Real Estate Sales Agent salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Real Estate Sales Agents in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $61,790 a year ($29.71 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,970 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $52,830. Pay here is 4% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $59,220. There are 1.1 real estate sales agents per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $58,390, close to the median.
Pay range for real estate sales agents in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,490 | $18.02 |
| 25th percentile | $41,840 | $20.11 |
| Median | $61,790 | $29.71 |
| 75th percentile | $61,790 | $29.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,970 | $35.56 |
| Average (mean) | $58,390 | $28.07 |
Half of real estate sales agents 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 | $5,149.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,574.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,376.54 |
| Weekly | $1,188.27 |
| Hourly | $29.71 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $61,790 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Real Estate Sales Agent salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $66,040 | n/a |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $49,480 | n/a |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $49,190 | 130 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $48,810 | 260 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $48,540 | 1,430 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $48,340 | 50 |
| Bloomington, IN | $48,300 | 80 |
| Rockford, IL | $47,890 | n/a |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $46,980 | 80 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $46,880 | 1,920 |
| Peoria, IL | $46,500 | 100 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $45,500 | 740 |
| Bloomington, IL | $45,360 | 50 |
| Springfield, IL | $44,030 | 80 |
| Evansville, IN | $41,550 | 80 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $38,220 | 130 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $25,730 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for real estate sales agents
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $123,770 |
| New York | $102,990 |
| New Jersey | $99,990 |
| Alaska | $89,170 |
| Nevada | $79,990 |
| Washington | $79,130 |
| Montana | $79,100 |
| New Mexico | $76,170 |
| North Dakota | $73,920 |
| South Dakota | $65,170 |
See Real Estate Sales Agent pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $36,400 | $17.50 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $53,270 | $25.61 |
| Telemarketer | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Real Estate Broker | $67,320 | $32.36 |
| Sales Engineer | $104,070 | $50.04 |
| Model | $53,700 | $25.82 |
| Cashier | $35,010 | $16.83 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,820 | $17.22 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $70,710 | $34.00 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $75,350 | $36.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $48,900 | $23.51 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $100,760 | $48.44 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $69,240 | $33.29 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $38,180 | $18.35 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 41-9022. 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 sales agent make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for real estate sales agents in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $61,790 a year, or $29.71 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid real estate sales agents make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of real estate sales agents in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $73,970 a year. The top 25% earn $61,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for real estate sales agents in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,490 a year, and a quarter of real estate sales agents earn $41,840 or less.
How many real estate sales agents work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 5,100 real estate sales agents are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.