PHOTO: In New York state, real estate sales agents earn over $100,000 a year on average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Despite overall economic prosperity in recent years, one area that has remained sluggish is homebuying. According to the National Association of Realtors, December existing home sales declined 6.4% from November — the weakest month for existing home sales in at least three years. With fewer homes being sold, the people most directly affected tend to be real estate sales agents, whose incomes are tied to home sales.

As of January 2019, the average annual earnings for real estate sales agents was $41,289, according to salary.com. How much money real estate agents make per year, however, depends on several of factors, such as number of real estate transactions, and commission fees.

Rank State 2017 Mean Annual Wage
1 New York $102,310
2 Texas $72,480
3 Hawaii $72,470
4 Alaska $71,030
5 Rhode Island $70,450
6 California $68,860
7 Pennsylvania $66,550
8 Wyoming $64,500
9 Virginia $64,290
10 Colorado $63,320

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