A real estate agent's gross commission on one side of a home sale is typically about 2.7% to 2.9% of the sale price.
On a $500,000 home sale, that works out to approximately:
- Listing agent's side: $13,800 gross
- Buyer's agent's side: $13,500 gross
- Total commission for both sides: $27,300
- Agent's share after a 70/30 brokerage split: $9,450 to $9,660 before taxes and business expenses
Commission rates are negotiable. The agent does not automatically keep the full amount shown in the transaction.
Real Estate Agent Earnings per Sale at a Glance
These examples use Clever Real Estate's August 2026 survey averages of 2.76% for the listing side and 2.70% for the buyer's side. The 70/30 figures are examples, since brokerage agreements vary.
| Home Sale Price | Total Commission at 5.46% | Listing-Side Gross | Buyer-Side Gross | After 70/30 Split, Listing / Buyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $16,380 | $8,280 | $8,100 | $5,796 / $5,670 |
| $500,000 | $27,300 | $13,800 | $13,500 | $9,660 / $9,450 |
| $750,000 | $40,950 | $20,700 | $20,250 | $14,490 / $14,175 |
| $1,000,000 | $54,600 | $27,600 | $27,000 | $19,320 / $18,900 |
The last column shows what the individual agent could receive after the brokerage keeps 30%. It excludes referral fees, team splits, transaction fees, marketing costs, insurance, taxes and other expenses.
How the Commission Is Divided
In a traditional two-agent sale, the negotiated compensation is divided between the listing side and the buyer's side.
The listing agent represents the seller. The buyer's agent represents the buyer. Each side receives a portion of the total compensation, and the agent's brokerage usually receives the commission before paying the agent under their contract.
Recent 2026 commission surveys produced different averages. Clever reported a 5.46% combined average in August 2026, made up of about 2.76% for the listing side and 2.70% for the buyer's side. Its February 2026 survey reported a 5.70% combined average, with about 2.88% for the listing side and 2.82% for the buyer's side. These are survey averages, not required rates.
Common brokerage arrangements include:
- 50/50 split: The agent receives half of the commission and the brokerage keeps half.
- 70/30 split: The agent receives 70% and the brokerage keeps 30%.
- 80/20 or higher splits: More common for experienced or high-producing agents.
- Capped or flat-fee models: The agent pays a set amount or reaches an annual cap before keeping more of each commission.
The split can depend on the brokerage, the agent's experience, the source of the lead and whether the agent works independently or on a team.
What Does a $500,000 Sale Pay an Individual Agent?
At a 2.70% buyer-agent rate, a $500,000 sale produces $13,500 for the buyer-agent side. After a 70/30 brokerage split, the agent receives $9,450 before expenses and taxes.
A listing agent on the same sale would receive:
- $13,800 at a 2.76% listing-side rate.
- $9,660 after a 70/30 split.
- Less business expenses, referral fees and taxes.
The amount the agent takes home is lower than the gross commission because the money can be reduced by several other costs.
Does a Real Estate Agent Keep the Whole Commission?
No. The gross commission may move through several stages:
Home sale commission -> listing and buyer sides -> brokerage split -> team or referral fees -> business expenses -> taxes
Possible deductions include:
- Brokerage fees
- Team-leader splits
- Lead-generation or referral fees
- Transaction coordination fees
- Marketing and advertising
- Professional photography
- Vehicle and travel costs
- Insurance and licensing costs
- Income and self-employment taxes
The Internal Revenue Service generally treats licensed real estate agents who meet specific statutory conditions as self-employed for federal tax purposes.
Who Pays the Real Estate Agent?
The contracts and purchase negotiations determine who pays each agent.
Since the National Association of REALTORS® practice changes took effect on August 17, 2024, buyer-agent compensation cannot be advertised through NAR-affiliated MLSs in the former way. Buyers working with an MLS participant generally must sign a written buyer agreement before touring homes. That agreement must explain how the agent will be compensated.
A seller may agree to pay some or all of the buyer-agent's compensation as part of the offer negotiations. If the seller's contribution does not cover the amount in the buyer representation agreement, the buyer may be responsible for the difference.
Can One Agent Earn Both Sides of a Sale?
Sometimes. An agent or brokerage may represent both the seller and the buyer if state law permits it and the arrangement is properly disclosed.
Dual agency and similar arrangements carry disclosure requirements and potential conflicts of interest. One agent does not automatically receive two full commissions simply because they work with both parties.
Does a Higher Home Price Always Mean a Higher Percentage?
No. Commission rates are negotiated, and a higher-priced home may sell at a lower percentage because a smaller rate can still produce a large dollar commission. Redfin's transaction data has shown lower buyer-agent percentages on homes priced at $1 million or more than on homes below $500,000.
For example:
- 3% of a $300,000 home equals $9,000.
- 2% of a $1,000,000 home equals $20,000.
The sale price, negotiated rate, brokerage split and number of parties involved all affect the agent's compensation.
Bottom Line
For a typical U.S. residential sale, one side of a $300,000 to $500,000 transaction may produce roughly $8,000 to $15,000 in gross commission. After a common brokerage split, the agent may receive about $5,500 to $10,000 before taxes and expenses.
The figure that matters to the agent is the amount left after the commission split, referral or team fees, operating costs and taxes.