Real Estate Broker salary in California
Real Estate Brokers in California earn a median of $80,450 a year ($38.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,430 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $145,660 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $73,220. California ranks 8th of 36 states for real estate brokers pay. There are 0.46 real estate brokers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $89,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for real estate brokers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,120 | $17.85 |
| 25th percentile | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Median | $80,450 | $38.68 |
| 75th percentile | $108,690 | $52.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $145,660 | $70.03 |
| Average (mean) | $89,020 | $42.80 |
Half of real estate brokers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,704.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,352.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,094.23 |
| Weekly | $1,547.12 |
| Hourly | $38.68 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $80,450 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Real Estate Broker salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $91,770 | n/a |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $89,150 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $80,450 | n/a |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $75,330 | n/a |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $58,760 | 760 |
Highest-paying states for real estate brokers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $111,390 |
| Connecticut | $105,800 |
| Utah | $92,830 |
| Washington | $82,790 |
| Alabama | $82,630 |
| Michigan | $82,510 |
| Maryland | $81,550 |
| California | $80,450 |
| New Mexico | $80,340 |
| Colorado | $79,970 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $52,810 | $25.39 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $46,220 | $22.22 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $57,560 | $27.68 |
| Sales Engineer | $139,160 | $66.90 |
| Telemarketer | $46,000 | $22.12 |
| Model | $57,400 | $27.60 |
| Door-to-Door Sales Workers, News and Street Vendors, and Related Workers | $39,520 | $19.00 |
| Retail Salesperson | $38,440 | $18.48 |
| Cashier | $37,100 | $17.84 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $80,850 | $38.87 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $76,490 | $36.78 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $54,870 | $26.38 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $45,010 | $21.64 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $79,730 | $38.33 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 41-9021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a real estate broker make in California?
The median salary for real estate brokers in California is $80,450 a year, or $38.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,120 for the lowest-paid 10% to $145,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid real estate brokers make in California?
The top 10% of real estate brokers in California earn at least $145,660 a year. The top 25% earn $108,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for real estate brokers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,120 a year, and a quarter of real estate brokers earn $41,600 or less.
How many real estate brokers work in California?
About 8,430 real estate brokers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.