SOC 41-9021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Real Estate Brokers — Durham
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC · 3 metro areas compared
At $124,210 a year, the median wage for Real Estate Brokers in Durham, NC sits 69.6% above the national figure of $73,220.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
How pay has moved
The next ten years
Projected to grow about as fast as average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +3.3%
- Openings per year
- 9,700
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
54.5% of people in this occupation work for themselves.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Durham-Chapel Hill, NC.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
At $124,210 a year, the median wage for Real Estate Brokers in Durham, NC sits 69.6% above the national figure of $73,220. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $87,820 and $186,780. The lowest tenth earn under $66,470, while the highest tenth earn more than $200,900.
Within the state, Charlotte records the highest median at $95,320. Of the 453 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 47th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $66,470 | −9.2% |
| 25th | $87,820 | +19.9% |
| Median (50th) | $124,210 | +69.6% |
| 75th | $186,780 | +155.1% |
| 90th | $200,900 | +174.4% |
| Mean | $134,280 | +83.4% |
Other metro areas in North Carolina
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte | $95,320 | 150 | |
| 2 | Raleigh | $78,840 | — | |
| 3 | Wilmington | $57,850 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Durham run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $124,210 goes as far as $127,264 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 73.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$124,210as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$127,264US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $124,210 a year, 69.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $66,470 to $200,900 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Charlotte, at $95,320.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Real Estate Brokers in Durham, NC?
The median annual wage is $124,210, or $59.72 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $73,220, so pay in Durham, NC is 69.6% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Durham, NC earns more than $200,900 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $66,470 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Charlotte, at $95,320 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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