Business & Banking
Real Estate Agent
Help clients buy and sell property on commission. No degree required; top agents in HCOL markets earn $200k+.
no-degree-requiredquick-startself-employment
Salary progression
What you'll earn over your career
$35k
$65k
$145k
Entry
Mid-career
Senior
10-yr outlook
+3%
+3% (Average)
Open positions
32,000
Estimated nationwide
Entry paths
How to get here
Multiple paths lead to this career. Compare time, cost, online vs in-person delivery, and program links.
Fastest ROI
Certification Online
State Real Estate License
Time
3–6 months
Cost
$500 – $2,000
Top programs
Income is commission-based — variable.
Affiliate disclosure: Some of the program links above may be affiliate partnerships. If you enroll, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only link to programs we have actually reviewed against our methodology. See our methodology for how we evaluate schools.
Attainability breakdown
What are the odds
you actually get there?
Six factors weighted to estimate the realistic probability a motivated person reaches this outcome. Higher = more attainable.
71
Composite
Attainability Score
Data-backed
- Educational difficultyHow hard the required schooling is to complete9020%
- Licensing & examsPass rates and difficulty of required exams6015%
- Entry-job competitionHow many applicants per open entry-level role7520%
- Career stay-rateInverse of early-career attrition / industry exit3015%
- Market demandOpenings vs available workforce7515%
- Alternative pathsHow many viable ways exist to enter the field9015%
Quick math
If you took the fastest path…
You'd train for
3–6 months
You'd spend (avg)
$1,250
Starting salary
$35,000
Mid-career
$65,000
Read more
Articles & resources
Sources: BLS OOH 2024 · NAR