| Pay level | California |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (bottom 10%) | $40,150 |
| 25th percentile | $45,520 |
| Median (50th) | $57,560 |
| 75th percentile | $78,250 |
| 90th percentile (top 10%) | $111,320 |
| Mean (average) | $67,570 |
Agent income · BLS May 2025
How much do real estate agents make in California?
Real estate sales agents in California earned a median of $57,560 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bottom 10% earned less than $40,150 and the top 10% more than $111,320. That median ranks #23 of 48 states with published data and is 9% higher than the U.S. median of $52,830.
Median pay
$57,560
BLS May 2025
Bottom 10% earn under
$40,150
10th percentile
Top 10% earn over
$111,320
90th percentile
Payroll-employed agents
17,500
Excludes self-employed
What do real estate agents earn in California at each pay level?
Half of California's payroll-employed real estate agents earned more than $57,560 in May 2025 and half earned less. The middle 50% ranged from $45,520 to $78,250, while the gap between the 10th percentile ($40,150) and the 90th ($111,320) shows how widely commission income varies.
How does California agent pay compare with the U.S.?
California's $57,560 median agent pay ranks #23 of 48 states and DC with published BLS data, 9% higher than the national median of $52,830. At the low end, California's 10th percentile is $40,150 versus $32,970 nationally.
| Measure | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual pay | $57,560 | $52,830 |
| 10th percentile | $40,150 | $32,970 |
| 90th percentile | $111,320 | $124,000 (rounded) |
| Payroll employment | 17,500 | 193,370 |
How many real estate agents work in California?
BLS counts about 17,500 real estate sales agents on California payrolls in May 2025, or 0.961 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. Real estate brokers there earned a $80,450 median. These counts exclude self-employed agents, who make up most of the profession, so the true number of active California agents is much higher.
What are home prices like in California’s real estate markets?
WealthyBud tracks 39 California housing markets. Their median listing prices have a midpoint of $585,000 as of September 2026, from $321,175 in Susanville to $6.11M in Montecito; 24 of 39 are below last year's asking price.
| Market | Median list price | YoY | Days on market | Active listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $1.03M | -5.9% | 55 | 20,130 |
| Riverside, CA | $584,984 | -1.7% | 64 | 13,206 |
| San Francisco, CA | $957,475 | -1.8% | 37 | 5,840 |
| San Diego, CA | $888,450 | -6.3% | 46 | 5,749 |
| Sacramento, CA | $599,950 | -2.6% | 51 | 5,286 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $396,500 | -3.2% | 58 | 2,443 |
Every tracked market is on the California housing market hub.
How are real estate agents paid in California?
Agents in California are almost always paid on commission, a percentage of each sale price split with their brokerage, not a fixed salary. Earnings rise with deal volume and price point, so BLS wage percentiles describe a wide range rather than guaranteed pay.
Four factors drive what a California agent actually takes home:
- Average sale price. A 2.5–3% commission on a $1M home dwarfs the same rate on a $250K home, so market and price tier matter more than hours worked.
- Deal volume. Income scales linearly with closings; the top decile simply completes more transactions per year.
- Commission split. New agents may keep 50–70% of each commission; established producers negotiate 80–100% splits or cap arrangements.
- Niche and referrals. Repeat and referral business lowers acquisition cost and lifts effective hourly pay over time.
Thinking about becoming an agent? See how to get a real estate license in California, or compare every state in the agent salary by state table.
California real estate agent salary FAQ
What is the average real estate agent salary in California?
The median real estate sales agent in California earned $57,560 in May 2025 and the mean was $67,570, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Commission income varies widely: the bottom 10% earned under $40,150 and the top 10% over $111,320.
Do California real estate agents earn more than the national average?
California's $57,560 median is 9% higher than the U.S. median of $52,830 for real estate sales agents and ranks #23 of 48 states with published May 2025 data.
How much do new real estate agents make in California?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The closest official benchmark is the 10th percentile: 10% of payroll-employed California agents earned less than $40,150 in May 2025. First-year commission income depends on how many deals an agent closes.
How many real estate agents work in California?
BLS counts about 17,500 payroll-employed real estate sales agents in California (May 2025). Most agents are self-employed independent contractors and are not included, so the licensed agent count is far higher.
How are real estate agents paid in California?
Agents in California are almost always paid on commission, a share of each sale price split with their brokerage, rather than a salary. Income rises with deal volume and average sale price.
Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates for wage-and-salary real estate sales agents in California. They exclude self-employed agents and may not reflect total commission income. n/a means BLS did not publish the value.