Field Guide to REALTOR® Income
(Updated July 2009)
How much does the typical REALTOR® earn in a year? The material listed here includes research studies from NAR's Research division, reader surveys by REALTOR® Magazine, and other sources offering details about the income of agents and brokers and what determines how much they make. (F. Heller, Manager, Virtual Library & Archives)
Median Gross Personal Income of REALTORS®
YEAR | Brokers/ | Sales | ALL REALTORS® |
2008 | $49,300 | $28,400 | $36,700 |
2007 | $65,200 | $31,000 | $42,600 |
2006 | $73,300 | $34,600 | $47,700 |
Source: The 2009 National Association of REALTORS® Member Profile, (NAR - Research, 2009).
Articles, Surveys & More from NAR
Income-Planning Worksheet, (REALTOR® Magazine Online).
Realtor® Member Survey Shows Response to Challenging Market, (NAR News Release, May 13, 2009).
REALTORS® Increasing Professionalism, Survey Shows, (NAR News Release, May 14, 2008).
REALTOR® income dips as newbies flood business, (REALTOR® Magazine Daily Real Estate News, May 10, 2007).
Rookies work more, earn less, (REALTOR® Magazine Online Exclusives, 2005).
Income and expenses: Size up your earnings, (REALTOR® Magazine, Feb. 2004).
Seventh annual business income-and-expense survey; Making it all add up; Pressure on commission rates keeps income from growing in record sales year, (REALTOR® Magazine, June 2002).
International Real Estate Activity and REALTOR® Income, (NAR, 2001).
Other Studies on REALTOR® Income 
Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents, (Occupational Outlook Handbook - 2008-09 Edition).
The role of commission rates and specialization in the determination of real estate agent income, (Journal of Housing Research, Vol. 16, No. 1, 2007). Q
Listing specialization and residential real estate licensee income, (Journal of Real Estate Research, January-March 2007, Vol. 29, No. 1). Q
The impact of information technology on real estate licensee income, (Journal of Real Estate Practice and Education, 2002).
U.S. real estate agent income and commercial/investment activities, (Journal of Real Estate Research, May/June 2001).
Determinants of real estate licensee income, (Journal of Real Estate Research, 1997). Q
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
The Budget Kit: The Common Cents Money Management Workbook
Make Money, Not Excuses: Wake Up, Take Charge, and Overcome Your Financial Fears Forever
Maximizing Your Money: Personal Finance Made Easy!
The Road to Wealth: A Comprehensive Guide to Your Money
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Compensation Plans for Real Estate Agents
Field Guide to Investing in Real Estate
>> Have an idea for a new Field Guide? Click here to send us your suggestions!
The inclusion of links on this Field Guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked to this Field Guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
E-mail 
