Current California Real Estate Income, Sales, and Trends

According to leading job recruiter sites, as of October 2023, California real estate agents make an average yearly salary of $90,804. This works out to about 43.66 an hour, $1,746 a week, and $7,567 a month.

Data suggests salaries as high as $149,377 and as low as $29,045, with the majority of agents in California earning between $67,400 and $103,700. The top 10 percent of agents average about $129,667 annually.

What’s the Income Range for Real Estate Agents in California?

California has the 5th highest salaries for real estate agents in the country.

The 10 areas of California with the highest salaries include:¹

1. San Mateo County. The average salary is over 36% higher than the state as a whole:

• Annual: $124,257
• Monthly: $10,354
• Weekly: $2,389
• Hourly: $59.74

2. Richmond

• Annual: $108,287
• Monthly $9,024
• Weekly $2,082
• Hourly $52.07

3. Danville

• Annual: $107,008
• Monthly: $8,917
• Weekly: $2,057
• Hourly: $54.45

4. Bolinas

• Annual: $105,673
• Monthly: $8,806
• Weekly: $2,032
• Hourly: $50.80

5. San Leandro

• Annual: $101,440
• Monthly: $8,453
• Weekly: $1,950
• Hourly: $48.77

6. Woodland

• Annual: $101,063
• Monthly: $8,421
• Weekly: $1,943
• Hourly: $48.59

7. San Francisco

• Annual: $100,991
• Monthly: $8,415
• Weekly: $1,942
• Hourly: $48.55

8. Santa Clara

• Annual: $100,974
• Monthly: $8,414
• Weekly: $1,941
• Hourly: $48.55

9. Pasadena

• Annual: $100,900
• Monthly: $8,408
• Weekly: $1,940
• Hourly: $48.51

10. Inverness

• Annual: $100,772
• Monthly: $8,397
• Weekly: $1,937
• Hourly: $48.45

If considering a move to an area with more lucrative real estate agent salaries, it is important to consider other factors, such as cost of living, that would impact actual take-home pay. There is about a 20% income difference between the first and 10th place on the list.

Real Estate License Revalidation and Mutual Agreements With California

Here are the details that will help you understand the process of revalidating your real estate license and the mutual agreements California has with other states.

Reciprocity With Other States

California does not have reciprocity agreements with other states,² meaning you will have to take the California exam and meet any other requirements set forth by the CRE to work in California.

The CRE will accept coursework from institutions accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or a similar accrediting agency in the region where the classes took place.

Renewing Your Real Estate License

California real estate licenses are good for 4 years and the CRE will email a reminder to renew about 60 prior to expiration. Agents can renew online through the CRE e-Licensing portal.³

Real estate agent renewals cost $245. Late renewals are possible within 2 years of the expiration date of the license and cost $367.

First Time Renewals

To renew a license for the first time, the CRE requires 45 hours of approved continuing education in the following areas:

• Four 3-hour courses in agency, ethics, risk management, and trust fund handling
• A 3-hour course about fair housing
• A two-hour course in implicit bias training
• At least 18 hours of courses on consumer protection
• The remaining hours in either consumer service or consumer protection

Subsequent Renewals

Second and all subsequent renewals require 45 hours of DRE-approved continuing education courses in these areas:

• A 9-hour survey course that covers agency, ethics, risk management, fair housing, trust fund handling, management and supervision, and implicit bias training. Agents can also opt to take a separate course for each subject
• At least 18 hours of courses on consumer protection
• The remaining hours can be courses in either consumer protection or consumer service

Real estate agent renewals cost $245. The California Realty Commission allows late renewals, but are only possible within 2 years of the expiration date of the license and cost $367.