Hiring Real Estate Sales Agents

What do real estate sales agents do?

• Prepare documents such as representation contracts, purchase agreements, closing statements, deeds, and leases.
• Present purchase offers to sellers for consideration.
• Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers, generally representing one or the other.
• Generate lists of properties that are compatible with buyers' needs and financial resources.
• 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.
• Promote sales of properties through advertisements, open houses, and participation in multiple listing services.

Core tasks, O*NET OnLine, 41-9022.00.

What does it take to become one?

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

O*NET Job Zone 3, SVP (6.0 to < 7.0). O*NET OnLine.

Employers commonly list experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Yardi software, Adobe Acrobat for this role.

What do real estate sales agents get paid?

BLS OEWS, May 2025 publishes a wage for real estate sales agents in 84 of the metro areas in this build. The median ranges from $37,820 to $106,190 a year depending on the metro, with a midpoint of $52,250. This is what employers pay, place of work, not a single national figure and not what any one person takes home.

BLS OEWS, BLS OEWS, May 2025, SOC 41-9022.

What does hiring one cost?

The same as any role: tier, not location or salary, sets the fee. Across all six tiers the published range is $6,240 to $54,340 per search. For scale, the highest published median for real estate sales agents in this build is $106,190. A contingency firm hiring at that level would bill roughly $21,238 to $31,857 on the first year salary alone, 20 to 30%.

Frequently asked

How fast can a real estate sales agents search fill?

23 to 35 days, 2 to 3x faster than a typical contingency search, per the recruiting provider's published figures.

What if the hire does not work out?

A 45-day replacement guarantee, at 50% off a repeat search for the same role.