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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Real Estate Broker salaries in 2026 span a wider range than most people realize. The weighted national median is $73,325, but geography reshapes that number dramatically. In Sunnyvale, the median is $133,560. We analyzed BLS-sourced salary distributions across 288 U.S. cities and 46 states to map the complete compensation landscape.
A career as a Real Estate Broker sits at the intersection of Sales and Sales. Most professionals enter with Broker license, and the field is characterized by growing. The work itself is field/hybrid. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$81,270 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Real Estate Broker in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $133,560 — $81,270 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($52,290). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Real Estate Brokers average $52,794, the median sits at $73,325, and senior earners pull in $104,122. That $51,328 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $7,042 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $124,740, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $52,710. The $72,030 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Real Estate Broker in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $133,560 — $81,270 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($52,290). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Real Estate Broker is $52,794, while senior-level (P90) earners average $104,122. That $51,328 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Even at the 10th percentile, Real Estate Brokers average $52,794 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $52,794 | $73,325 | $104,122 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £28,491 | £39,570 | £56,189 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$41,034 | CA$56,991 | CA$80,928 |
| Australia | 13 | A$46,528 | A$64,623 | A$91,765 |
| Sweden | 24 | 280,269 kr | 389,262 kr | 552,752 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $63,720 | $88,500 | $125,669 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $61,576 | $85,523 | $121,442 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $61,236 | $85,050 | $120,771 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $56,700 | $78,750 | $111,825 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $56,020 | $77,805 | $110,483 |
| Washington | 8 | $54,942 | $76,309 | $108,359 |
| New York | 5 | $51,711 | $71,820 | $101,985 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $51,710 | $71,820 | $101,984 |
| Florida | 22 | $51,319 | $71,276 | $101,212 |
| Colorado | 11 | $50,432 | $70,045 | $99,463 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $50,350 | $69,930 | $99,301 |
| Nevada | 5 | $50,259 | $69,804 | $99,122 |
| Arizona | 12 | $50,009 | $69,458 | $98,630 |
| Oregon | 5 | $49,896 | $69,300 | $98,406 |
| Idaho | 3 | $49,745 | $69,090 | $98,108 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $49,352 | $68,544 | $97,332 |
| Utah | 4 | $49,216 | $68,355 | $97,064 |
| Virginia | 7 | $48,406 | $67,230 | $95,467 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $47,779 | $66,360 | $94,231 |
| Alaska | 1 | $47,628 | $66,150 | $93,933 |
| Illinois | 5 | $47,084 | $65,394 | $92,860 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $45,914 | $63,770 | $90,553 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $45,360 | $63,000 | $89,460 |
| Montana | 1 | $45,360 | $63,000 | $89,460 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $45,209 | $62,790 | $89,162 |
| Texas | 40 | $44,986 | $62,480 | $88,722 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $44,907 | $62,370 | $88,566 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $44,680 | $62,055 | $88,118 |
| Georgia | 6 | $44,528 | $61,845 | $87,820 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $44,453 | $61,740 | $87,671 |
| Kansas | 4 | $44,226 | $61,425 | $87,224 |
| Michigan | 6 | $44,075 | $61,215 | $86,925 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $43,546 | $60,480 | $85,882 |
| Maryland | 1 | $43,546 | $60,480 | $85,882 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $43,092 | $59,850 | $84,987 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $43,092 | $59,850 | $84,987 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $41,958 | $58,275 | $82,750 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $41,731 | $57,960 | $82,303 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $41,164 | $57,173 | $81,185 |
| Missouri | 4 | $41,164 | $57,173 | $81,185 |
| Alabama | 5 | $41,005 | $56,952 | $80,872 |
| Indiana | 3 | $40,370 | $56,070 | $79,619 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $40,370 | $56,070 | $79,619 |
| Iowa | 2 | $39,917 | $55,440 | $78,725 |
| Ohio | 6 | $39,841 | $55,335 | $78,576 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $38,102 | $52,920 | $75,146 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Real Estate Broker median of $88,500 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($85,523) and Hawaii ($85,050). Zoom out to the career trajectory, and the entry-level picture changes. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $52,920 and $55,440. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($133,560 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $63,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $133,560 | 212 | $63,000 | $80,482 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $124,740 | 198 | $63,000 | $75,627 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $115,920 | 184 | $63,000 | $70,771 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $114,030 | 181 | $63,000 | $69,731 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $112,140 | 178 | $63,000 | $68,691 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $111,510 | 177 | $63,000 | $68,344 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $111,510 | 177 | $63,000 | $68,344 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $108,990 | 173 | $63,000 | $66,956 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $108,990 | 173 | $63,000 | $66,956 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $106,470 | 169 | $63,000 | $65,569 |
Career economics for Real Estate Brokers: entry level averages $52,794, mid-career hits $73,325, and experienced professionals reach $104,122. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Broker license, and the work is field/hybrid. The outlook: growing. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The weighted national median salary for Real Estate Brokers is $73,325 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $52,794, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $104,122.
The highest-paying city for Real Estate Brokers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $133,560. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($133,560), Santa Clara ($124,740), Irvine ($115,920). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Real Estate Broker salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $52,290. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Real Estate Brokers (10th percentile) average $52,794 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $96,163. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Real Estate Brokers average $104,122 nationally — $51,328 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Real Estate Brokers can earn up to $189,655.
The top-paying states for Real Estate Brokers are California ($88,500 median), Massachusetts ($85,523 median), Hawaii ($85,050 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Real Estate Broker involves Broker license. The field is in the Sales sector (Sales), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically field/hybrid.
With a national median of $73,325 and representation across 288 metro areas, Real Estate Broker offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $51,328 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.