Real Estate Sales Agent salary in Illinois
Real Estate Sales Agents in Illinois earn a median of $59,220 a year ($28.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,030 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,750 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $52,830. Illinois ranks 16th of 48 states for real estate sales agents pay. There are 0.99 real estate sales agents per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $57,260, close to the median.
Pay range for real estate sales agents in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,830 | $17.23 |
| 25th percentile | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Median | $59,220 | $28.47 |
| 75th percentile | $61,790 | $29.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,750 | $38.34 |
| Average (mean) | $57,260 | $27.53 |
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 | $4,935 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,467.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,277.69 |
| Weekly | $1,138.85 |
| Hourly | $28.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $59,220 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 cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,790 | 5,100 |
| Rockford, IL | $47,890 | n/a |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $46,980 | 80 |
| Peoria, IL | $46,500 | 100 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $45,500 | 740 |
| Bloomington, IL | $45,360 | 50 |
| Springfield, IL | $44,030 | 80 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $38,220 | 130 |
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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| Sales and Related Workers, All Other | $50,960 | $24.50 |
| Sales Engineer | $99,710 | $47.94 |
| Real Estate Broker | $62,540 | $30.07 |
| Telemarketer | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Model | $53,280 | $25.62 |
| Cashier | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,370 | $17.00 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $66,900 | $32.17 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $73,510 | $35.34 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $99,840 | $48.00 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $64,280 | $30.90 |
| Parts Salesperson | $42,240 | $20.31 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for real estate sales agents in Illinois is $59,220 a year, or $28.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,830 for the lowest-paid 10% to $79,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid real estate sales agents make in Illinois?
The top 10% of real estate sales agents in Illinois earn at least $79,750 a year. The top 25% earn $61,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for real estate sales agents in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,830 a year, and a quarter of real estate sales agents earn $38,060 or less.
How many real estate sales agents work in Illinois?
About 6,030 real estate sales agents are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.