Real Estate Sales Agents pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,970 or more. The middle half of real estate sales agents in Chicago earn between $41,840 and $61,790.
- $37K10th
- $42K25th
- $62KMedian
- $62K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,390 | $4,866 | $28.07 |
| Median | $61,790 | $5,149 | $29.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $41,840 | $3,487 | $20.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,790 | $5,149 | $29.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Real Estate Sales Agents pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Real estate sales agents in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($57,260) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($69,510). At the median the gap is +17% against the U.S. median of $52,830.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $58,390 | $61,790 | $37,490 | $73,970 | 5,100 |
| Illinois | $57,260 | $59,220 | $35,830 | $79,750 | 6,030 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $58,390, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $46,347 a year, or $3,862 a month and $1,783 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $47,375 | $3,948 |
| Working in IL | $46,347 | $3,862 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for real estate sales agents? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $58,390 buys what about $56,364 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 6.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Real Estate Sales Agents salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 6 Illinois metro areas for this job; Rockford pays the most ($58,700).
- Rockford$58,700
- Chicago$58,390
- Springfield$54,640
- Peoria$54,340
- Bloomington$51,310
- Champaign$50,440
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Real Estate Sales Agents salary in Chicago: questions
How much do real estate sales agents make an hour in Chicago?
$28.07 an hour on average, and $29.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level real estate sales agents salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $41,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the real estate sales agents take-home pay in Chicago?
About $46,347 a year ($3,862 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,390.
Do real estate sales agents earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.4%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.