Real Estate Sales Agent salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Real Estate Sales Agents in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $60,230 a year ($28.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 280 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $159,370 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $52,830. Pay here is 18% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $51,240. There are 0.81 real estate sales agents per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $80,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for real estate sales agents in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,340 | $17.95 |
| 25th percentile | $46,160 | $22.19 |
| Median | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| 75th percentile | $120,370 | $57.87 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $159,370 | $76.62 |
| Average (mean) | $80,430 | $38.67 |
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 | $5,019.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,509.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,316.54 |
| Weekly | $1,158.27 |
| Hourly | $28.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,230 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NC | $76,500 | 110 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $63,930 | 3,190 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $62,940 | 1,140 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $49,970 | 2,150 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $47,450 | 250 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $47,260 | 200 |
| Asheville, NC | $45,640 | n/a |
| Wilmington, NC | $42,260 | 580 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $41,530 | 50 |
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 North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Engineer | $175,310 | $84.29 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $37,290 | $17.93 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Real Estate Broker | $124,210 | $59.72 |
| Retail Salesperson | $31,790 | $15.28 |
| Cashier | $29,920 | $14.39 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $72,460 | $34.84 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $131,120 | $63.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $48,720 | $23.42 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $70,870 | $34.07 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $62,070 | $29.84 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $38,480 | $18.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $102,300 | $49.19 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $59,120 | $28.42 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for real estate sales agents in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $60,230 a year, or $28.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,340 for the lowest-paid 10% to $159,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid real estate sales agents make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of real estate sales agents in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $159,370 a year. The top 25% earn $120,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for real estate sales agents in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,340 a year, and a quarter of real estate sales agents earn $46,160 or less.
How many real estate sales agents work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 280 real estate sales agents are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.