Real Estate Agent Hourly Pay in Lincoln, NE: $28.30 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a real estate agent working in Lincoln, NE runs $28.30 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $58,860 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 41-9022). Weighted against Lincoln's regional price level (BEA RPP 91.6, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $30.90 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $35,316 per year.
Official BLS data · View source

In Lincoln, NE, the real estate agent hourly pay stands at a median of $28.30, significantly higher than the national hourly median of $25.78. This competitive pay rate offers enticing opportunities for both full-time and part-time agents, with part-time workers typically dedicating three days a week, or about 24 hours, to their profession. The hourly compensation reflects the dynamic and varied settings associated with real estate, including brokerage offices, client property showings, and listing presentations. New agents can expect to earn closer to the lower end of the hourly range at $22.97, while established professionals are positioned to command rates as high as $43.38 per hour. The BLS data also indicates that the overall earning potential in Lincoln aligns favorably compared to national trends, suggesting a thriving real estate market that supports agent success.
Real Estate Agent Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $22.97 | $183.76 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.97 | $183.76 |
| Median (P50) | $28.30 | $226.39 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $39.39 | $315.14 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $43.38 | $347.05 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Lincoln
Based on $28.30/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $28.30/hr, a real estate agent working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Lincoln, NE can expect to earn approximately $58,860 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $33,958. With a cost-of-living index of 91.58 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Lincoln.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Lincoln
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,131.93 | $4,905 | $58,860 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $679.16 | $2,943 | $35,316 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $452.77 | $1,962 | $23,544 |
Compare REA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Real Estate Agent (Lincoln) | $28.30 |
| Real Estate Broker (National Avg) | $42.96 |
| Insurance Sales Agent (National Avg) | $29.02 |
| Property / Real Estate Manager (National Avg) | $33.79 |
| Appraiser / Assessor of Real Estate (National Avg) | $37.18 |
Real Estate Agents in Lincoln, NE earn a median of $58,860 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.77% higher than the national median of $53,622 and 20.00% above the Nebraska state average of $49,050.
Real Estate Agent Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $28.30/hr = $35,316/year (purchasing power: $38,563).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $58,860/year (purchasing power: $64,271).
CoL index: 91.581 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$18.12/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$27.88/hr
2026 Current Est.
$28.30/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+58.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Real Estate Agents in Lincoln (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.50% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $18.12/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $17.69/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.36/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $18.00/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $18.91/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $25.18/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $27.88/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $28.30/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $28.72/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for real estate agents in Lincoln grew 53.9% from $18.12/hr (2019) to $27.88/hr (2025). At a 1.50% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $28.72/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem real estate agents can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lincoln metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 1.50% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Real Estate Agent in Lincoln
With the 2026 projections, part-time agents working 24 hours a week could expect an annual income of approximately $35,000 versus the earning potential of full-time agents. Given that real estate in Lincoln often operates on a commission basis, many agents find themselves in positions where they may need to supplement their income through team collaborations or taking on per diem opportunities, though these are not common. For newer agents, especially those in their first couple of years, the reality can mean earnings hovering below the minimum wage when factoring in unpaid hours spent on lead generation and prospecting. Hourly rates can also fluctuate depending on the type of brokerage—national franchises may offer a base safety net, but smaller independent firms often provide higher commission splits for motivated agents. This structure makes understanding negotiation strategies vital, particularly as agents seek to balance health benefits against the potential for higher hourly earnings with less stability. The market's flux following the recent NAR commission changes adds another layer of complexity, steering how real estate professionals in Lincoln, NE, evaluate their hourly rates and overall compensation.
More salary data for Lincoln, NE:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Maria Gonzalez, REALTOR®
Career Analyst
Maria has 10 years of experience as a real estate agent. She specializes in residential properties. She works with a large brokerage in Texas.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 1.50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for real estate agents in Lincoln. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.50%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for real estate agents (SOC 41-9022).
Compiled and verified by Maria Gonzalez, REALTOR®, a licensed real estate agent with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov