If you pursued a career as a real estate agent in the state of California, how much money would you be able to make? It’s a complex answer – one that depends on a variety of factors. What you can be sure of immediately is that as a successful real estate agent with years of experience, you can end up making a six-figure salary. But we are jumping ahead of ourselves. Let’s start at the very beginning. Here is an in-depth look at how much you can expect to make in the Golden State.
What are real estate agents earning in California in 2021?
The salary of a real estate agent anywhere in the United States depends on their experience, location, and the company they work with.
According to the well-known job site, Indeed, a real estate agent’s base salary in California as of March 2021 is $106,318 per annum. That is 21% higher than the national average. The figure is based on 3.4K salaries reported.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay of real estate agents in California was $50,730 per annum ($24.39 per hour) in 2019. Today that number has jumped to $73,450. Agents make an average of $24,970 on the low end and $123,700 on the top end of the spectrum.
CareerExplorer puts the average salary at $59,420 – the bottom 20% of agents starting at $27,210, and the top 20% making up to $129,020.
The entry-level salary for real estate agents in California
Entry-level real estate agents make less than seasoned agents. They typically start with a lower commission rate and earn more, as they learn the business’s ropes. Budding real estate agents might have to split their commission with their sponsoring agent.
The average salary for California real estate agents who possess anywhere between 1 and 2 years of experience is $95,852 per annum. That steadily rises with each passing year. Once an agent passes the 10-year mark, they can expect to make $125,764 per annum.
Part-time real estate agents
According to a 2018 survey of real estate agents across the United States by Real Estate Express, those who work part-time, but more hours, make more money. According to the survey, agents working up to 20 hours every week earned an average of $24,566 a year. Those working 21-40 hours a week (part-time basis) earned $46,458 a year on average.
How real estate agents get paid
Most real estate agents work on a commission basis. That means they typically get paid only when they have helped buy or sell a property. However, success invites more money. Depending on the company they work for, they can make enough through commissions alone.
Commissions are around 5-6% of a property’s sales price, but this can vary from one area to the next.
Real estate agents’ salaries based on Californian cities
California is a large state, and the real estate market varies significantly from one area to the next. For example, if you are selling multimillion-dollar homes in Los Angeles, you can make well above the average salary. The California cities that pay real estate agents the highest are:
- Westlake Village, CA: $113,751
- Los Angeles, CA: $106,692
- Corona, CA: $102,911
- Long Beach, CA: $101,162
- Sacramento, CA: $99,255
- Huntington Beach, CA: $98,675
- San Diego, CA: $97,327
- Baker’s Field, CA: $93,772
Note: All figures indicate the average salary per year.
6 High-paying companies for real estate agents in California.
If you are keen on gaining experience with a company before setting up your own business, these six companies located in California pay the highest.
- Realty Group: Approximate salary – $143,077.
- Kendrick Realty Inc.: Approximate salary – $132,559.
- Osborne Homes: Approximate salary – $128,363.
- Your Home Sold Guaranteed Realty: Approximate salary – $124,389.
- Real Estate Brokerage: Approximate salary – $122,961.
- Fathom Reality: Approximate salary – $120,790
Salary satisfaction
Everyone aspires to land themselves a high-paying job. However, money is not the only factor to consider when searching for a job. The perks and benefits of a job can increase the value of that job. Over 70% of real estate agents in the United States are satisfied with their salary, but what makes this job more lucrative are the associated benefits like:
- Work from home
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Food provided
- Parental leave
- Commuter assistance
- Employee discount
- Dental insurance
- Visual insurance
- Mileage reimbursement
- Professional development assistance
- Stock options
How to make more money as a real estate agent in California
Merely obtaining a license to practice as a real estate agent in California is not enough. The road to success ahead of you will be long and fraught with hard work and persistence. Here’s how you can ensure a successful and lucrative career as a California real estate agent.
- Like it is with any career, you must be prepared to commit energy, time, and money to build a solid foundation. Work hard to find success in your job.
- During the initial years, concentrate on laying the groundwork for your career with networking and marketing.
- It might be discouraging to see more cash going into your business than the amount of money you make. However, that is temporary, and with persistence, your efforts will pay off.
- With the right skills like honesty, integrity, strong communication skills, a drive for success, and excellent customer service, there is no reason you cannot become one of California’s top real estate agents.
- Protect yourself and your business by investing in insurance for real estate agents. You can find more information on how insurance can save your business millions of dollars here.
Conclusion
Currently, there are over 300,000 real estate agents across the United States. California ranks among the highest paying states for real estate agents. The competition is immense, but that does not mean you cannot earn top dollar as a real estate agent. The important thing is to enjoy your job and learn the tricks of the trade. As your experience grows and you build a solid network and close deals, you will find yourself making more money.
