Real Estate Sales Agents
Also called: Real Estate Agent, Real Estate Salesperson, Realtor, Realtor AssociateRent, 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.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 18 of its 33 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 1.7% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 3.2% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Real estate brokers and sales agents”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 6.4 hires for every 10 job openings in real estate and rental and leasing, which employs about 84% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.6.4 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,890 | $38,890 to $89,400 | 1,580 |
| Alaska | $89,170 | $71,390 to $103,540 | 170 |
| Arizona | $58,780 | $41,250 to $94,330 | 5,610 |
| Arkansas | $38,180 | $30,640 to $86,260 | 1,640 |
| California | $57,560 | $45,520 to $78,250 | 17,500 |
| Colorado | $63,670 | $37,040 to $95,360 | 6,120 |
| Connecticut | $46,770 | $42,850 to $67,710 | not published |
| Delaware | $47,180 | $36,950 to $58,240 | 900 |
| District of Columbia | $123,770 | $44,180 to $123,770 | 590 |
| Florida | $49,310 | $39,330 to $79,990 | 26,790 |
| Georgia | $46,730 | $36,980 to $73,880 | 9,940 |
| Hawaii | $46,220 | $43,810 to $64,890 | 690 |
| Idaho | $39,820 | $30,280 to $54,690 | 1,170 |
| Illinois | $59,220 | $38,060 to $61,790 | 6,030 |
| Indiana | $46,880 | $37,790 to $61,990 | 3,680 |
| Iowa | not published | not published | 680 |
| Kansas | $39,770 | $36,990 to $51,000 | 1,450 |
| Kentucky | $58,610 | $39,570 to $76,040 | 1,120 |
| Louisiana | $45,850 | $31,110 to $62,350 | 1,940 |
| Maine | $56,930 | $33,780 to $78,630 | 740 |
| Maryland | $52,630 | $43,070 to $77,990 | 2,940 |
| Massachusetts | not published | not published | 4,530 |
| Michigan | $57,880 | $40,140 to $78,190 | 2,210 |
| Minnesota | $46,410 | $42,240 to $62,070 | 2,530 |
| Mississippi | $39,550 | $29,050 to $61,290 | 670 |
| Missouri | $43,960 | $37,180 to $63,600 | 1,590 |
| Montana | $79,100 | $67,590 to $91,170 | 370 |
| Nebraska | $47,240 | $47,070 to $61,710 | 1,400 |
| Nevada | $79,990 | $46,740 to $106,190 | 1,490 |
| New Hampshire | $57,620 | $47,020 to $84,990 | 240 |
| New Jersey | $99,990 | $63,000 to $111,990 | not published |
| New Mexico | $76,170 | $56,880 to $111,390 | 550 |
| New York | $102,990 | $58,030 to $156,810 | 8,660 |
| North Carolina | $51,240 | $39,740 to $99,890 | 7,960 |
| North Dakota | $73,920 | $38,200 to $91,120 | not published |
| Ohio | $46,240 | $36,460 to $59,290 | 5,130 |
| Oklahoma | $47,980 | $35,160 to $73,220 | 3,710 |
| Oregon | $61,610 | $40,960 to $81,400 | 1,940 |
| Pennsylvania | $56,040 | $46,500 to $78,840 | 5,510 |
| Puerto Rico | not published | not published | 330 |
| Rhode Island | $60,310 | $41,890 to $68,530 | not published |
| South Carolina | $56,580 | $39,990 to $97,470 | 4,930 |
| South Dakota | $65,170 | $47,960 to $77,070 | 640 |
| Tennessee | $46,250 | $36,210 to $77,400 | 2,360 |
| Texas | $45,740 | $36,920 to $74,660 | 22,250 |
| Utah | $50,720 | $37,120 to $60,090 | 4,240 |
| Vermont | not published | not published | 70 |
| Virginia | $63,980 | $43,120 to $94,050 | 5,750 |
| Washington | $79,130 | $63,010 to $100,360 | 5,150 |
| West Virginia | $59,050 | $40,590 to $76,400 | 370 |
| Wisconsin | $58,120 | $45,210 to $72,000 | 5,680 |
| Wyoming | $49,990 | $30,940 to $62,930 | 300 |
Nationally: $52,830. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 18 of its 33 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Present purchase offers to sellers for consideration. | Not published |
| Not much | Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers, generally representing one or the other. | Not published |
| AI alone | Advise clients on market conditions, prices, mortgages, legal requirements, and related matters. | 0.03% |
| Not much | Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Coordinate appointments to show homes to prospective buyers. | Not published |
| Not much | 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. | Not published |
See all 33 tasks
| AI + software | Generate lists of properties that are compatible with buyers' needs and financial resources. | Not published |
| Not much | Interview clients to determine what kinds of properties they are seeking. | Not published |
| AI alone | Prepare documents such as representation contracts, purchase agreements, closing statements, deeds, and leases. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Promote sales of properties through advertisements, open houses, and participation in multiple listing services. | Not published |
| AI alone | Advise sellers on how to make homes more appealing to potential buyers. | Not published |
| Not much | Review property listings, trade journals, and relevant literature, and attend conventions, seminars, and staff and association meetings, to remain knowledgeable about real estate markets. | Not published |
| AI alone | Accompany buyers during visits to and inspections of property, advising them on the suitability and value of the homes they are visiting. | Not published |
| Not much | Contact property owners and advertise services to solicit property sales listings. | Not published |
| Not much | Contact previous clients for prospecting of referral business. | Not published |
| AI alone | Display commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential properties to clients and explain their features. | Not published |
