How much do real estate agents make in North Carolina?
Agents and brokers in North Carolina
| Occupation | Employed | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate sales agents (41-9022) | 7,960 | $39,740 | $51,240 | $99,890 | $24.63 |
| Real estate brokers (41-9021) | 1,560 | $46,050 | $52,830 | $74,010 | $25.40 |
North Carolina and the states ranked next to it
| # | State | Agent median | Broker median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Pennsylvania | — | |
| 27 | Maryland | $81,550 | |
| 28 | North Carolina | $52,830 | |
| 29 | Utah | $92,830 | |
| 30 | Wyoming | — |
All 48 states are ranked by agent median on the home page. Highest: District of Columbia at $123,770; lowest: Arkansas at $38,180.
How many agents work in North Carolina
The BLS counts 7,960 employed sales agents in North Carolina, which understates the licensed population because most agents are independent contractors. US Realtor List's North Carolina realtor list counts the agents with a published, current business email on brokerage rosters and licence registers, and prints that figure on its state page; the two numbers measure different things and the second is usually larger.
Quick answers
How much do real estate agents make in North Carolina?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median real estate sales agent's pay in North Carolina at $51,240 a year for May 2025. The 25th percentile earned $39,740 and the 75th percentile $99,890. That median ranks North Carolina 28 of 48 states.
How much do real estate brokers make in North Carolina?
Brokers in North Carolina had a median wage of $52,830 (25th percentile $46,050, 75th percentile $74,010) in the same survey.
Is that a salary or commission?
Most agents are paid by commission, and the BLS figure is annual wage income reported by employers for people working as sales agents. It includes commission-based pay reported through payroll but not every independent contractor, so a busy agent at a large brokerage can earn well above the 75th percentile figure.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 state file state_M2025_dl.xlsx (oesm25st.zip), occupations 41-9022 (Real Estate Sales Agents) and 41-9021 (Real Estate Brokers), North Carolina, read September 8, 2026. Hourly figures divide the annual wage by 2,080 hours. Rank computed from the 48 published state medians.