Occupation · SOC 41-9022
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. Includes agents who represent buyer.
Median wage
$56,320
$31,940–$125,140
Projected growth
+3.0%
Average growth
Annual openings
1,280
per year
Employed (US)
190,600
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
220 mapped
Core skills
SpeakingActive ListeningNegotiationSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationPersuasionCritical ThinkingService OrientationWritingTime ManagementReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingMathematicsComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningMonitoringManagement of Personnel ResourcesSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisInstructingLearning StrategiesQuality Control AnalysisManagement of Financial ResourcesTroubleshootingOperations MonitoringOperations AnalysisOperation and ControlManagement of Material ResourcesTechnology DesignProgrammingScienceRepairingInstallationEquipment SelectionEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceSales and MarketingEnglish LanguageLaw and GovernmentAdministrativeAdministration and ManagementMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsCommunications and MediaBuilding and ConstructionEconomics and AccountingPsychologyEducation and TrainingPublic Safety and SecurityTransportationTelecommunicationsGeographySociology and AnthropologyPersonnel and Human ResourcesDesignTherapy and CounselingMechanicalEngineering and TechnologyForeign LanguageProduction and ProcessingPhilosophy and TheologyHistory and ArcheologyFine ArtsBiologyPhysicsChemistryMedicine and DentistryFood Production
Technology & tools
Adobe AcrobatAgent Business BuilderArgosy Legal Systems Power CloserCMA StuffersCanvaCommercial and industrial development project cost analysis softwareCorel WordPerfect Office SuiteDataBasix Technologies Lead CommanderDeLorme Topo USADigital contract softwareDocuSign eSignatureDocument creation softwareEasypano TourweaverEmail softwareFaceTimeFacebookFinancial calculators softwareFloodMapsFront DeskFund accounting softwareGarmin City SelectGeneral Magic PorticoGeographic information system GIS softwareGoogle AdsGoogle DocsGoogle DriveGreenbrier Graphics Deed PlotterHUD-1 softwareHome rating softwareIBM Lotus 1-2-3In-Hand Pocket APODInternet based MLS database softwareInternet browser softwareIntuit QuickBooksIseemedia Photovista PanoramaLandlord Software Pro FlipperLinkedInLoan application processing softwareLoomLucero System Office Management
Representative tasks
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersWorking with ComputersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsSelling or Influencing OthersOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkGetting InformationCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgePerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicScheduling Work and ActivitiesThinking CreativelyCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentDocumenting/Recording InformationProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersAnalyzing Data or InformationProcessing InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsCoaching and Developing OthersMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsAssisting and Caring for OthersJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleTraining and Teaching OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsStaffing Organizational UnitsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationHandling and Moving ObjectsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentControlling Machines and Processes
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Representation contracts and purchase agreements — draft under direct supervision using standard templates in a licensed real estate office.Property listings compatible with buyer needs — generate by searching MLS databases with guidance from a supervising agent.Comparable sales data — locate and compile under direction to support a senior agent's competitive market price analysis.Open house schedules and basic property advertisements — prepare following established office protocols and brand guidelines.Escrow companies, lenders, and home inspectors — identify and contact under supervision to confirm initial purchase agreement timelines.Purchase offers from buyers — organize and present to a supervising agent for review before submission to sellers.Customer relationship management software — enter and update client contact records under the direction of an experienced agent.Closing documents and disbursement checklists — review for completeness alongside a supervising agent at a supervised property closing.Active listening techniques — apply during initial client intake interviews to capture buyer preferences and financial constraints.Office suite and document management software — use to format leases, deeds, and correspondence according to office standards.
