Real Estate Agent Salary: Award Minimums, Median Earnings, and Super

Real Estate Agent Salary: Award Minimums, Median Earnings, and Super

When researching a real estate agent salary in Australia, it is important to distinguish between the legal minimum pay floor, the typical earnings reported in surveys, and what you might negotiate individually. This guide uses the most current public data from the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to give you a clear picture.

The Legal Minimum: The Real Estate Industry Award

Most real estate employees are covered by the Real Estate Industry Award (MA000106). The Fair Work Commission sets the national minimum wage, but the award almost always sets a higher minimum for real estate workers. The award rates from 1 July 2026 are published by the Fair Work Ombudsman in the pay guide.

For a full-time adult employee, the minimum hourly rates are:

• Level 1 (associate) – first 12 months: $26.59 per hour ($1,010.60 per week)
• Level 1 (associate) – after 12 months: $28.00 per hour ($1,063.90 per week)
• Level 2 (representative): $29.45 per hour ($1,119.10 per week)
• Level 3 (supervisory): $32.39 per hour ($1,231.00 per week)
• Level 4 (in-charge): $33.88 per hour ($1,287.30 per week)

Casual employees receive a 25% loading, so a Level 2 casual earns $36.81 per hour. Juniors (under 21) are paid a percentage of the adult rate, and apprentices may have different rates under the Miscellaneous Award if award-free.

These are the minimums. An enterprise agreement or individual contract can set a higher rate, but never lower. The award also provides penalty rates for overtime, work on days off, and public holidays.

Survey Average: What Real Estate Agents Actually Earn

The ABS collects earnings data by occupation. For Real Estate Sales Agents (occupation code 6121), the most recent data from May 2025 shows:

• Median full-time weekly earnings: $1,504
• Median hourly earnings: $40
• Average full-time hours worked: 44 hours per week
• Share working full-time: 79%

These figures are for full-time non-managerial adult employees before tax. They include commissions and bonuses, which are common in real estate. The median is higher than the award minimum because many agents earn above the base rate through performance pay. However, the ABS notes that these are a guide and do not account for experience or location.

Negotiated Salary and Commissions

A real estate agent salary is often a mix of a base wage plus commissions or bonuses. The award requires that any commission arrangement still meets the minimum hourly or weekly rate. For example, if you are a Level 2 representative earning a base of $29.45 per hour plus commission, your total earnings must at least equal the award rate for all hours worked. Many agents negotiate a higher base or a better commission split. Enterprise agreements in larger agencies may set different structures.

Superannuation Is On Top

All salary figures mentioned – award rates and ABS medians – are before super. The super guarantee requires employers to pay an additional 12% of ordinary time earnings into your super fund from 1 July 2026. So if your weekly salary is $1,119.10, your employer must also contribute $134.29 to super. This is not deducted from your pay; it is an extra cost to the employer.

How to Check Your Pay

If you are employed in real estate, check your classification against the award. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool can help. Remember that the national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week) is a backstop, but the award rates above apply to most real estate workers. For award-free employees (rare in this industry), the national minimum applies, but junior rates may be lower.

For more detail on which minimum applies to you, see Which minimum wage applies. For a full list of award rates, see Rate tables.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the legal minimum wage for a real estate agent? The legal minimum wage for a real estate agent depends on their classification under the Real Estate Industry Award. For a full-time adult employee at Level 1 (associate, first 12 months) the minimum is $26.59 per hour or $1,010.60 per week. At Level 2 (representative) it is $29.45 per hour or $1,119.10 per week. These rates apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top. Juniors and apprentices are paid a percentage of the adult rate.

How does the median real estate agent salary compare to the award rate? According to the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (May 2025), the median full-time weekly earnings for real estate sales agents is $1,504, and the median hourly earnings is $40. This is significantly higher than the award minimum for a Level 2 representative ($1,119.10 per week). The difference reflects experience, performance bonuses, commissions, and enterprise agreements that can lift pay above the award floor.

Is superannuation included in the salary figures? No. Superannuation is an employer payment on top of the salary or wage. The award rates and the ABS median earnings are before tax and before super. From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings. So if you earn $1,119.10 per week under the award, your employer must also pay an additional $134.29 into your super fund.

For the published floors, see the rate tables and how the figures work.