Real Estate Sales Agents pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,340 a year or less, while the top 10% make $159,370 or more. The middle half of real estate sales agents in Durham earn between $46,160 and $120,370.
- $37K10th
- $46K25th
- $60KMedian
- $120K75th
- $159K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,430 | $6,702 | $38.67 |
| Median | $60,230 | $5,019 | $28.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,160 | $3,847 | $22.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $120,370 | $10,031 | $57.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Real Estate Sales Agents pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Real estate sales agents in Durham earn 8% more than the North Carolina average ($74,610) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($69,510). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $52,830.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $80,430 | $60,230 | $37,340 | $159,370 | 280 |
| North Carolina | $74,610 | $51,240 | $27,940 | $126,380 | 7,960 |
| United States | $69,510 | $52,830 | $32,970 | $123,590 | 193,370 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Real Estate Sales Agents salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $80,430, a single filer in Durham takes home about $62,712 a year, or $5,226 a month and $2,412 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for real estate sales agents? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $80,430 buys what about $82,431 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Real Estate Sales Agents salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 2nd of 9 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($85,150).
- Charlotte$85,150
- Durham$80,430
- Raleigh$74,770
- Greenville$64,800
- Fayetteville$62,550
- Greensboro$58,770
- Rocky Mount$55,500
- Asheville$53,890
- Wilmington$52,140
Highest-paying cities for real estate sales agents
Midland, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($118,580).
- Midland, TX$118,580
- Oxnard, CA$116,500
- New York, NY$113,500
- Buffalo, NY$109,760
- Palm Bay, FL$105,970
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Real Estate Sales Agents salary in Durham: questions
How much do real estate sales agents make an hour in Durham?
$38.67 an hour on average, and $28.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level real estate sales agents salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,340 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,160, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the real estate sales agents take-home pay in Durham?
About $62,712 a year ($5,226 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,430.
Do real estate sales agents earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more than the U.S. average for this job ($69,510).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 41-9022; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.65, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.65).
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