 | |
| $68,000 | $56,426 | |
20Utah | $70,000 | $55,331 |
21Illinois | $70,000 | $55,111 |
| $68,000 | $54,799 | |
| $72,000 | $53,626 | |
24Georgia | $68,000 | $53,516 |
25Delaware | $68,000 | $53,511 |
26Michigan | $65,000 | $52,151 |
| $65,000 | $51,901 | |
28Missouri | $65,000 | $51,801 |
| $65,000 | $51,626 | |
| $65,000 | $51,076 | |
31Vermont | $65,000 | $50,476 |
| $60,000 | $50,258 | |
33Ohio | $62,000 | $50,220 |
34Idaho | $62,000 | $49,139 |
35Montana | $62,000 | $49,092 |
36Maine | $62,000 | $48,505 |
| $60,000 | $48,413 | |
| $60,000 | $48,346 | |
39Iowa | $60,000 | $47,693 |
40Nebraska | $60,000 | $47,630 |
| $58,000 | $47,576 | |
42Indiana | $58,000 | $47,297 |
43Alabama | $58,000 | $46,931 |
44Kentucky | $58,000 | $46,716 |
45Oklahoma | $58,000 | $46,609 |
46Kansas | $58,000 | $46,501 |
| $55,000 | $46,241 | |
48Arkansas | $55,000 | $44,481 |
| $52,000 | $42,350 | |
| $50,000 | $40,648 |
Job Market Outlook
3% growth projected 2022-2032 — about average. Top 20% earn 3-5x median through luxury specialization, team-build models, and post-2020 migration pipeline. Bottom 50% exit within 2-3 years due to year 1-2 grind.
Maximize Your Take-Home
401(k) — $24,500 max
Reduces taxable income dollar-for-dollar
HSA — $4,400 single
Triple tax advantage — deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free withdrawals
FSA — $3,300 max
Medical expenses with pre-tax dollars
State consideration
Moving to TX, FL, WA can save $5,000–$15,000/year in taxes
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home as a Real Estate Agent
Add 401(k), HSA, dependents, and more to see your personalized take-home in your state.
Open Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.
Real Estate Agent Salary by State — Detailed Pages
Alabama
$46,931
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$59,240
net
Arizona
$59,851
net
Arkansas
$44,481
net
California
$64,928
net
Colorado
$58,711
net
Connecticut
$62,925
net
Delaware
$53,511
net
FloridaNo state tax
$68,386
net
Georgia
$53,516
net
Hawaii
$57,791
net
Idaho
$49,139
net
Illinois
$55,111
net
Indiana
$47,297
net
Iowa
$47,693
net
Kansas
$46,501
net
Kentucky
$46,716
net
Louisiana
$48,346
net
Maine
$48,505
net
Maryland
$60,469
net
Massachusetts
$66,846
net
Michigan
$52,151
net
Minnesota
$53,626
net
Mississippi
$42,350
net
Missouri
$51,801
net
Montana
$49,092
net
Nebraska
$47,630
net
NevadaNo state tax
$63,461
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$61,351
net
New Jersey
$62,007
net
New Mexico
$48,413
net
New York
$69,941
net
North Carolina
$51,901
net
North Dakota
$47,576
net
Ohio
$50,220
net
Oklahoma
$46,609
net
Oregon
$57,224
net
Pennsylvania
$54,799
net
Rhode Island
$56,960
net
South Carolina
$51,076
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$46,241
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$56,426
net
TexasNo state tax
$64,868
net
Utah
$55,331
net
Vermont
$50,476
net
Virginia
$59,839
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$64,868
net
West Virginia
$40,648
net
Wisconsin
$51,626
net
WyomingNo state tax
$50,258
net