The average real estate agent salary in the United States in 2024 is $85,793. The highest percentile of salaries are in the $138,500 - $149,500 range and the lowest percentile of salaries in the $28,500 - $39,499 range. As you can see, that number can vary greatly depending on many factors, some of which we will break down for you below.

Although REALTORS® and real estate agents perform the same job duties, it's important to remember that they are not the same thing. All REALTORS® are real estate agents but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. A REALTOR® is an active member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). They have to abide by a more strict Code of Ethics and standards of professional conduct to remain members of the NAR.

Now that we know the difference between the two, we can talk about how much more REALTORS® make. The average realtor salary in the United States in 2024 is $105,647, significantly higher than that of a real estate agent. The ceiling and floor are similar but the average is roughly $20,000 more than the standard real estate agent.

Part-Time Real estate agents

It is quite common for real estate agents to only work in the field part-time. Since agents are compensated on a commission basis (most of the time), brokerages typically don't mind if their agents are part-time. It works really well as a second career, for people without the time to work a full time job, or those just looking to use real estate as a side hustle.

Being able to start part-time and ease into the career full time is a huge advantage. The first year as an agent is typically the hardest and being able to subsidize their income while they build up their book of business is critical. A Part-time real estate agent salary is typically much less than a full-time agent but it's a great way to get your feet wet in the business or as a side hustle to make additional income.