developing
Purchase agreements, closing statements, and leases — prepare independently and review for accuracy before client signature in routine residential transactions.Competitive market price estimates — develop by comparing recently sold properties with the subject property using standard valuation methodology.Buyer property lists — generate and refine based on ongoing client feedback and evolving financial resources without supervisory input.Property promotions — execute across digital advertisements, open houses, and MLS participation with limited oversight from a broker.Negotiation positions — communicate between buyers and sellers in familiar transaction types, balancing client interests and legal obligations.Escrow and lending coordination — manage timelines and follow-up communications with escrow officers, lenders, and inspectors to keep transactions on schedule.Purchase offers — present to sellers with supporting market data, fielding initial objections and relaying counteroffers in a timely manner.CRM software and database tools — maintain an active pipeline of buyer and seller clients, scheduling follow-ups and tracking transaction stages.Property closing logistics — coordinate document signing sequences and fund disbursement with escrow and title representatives under broker availability.Social perceptiveness — apply during client consultations to detect unstated concerns about property value, neighborhood fit, or financing readiness.
proficient
Complex purchase agreements and representation contracts — draft and negotiate independently across residential and light commercial transaction types, anticipating legal and financial risk.Competitive market analyses — conduct autonomously for diverse property types, integrating sales data, market trends, and economic indicators to determine defensible listing prices.Multi-party negotiations — lead as an intermediary between buyers and sellers in non-routine or contentious transactions, applying persuasion and conflict-resolution strategies.Property marketing campaigns — design and execute using digital advertising, desktop publishing, photo imaging, and MLS tools to maximize market exposure.Closing coordination — oversee all signing, fund disbursement, and post-closing requirements, resolving eleventh-hour title, inspection, or financing issues autonomously.Buyer qualification and property matching — evaluate financial resources, creditworthiness signals, and lifestyle needs to curate targeted property portfolios without oversight.Escrow, lender, inspector, and pest-control stakeholder networks — manage relationships proactively to ensure all purchase agreement conditions are satisfied before closing deadlines.Financial analysis software and map creation tools — use to model client affordability scenarios and visualize neighborhood market data in client presentations.Time management across concurrent listings — prioritize tasks across multiple active transactions simultaneously, maintaining compliance and client service standards throughout.Legal and regulatory knowledge — apply state-specific real estate law, disclosure requirements, and fair-housing standards to protect client interests in all transaction phases.
advanced
Brokerage transaction standards and document management protocols — design and implement office-wide to ensure compliance, consistency, and risk reduction across all agents.Market positioning strategy — develop for high-value or specialized property portfolios by synthesizing macroeconomic trends, local demand data, and competitive intelligence.Agent mentorship programs — lead to develop emerging and developing agents' negotiation, documentation, and client-management competencies across the brokerage.Complex multi-party and commercial negotiations — direct at an organizational level, setting strategy and intervening in high-stakes deal impasses on behalf of the firm.CRM, data-mining, and expert-system platforms — evaluate, select, and integrate into brokerage operations to optimize pipeline management and market analytics.Referral networks and institutional client relationships — cultivate with lenders, developers, and corporate relocation firms to generate sustained high-volume transaction flow.Brokerage marketing identity — direct across channels including advertising, desktop publishing, and media partnerships to establish brand authority in the regional market.Closing process governance — establish escalation procedures and quality-control checkpoints that all agents follow to minimize errors and protect the brokerage from liability.Performance metrics and production targets — set for the sales team and monitor using data analytics, coaching agents toward achievement and service-orientation benchmarks.Regulatory and legislative developments in real estate law — monitor and translate into updated training, compliance frameworks, and ethical standards for the entire brokerage.
Also known as
48 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Agricultural Real Estate AgentApartment Leasing AgentApartment Leasing ConsultantApartment Rental AgentBuilding ConsultantBuyers' AgentClosing AgentClosing CoordinatorContracts SpecialistHome Sales ConsultantIndustrial Real Estate AgentLand AgentLand Sales AgentLeasing AgentLeasing AssociateLeasing ConsultantLeasing ProfessionalLeasing SpecialistLicensed Real Estate AgentLicensed Real Estate Sales AgentReal Estate AgentReal Estate AssociateReal Estate Buyer's AgentReal Estate CloserReal Estate ConsultantReal Estate Listing AgentReal Estate Listing ConsultantReal Estate ProfessionalReal Estate Rental AgentReal Estate Representative (Real Estate Rep)Real Estate Sales AgentReal Estate Sales AssociateReal Estate SalespersonReal Estate SpecialistRealtorRealtor AssociateRental Sales AgentResidence Leasing AgentResidential Property ConsultantRight of Way Agent