Doorlark
On a median-priced home, an agent's check after the brokerage split is usually a few thousand dollars, not the full commission. Here's the math with real 2026 numbers, so you can run it on your own deals.
The per-house math
NAR put the median existing-home price at $417,500 in September 2026. Commissions are negotiable, so the rate and split below are examples, not a standard. Use your own.
| Sale price (NAR median, Sept 2026) | $417,500 |
| Your side at an example 2.5% | $10,437.50 |
| Brokerage takes an example 30% | −$3,131.25 |
| Your gross on this deal | $7,306.25 |
That's before self-employment tax, income tax and what you spent to get the client. Pay a 25% referral fee off the top first and your gross on the same deal drops to $5,479.69.
What agents actually earn in a year
- $58,100: median gross income of Realtors in 2024 (NAR 2025 Member Profile).
- 10: transaction sides the typical member closed in 2024. Same survey.
- $8,010: median business expenses. Vehicle costs were the biggest line at $1,650.
- $8,100 for agents with two years or less. $78,900 for those with 16 years or more.
- $52,830: BLS median wage for sales agents, May 2025. BLS leaves out self-employed agents, which is most of them, so treat it as a rough check.
Ten sides and $58,100 works out to about $5,810 a side. That's below the example above. Plenty of deals close under the median price, at a lower rate or with a bigger split.
Run your own number
- Pull your last 3 closings and write down price, your side's rate and your split.
- Subtract referral fees, transaction fees and your cap if you have one.
- Divide the total by 3. That's your real average per house. Plan the year off that, not the gross commission.
The commission split calculator does steps 1 and 2 for one deal. The income goal calculator turns that average into how many closings you need.
Sources
- NAR, Existing-Home Sales, September 2026
- NAR, 2025 Member Profile highlights
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents
FAQ
How much does a realtor make on a $400,000 house?
At an example 2.5% side and a 70/30 split, $400,000 pays the agent $7,000 before taxes and expenses. Your rate and split will differ, since commissions are negotiable.
Do agents keep the whole commission?
No. The commission goes to the brokerage, which pays the agent their split. Referral fees, transaction fees and team splits can come out too.