| Not much | Develop networks of attorneys, mortgage lenders, and contractors to whom clients may be referred. | Not published |
| AI + software | Coordinate property closings, overseeing signing of documents and disbursement of funds. | Not published |
| AI alone | Answer clients' questions regarding construction work, financing, maintenance, repairs, and appraisals. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Inspect condition of premises, and arrange for necessary maintenance or notify owners of maintenance needs. | under 0.01% |
| AI alone | Evaluate mortgage options to help clients obtain financing at the best prevailing rates and terms. | under 0.01% |
| AI + software | Arrange for title searches to determine whether clients have clear property titles. | Not published |
| Not much | Visit properties to assess them before showing them to clients. | Not published |
| AI alone | Review plans for new construction with clients, enumerating and recommending available options and features. | Not published |
| Not much | Rent or lease properties on behalf of clients. | Not published |
| AI + software | Solicit and compile listings of available rental properties. | Not published |
| Not much | Conduct seminars and training sessions for sales agents to improve sales techniques. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Locate and appraise undeveloped areas for building sites, based on evaluations of area market conditions. | Not published |
| Not much | Appraise properties to determine loan values. | Not published |
| AI + software | Investigate clients' financial and credit status to determine eligibility for financing. | Not published |
| AI + software | Arrange meetings between buyers and sellers when details of transactions need to be negotiated. | Not published |
| AI alone | Secure construction or purchase financing with own firm or mortgage company. | Not published |
| AI + software | Contact utility companies for service hookups to clients' property. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 7 of the 33 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 33 tasks fall under 23 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #1 Gather information from physical or electronic sources
- #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- #7 Explain technical details of products or services
- and 1 more, in the table below
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advise others on financial matters | |||
| Evaluate condition of financial assets, property, or other resources | |||
| Gather information from physical or electronic sources | |||
| Promote products, services, or programs | |||
| Identify business or organizational opportunities | |||
| Schedule appointments | |||
| Negotiate contracts or agreements | |||
| Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise |
Show all 23 activities
| Explain technical details of products or services | |||
| Advise others on products or services | |||
| Evaluate the quality or accuracy of data | |||
| Develop marketing or promotional materials | |||
| Prepare documentation for contracts, applications, or permits | |||
| Inspect characteristics or conditions of materials or products | |||
| Develop professional relationships or networks | |||
| Collect data about consumer needs or opinions | |||
| Manage budgets or finances | |||
| Coordinate activities with clients, agencies, or organizations | |||
| Sell products or services | |||
| Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Prepare proposals or grant applications | |||
| Direct legal activities |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- Advice or a recommendation43%
- A document or report12%
- An explanation or answer12%
- An analysis or summary9%
- An email or message8%
How they worked with Claude
26% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for real estate sales agents specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 207,544 moves out
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 5%
- 2 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 5%
- 3 Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products Very high -0.9% 4%
- 4 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
- 5 Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers High +3.7% 4%
Where people moved in from
of 272,302 moves in
- 1 Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products Very high -0.9% 5%
- 2 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 4%
- 3 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 4 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 3%
- 5 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 2% less than high school
- 12% high school
- 24% some college
- 9% associate's
- 39% bachelor's
- 11% master's
- 2% professional degree
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Real estate brokers and sales agents” · 9,623 people surveyed.
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Real estate brokers and sales agents”
2 programs: Real Estate Development and Real Estate.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
BLS publishes no credential figures for this occupation.
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 1 registered apprenticeship in this occupation (Real Estate Sales Agent). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Real Estate Sales Agents” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
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