| Pay level | North Carolina |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (bottom 10%) | $27,940 |
| 25th percentile | n/a |
| Median (50th) | $51,240 |
| 75th percentile | n/a |
| 90th percentile (top 10%) | $126,000 (rounded) |
| Mean (average) | n/a |
Agent income · BLS May 2025
How much do real estate agents make in North Carolina?
Real estate sales agents in North Carolina earned a median of $51,240 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bottom 10% earned less than $27,940 and the top 10% more than $126,000 (rounded). That median ranks #28 of 48 states with published data and is 3% lower than the U.S. median of $52,830.
Median pay
$51,240
BLS May 2025
Bottom 10% earn under
$27,940
10th percentile
Top 10% earn over
$126,000
90th percentile (rounded)
Payroll-employed agents
7,960
Excludes self-employed
What do real estate agents earn in North Carolina at each pay level?
Half of North Carolina's payroll-employed real estate agents earned more than $51,240 in May 2025 and half earned less. The middle 50% ranged from n/a to n/a, while the gap between the 10th percentile ($27,940) and the 90th ($126,000 (rounded)) shows how widely commission income varies.
How does North Carolina agent pay compare with the U.S.?
North Carolina's $51,240 median agent pay ranks #28 of 48 states and DC with published BLS data, 3% lower than the national median of $52,830. At the low end, North Carolina's 10th percentile is $27,940 versus $32,970 nationally.
| Measure | North Carolina | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual pay | $51,240 | $52,830 |
| 10th percentile | $27,940 | $32,970 |
| 90th percentile | $126,000 (rounded) | $124,000 (rounded) |
| Payroll employment | 7,960 | 193,370 |
How many real estate agents work in North Carolina?
BLS counts about 7,960 real estate sales agents on North Carolina payrolls in May 2025. These counts exclude self-employed agents, who make up most of the profession, so the true number of active North Carolina agents is much higher.
What are home prices like in North Carolina’s real estate markets?
WealthyBud tracks 38 North Carolina housing markets. Their median listing prices have a midpoint of $344,435 as of September 2026, from $225,000 in Rockingham to $650,000 in Boone; 26 of 38 are below last year's asking price.
| Market | Median list price | YoY | Days on market | Active listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | $424,950 | -3.1% | 64 | 11,182 |
| Raleigh, NC | $445,000 | -2.6% | 59 | 6,125 |
| Wilmington, NC | $471,489 | -5.5% | 71 | 4,016 |
| Asheville, NC | $575,000 | 0.0% | 84 | 2,829 |
| Durham, NC | $460,135 | -4.0% | 60 | 2,310 |
| Winston, NC | $334,900 | -4.6% | 60 | 2,224 |
Every tracked market is on the North Carolina housing market hub.
How are real estate agents paid in North Carolina?
Agents in North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina, or compare every state in the agent salary by state table.
North Carolina real estate agent salary FAQ
What is the average real estate agent salary in North Carolina?
The median real estate sales agent in North Carolina earned $51,240 in May 2025 and the mean was n/a, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Commission income varies widely: the bottom 10% earned under $27,940 and the top 10% over $126,000 (rounded).
Do North Carolina real estate agents earn more than the national average?
North Carolina's $51,240 median is 3% lower than the U.S. median of $52,830 for real estate sales agents and ranks #28 of 48 states with published May 2025 data.
How much do new real estate agents make in North Carolina?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The closest official benchmark is the 10th percentile: 10% of payroll-employed North Carolina agents earned less than $27,940 in May 2025. First-year commission income depends on how many deals an agent closes.
How many real estate agents work in North Carolina?
BLS counts about 7,960 payroll-employed real estate sales agents in North Carolina (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 North Carolina?
Agents in North Carolina 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 North Carolina. They exclude self-employed agents and may not reflect total commission income. The 90th percentile is BLS's published value rounded to the nearest $1,000. n/a means BLS did not publish the value.