Other Sales and Related Workers

How to become a Real Estate Sales Agent

Official title: Real Estate Sales Agents

Also called: Real Estate Agent, Real Estate Salesperson, Realtor, Realtor Associate

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.

Main 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.

How to become one

Real estate brokers and sales agents typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. Every state requires real estate brokers and agents to be licensed.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Real Estate Sales Agent.
Licence: A licence is required in 47 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $52,830 a year The middle half earn $40,040 to $82,020.
About 427,000 people work in this job now, and about 434,500 are projected by 2035. (+1.7%)
People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Real Estate Sales Agent?

Real estate brokers and sales agents typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. Every state requires real estate brokers and agents to be licensed.

How much does a Real Estate Sales Agent earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $52,830 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $40,040 to $82,020.

Is a Real Estate Sales Agent a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 427,000 people now and 434,500 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Real Estate Sales Agent?

Not always. 53% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Real Estate Sales Agent.

Will AI change the work of a Real Estate Sales Agent?

People already use generative AI for a good share of this work, which usually changes the job more than it replaces it. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as high.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.