Real Estate Sales Agent Salary in Chicago, IL
Real Estate Sales Agents in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $61,790 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,914 take-home, or $4,076 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median real estate sales agent salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,235
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,831
- Medicare (1.45%)$896
- Illinois income tax$2,914
- Take-home pay$48,914
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Real Estate Sales Agent pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,490 | $18.02 | $30,592 | $2,549 |
| 25th percentile | $41,840 | $20.12 | $33,872 | $2,823 |
| Median (50th) | $61,790 | $29.71 | $48,914 | $4,076 |
| 75th percentile | $61,790 | $29.71 | $48,914 | $4,076 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,970 | $35.56 | $57,351 | $4,779 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,790 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median real estate sales agent's $48,914 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,217 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Real Estate Sales Agent jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for real estate sales agents, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 15 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $103,550 | $76,608 | $68,058 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $79,990 | $65,103 | $58,581 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $78,160 | $60,140 | $55,234 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $63,930 | $51,506 | $52,909 |
| 5 | Orlando, FL | $62,630 | $52,503 | $51,769 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $60,890 | $49,792 | $48,194 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $61,790 | $48,914 | $47,217 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,710 | $44,460 | $43,353 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 15 metros →
About the job: real estate sales agents
Rent, buy, or sell property for clients. Perform duties such as study property listings, interview prospective clients, accompany clients to property site, discuss conditions of sale, and draw up real estate contracts.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.7% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a real estate sales agent make in Chicago, IL?
The median real estate sales agent salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $61,790 a year, or about $29.71 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $41,840 and $61,790.
What is a real estate sales agent’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $61,790 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $48,914 a year ($4,076 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,914 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a real estate sales agent?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $52,830. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,217 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a real estate sales agent afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median real estate sales agent’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $112,150
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $100,760
- First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $91,070
- Advertising Sales Agent — $75,590
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $75,350
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $70,710
- Insurance Sales Agent — $69,240
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $48,900
- Parts Salesperson — $44,260
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $38,180
- Demonstrator and Product Promoter — $36,400
- Retail Salesperson — $35,820