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Real Estate Agent.

Birmingham.

$48,000

median salary, 20% below the national average

$32,000 to $74,000. Last updated August 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

Orbyt estimates Real Estate Agent pay in Birmingham at $48,000, within a range of $32,000 to $74,000. That is 20% below the national average. Birmingham is Alabama's largest metro, anchored by a major medical center, banking, and a growing innovation district. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.

Salary range.

25th Percentile

$32,000

per year

Median

$48,000

per year

75th Percentile

$74,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$32,000$74,000

Orbyt estimate for Real Estate Agent in Birmingham, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.

Government benchmark for this occupation

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $56,920 for Real Estate Sales Agents (SOC 41-9022) in the Birmingham, AL metropolitan area, based on 500 employed workers (May 2025 release).

10th percentile

$33,710

25th percentile

$38,870

Median

$56,920

75th percentile

$78,110

90th percentile

$108,420

Workers surveyed

500

BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Real Estate Sales Agents (SOC 41-9022) rather than Real Estate Agent specifically. The Birmingham range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.

View the BLS source for SOC 41-9022

Salary by experience.

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $43,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$31,000

to $38,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$41,000

to $50,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$53,000

to $62,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$60,000

to $74,000

Total compensation.

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $12,000 to the total package.

Base

$48,000

Equity

$7,000

Bonus

$4,000

Signing

$1,000

Estimated total: $60,000

How Birmingham compares.

Birmingham, AL

$48,000

Cost of living: 16% below average

National Average

$60,000

Birmingham is $12,000 below

Real Estate Agent salary by city.

Real Estate Agent salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Francisco, CA$83,000$56,000 to $128,0001.35x$61,000
San Jose, CA$81,000$54,000 to $124,0001.38x$59,000
New York, NY$76,000$51,000 to $117,0001.28x$59,000
Honolulu, HI$76,000$51,000 to $117,0001.30x$58,000
Seattle, WA$74,000$49,000 to $113,0001.24x$60,000
Washington DC, DC$72,000$48,000 to $110,0001.25x$58,000
Boston, MA$70,000$47,000 to $108,0001.22x$57,000
Anchorage, AK$70,000$47,000 to $107,0001.13x$62,000
Los Angeles, CA$69,000$46,000 to $106,0001.18x$58,000
Birmingham, AL$48,000$32,000 to $74,0000.84x$57,000

See all 81 cities for Real Estate Agent →

Salary by role in Birmingham.

Salary comparison by role in Birmingham
RoleMedianRange
CTO$249,000$195,000 to $324,000
General Counsel$245,000$190,000 to $318,000
CEO$236,000$171,000 to $326,000
Clinical Research Coordinator$49,000$39,000 to $61,000
Carpenter$49,000$40,000 to $63,000
HVAC Technician$49,000$40,000 to $62,000
Real Estate Agent$48,000$32,000 to $74,000
Insurance Agent$45,000$34,000 to $61,000

What you should know.

Before you negotiate a Real Estate Agent offer in Birmingham, understand the terrain. Birmingham is Alabama's largest metro, anchored by a major medical center, banking, and a growing innovation district. UAB is one of the state's largest employers and a driver of biomedical research jobs. The extremely low cost of living makes Birmingham a strong value for professionals in healthcare and finance. Market location and personal transaction volume create enormous salary variance. Agents in high-value markets like San Francisco, New York, or Miami earn substantially more per deal. Top-producing agents closing 20 or more transactions annually can earn multiples of the median, while part-time agents may earn below minimum wage.

New agents typically earn $25,000 to $45,000 in their first year. Established agents with a referral network earn $60,000 to $100,000. Top producers consistently earn $120,000 to $250,000. Team leaders and broker-owners can exceed $300,000, though with significant business overhead. In Birmingham, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 16% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.

Base salary is not the full picture. Most agents are independent contractors earning 100% commission with no base salary. The listed figures reflect typical gross commission income. Agents pay their own health insurance, self-employment taxes, MLS fees, marketing costs, and brokerage splits of 20 to 50%. And on the tax side: alabama's top state income tax rate is 5%. Birmingham has no city income tax. The low rate combined with very affordable housing creates excellent take home pay ratios. When someone quotes you $48,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Leverage UAB and the medical corridor when negotiating. Healthcare and biotech roles command nationally competitive salaries even in this low cost market. The range for Real Estate Agents in Birmingham runs from $32,000 to $74,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology

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$

25th

$32,000

Median

$48,000

75th

$74,000

Considering a related role?

Common questions.

After brokerage splits, MLS dues, marketing, insurance, and self-employment taxes, agents typically take home 40 to 55% of gross commission income. An agent earning $80,000 in gross commissions may net $35,000 to $44,000 after all business expenses and taxes.

Typical listing-side commission is 2.5 to 3% of sale price, split between agent and brokerage. On a $400,000 home at 3% total commission, the listing agent's share might be $6,000 to $8,000 after brokerage split. Volume is key to earning a living wage.

The national median for a Real Estate Agent is $57,143. In Birmingham, cost of living adjustments push the median to $48,000. That discount reflects Birmingham's lower housing, transportation, and everyday costs.

Birmingham is Alabama's largest metro, anchored by a major medical center, banking, and a growing innovation district. UAB is one of the state's largest employers and a driver of biomedical research jobs. For Real Estate Agents specifically, market location and personal transaction volume create enormous salary variance, which signals sustained demand. The current compensation range of $32,000 to $74,000 reflects a market that is competing for talent.

Alabama's top state income tax rate is 5%. Birmingham has no city income tax. The low rate combined with very affordable housing creates excellent take home pay ratios. When comparing offers across states, your take home pay matters more than the number on the offer letter. A lower salary in a no income tax state can net more than a higher one elsewhere.

Real Estate Agent hiring in Birmingham typically involves three to five rounds: a recruiter screen, a technical or skills assessment, one or two team interviews, and a final conversation with leadership. Companies in Birmingham's Healthcare sector may add domain specific evaluations. The process usually takes two to four weeks. Prepare by researching the company and practicing with Orbyt's Interview Prep tool.

Real Estate Agent salary in other cities.

Other salaries in Birmingham.

Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Real Estate Agents in Birmingham.

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Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"Real Estate Agent Salary in Birmingham, AL." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/real-estate-agent/birmingham

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