Field Guide to Compensation Plans For Real Estate Agents
(Updated November 2009)
Get the latest news on compensation plans. Are salaries a better idea than commissions? What's the best way to modify your compensation plan? Find the answers to these questions and much more. (S. Hogan, Information Specialist)
Compensation Structures for All REALTORS®
Percentage Commission Split--70%
100% Commission--17%
Commission Plus Share of Profits--3%
Salary Only--2%
Salary Plus Share of Profits/Production Bonus--3%
Share of Profits Only--1%
Other--4%
Compensation Structures for REALTORS®, (National Association of REALTOR® Member Profile, 2009).
Compensation Plan Basics 
Structuring compensation, (Hiring Personnel Toolkit, REALTOR® Magazine).
Compensation tips for management personnel, (Hiring Personnel Toolkit, REALTOR® Magazine).
Compensation policies, (Creating and Monitoring Business Systems Toolkit, REALTOR® Magazine).
Creating an effective compensation plan for sales representatives, (Compensation Today, July 28, 2009).
Designing a compensation plan for buyer agents, (Realty Times, July 17, 2009).
Methods of compensating real estate agents, (realestate.about.com).
Be respected as an advisor: stop being paid like a salesperson, (Realty Times, Apr. 14, 2009).
Intra-firm real estate brokerage compensation choices and agent performance, (The Journal of Real Estate Research, Oct.-Dec. 2008).
Real estate commission debate heats up, (REALTOR® Magazine, Nov. 7, 2006).
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Beyond 401(k)s for Small Business Owners: A Practical Guide to Incentive, Deferred Compensation, and Retirement Plans (Adobe eReader)
Compensating the Sales Force (Adobe eReader)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Central. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.
2008 Profile of Local Association Compensation and Benefits, (Washington, DC: National Association of REALTORS®, Aug. 2008)
The real estate entrepreneur: everything you need to know to grow your own brokerage, (New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2007). HD 1375 P41
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to REALTOR® Income
Field Guide to Recruiting and Retaining Salespeople
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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.
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