Sales
Real estate sales agent
Rent, buy, or sell property for clients. Perform duties such as study property listings, interview prospective clients, accompany clients to property site, discuss conditions of sale, and draw up real estate contracts. Includes agents who represent buyer.
Median pay
$52,830
Growth to 2035
+2%
little or no change
Openings a year
32,600
Time to qualify*
15 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Real estate sales agent
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
- Required
- State pre-licensing course · State real estate exam
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Exposure to disease
Real estate sales agent: 52% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Present purchase offers to sellers for consideration.
- Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers, generally representing one or the other.
- Confer with escrow companies, lenders, home inspectors, and pest control operators to ensure that terms and conditions of purchase agreements are met before closing dates.
- Advise clients on market conditions, prices, mortgages, legal requirements, and related matters.
- Prepare documents such as representation contracts, purchase agreements, closing statements, deeds, and leases.
- Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
- Coordinate appointments to show homes to prospective buyers.
- Generate lists of properties that are compatible with buyers' needs and financial resources.
Also called: Real Estate Agent · Real Estate Salesperson · Realtor · Realtor Associate
Outlook and AI
Real estate sales agents held 427,000 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 434,500 by 2035 (+2%, little or no change; all jobs: +3.5%).
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