Real Estate Agent
Also known as: Realtor, Real Estate Broker
Help people buy, sell, and rent properties while building relationships and negotiating deals.
Salary Range
The highest-paid specialization or seniority level for real estate agents.
About 1 in 1,000 reaches this level
About 1.5M active agents; NAR data shows median income is ~$56K. Only the top 0.1% of agents consistently earn $500K+ in commissions, primarily in luxury markets. The 90th percentile is only ~$148K.
Salary data based on 2025 BLS, Glassdoor, and industry reports. Actual compensation varies by location, experience, and employer.
How to Become One
Complete state-required pre-licensing coursework (60–180 hours depending on state) and pass the state real estate licensing exam.
For more information: National Association of Realtors (NAR) ↗
A degree isn't required, but these programs can strengthen your career prospects:
AI Risk Assessment
AI handles property matching, automated scheduling, lead nurturing, and basic contract generation. By 2028-2030, 60-80% of agent tasks could be automated. However, the trust-based nature of major transactions provides significant protection. AI-augmented experienced agents will be harder for new agents to compete against.
Ratings reflect a 10-year outlook based on 2025-2026 research, weighted toward entry-level impact. Individual outcomes will vary.
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