Real estate agent salary: award rates, median earnings, and your take-home pay

Real estate agent salary: what you can expect to earn

If you're working in real estate or considering a move into the industry, understanding the real estate agent salary landscape helps you negotiate and plan your finances. Pay can vary widely depending on your role, experience, and whether you're on a base salary, commission, or a mix.

Award minimums

Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guide for the Real Estate Industry Award sets minimum rates for employees classified by level. From 1 July 2026, the hourly rates for full-time and part-time adults are:

• Level 1 (associate, first 12 months): $26.59 per hour
• Level 1 (associate, after 12 months): $28.00 per hour
• Level 2 (representative): $29.45 per hour
• Level 3 (supervisory): $32.39 per hour
• Level 4 (in-charge): $33.88 per hour

Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of these rates. Junior rates apply for employees under 20 years and under.

Median earnings

According to Jobs and Skills Australia, the median full-time weekly earnings for real estate sales agents is $1,504 (before tax). That works out to about $78,200 a year for a full-time worker. The median hourly rate is $40, reflecting that many agents work more than the standard 38-hour week – the average full-time hours are 44 per week.

These figures are a guide only. Your actual pay may be higher or lower depending on your role, location, commission structure, and experience.

How tax and Medicare affect your take-home pay

Your take-home pay is what reaches your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy. The Australian Taxation Office shows the tax rates for 2026–27, and the Medicare levy applies to most full-time employees.

Tax brackets and offsets

For a resident earning $78,200 a year, the tax calculation works like this:

• First $18,200: nil
• Next $26,800 (up to $45,000): taxed at 15 cents per dollar
• Remaining $33,200 (up to $78,200): taxed at 30 cents per dollar
• Plus the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO) reduces tax by up to $700 for lower incomes, phasing out above $37,500.

Medicare levy

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income. The latest published single-person Medicare thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. If you earn above $35,013, you pay the full 2%. For a $78,200 salary, that's about $1,564.

Fortnightly take-home example

Let's look at a typical fortnight for a real estate agent earning the median $1,504 per week (so $3,008 per fortnight).

• Gross fortnightly: $3,008
• Estimated tax (including LITO): ~$500
• Medicare levy (2%): ~$60
• Net take-home: ~$2,448 per fortnight

This is an estimate and doesn't include HELP/HECS, the Medicare levy surcharge, salary sacrifice, or payroll tax-table rounding. Use our Take-home pay guide for a more personalised calculation.

Superannuation

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of your ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. Most job ads advertise salaries as "plus super", meaning the super is paid on top and does not reduce your take-home pay. If your contract says "inclusive of super”, the super comes out of your total package. Check your contract carefully. Learn more about Super.