Real Estate Sales Agents salary in Chicago, IL

Median pay for real estate sales agents in Chicago, IL: $52,300/yr

Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $33,830 – $93,690 · about 3,980 employed locally

Above the typical metro median ($50,020) by +$2,280 (+5%).

What it's really worth in Chicago

With Chicago's cost of living at 102 (US=100), that $52,300 has the buying power of about $51,031 in an average-cost US metro.

Local context: median household income $85,087 · median home $353,998 · median rent $2,266/mo.

Full Chicago cost of living & taxes →

How Chicago ranks for this job

On raw pay, Chicago, IL is 71st of the 167 metros we hold real estate sales agents wages for. Once Chicago's cost of living is applied, it ranks 94th.

The headline number flatters Chicago. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, real estate sales agents here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.

What that salary buys in Chicago

A median home in Chicago, IL costs $353,998 — about 6.8× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is harder here than in the average metro on this income.

Median rent of $2,266/mo works out at 52% of gross pay — above the conventional 30% affordability ceiling, so renting would stretch this salary.

Where real estate sales agents earn more

Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Chicago.

Metro	Median pay	vs Chicago	Rent vs Chicago
New York, NY	$103,960	+99%	1.5×
Buffalo, NY	$83,670	+60%	0.6×
Rochester, NY	$83,200	+59%	0.7×
Seattle, WA	$80,950	+55%	1×

Same job elsewhere in IL

Metro	Median pay	vs Chicago	Rent vs Chicago
Peoria, IL	$37,380	−29%	0.5×

Staying in IL keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.

Who hires real estate sales agents around Chicago

Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.

• McDonald's · Retail

Other jobs in Chicago