Real Estate Agent Salary in Detroit, MI: $57,946 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time real estate agent in Detroit, MI earns a median $57,946/year (≈ $27.86/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 41-9022). Once you factor in Detroit's price level (0% above national, BEA RPP 100.3), that paycheck buys what $57,774 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.1% below the Michigan state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the landscape for real estate agent compensation in Detroit, MI, presents a median annual salary of $57,946, which is approximately 8.06% higher than the national median of $53,622. This salary range exhibits significant diversity, with figures stretching from $33,231 at the 10th percentile to $108,006 at the 90th percentile. Such variance is influenced by the structural choice agents make regarding employment—individual agents may earn less than those affiliated with teams or commercial brokerages, where shared resources and leads can increase earning potential. These insights are grounded in projections derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, offering a glimpse into Detroit's evolving job market for real estate professionals.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $33,231 | $15.98 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $41,168 | $19.79 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $57,946 | $27.86 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $80,388 | $38.65 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $108,006 | $51.93 |
Median Salary Position
8.06% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Detroit
In Detroit, MI, the real estate agent salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $74,775 (2026 est.). At $57,946, the local median is 8.06% above the national median of $53,622.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Detroit: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Detroit Real Estate Agent Pay Compares
Detroit median: $57,946/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Detroit Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Average | $58,591 | -1.10% less |
| National Average | $53,622 | +8.06% more |
Real Estate Agents in Detroit, MI earn a median of $57,946 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.06% higher than the national median of $53,622 and 1.10% below the Michigan state average of $58,591.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Detroit has a cost of living 0.30% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Detroit, MI has a cost-of-living index of 100.298 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $57,946 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $57,774 — a 0.3% reduction.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$55,930
2025 BLS Actual
$57,090
2026 Current Est.
$57,946
2019–2027 Growth
+5.2%
Salary Trajectory for Real Estate Agents in Detroit (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.50% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $55,930 | Actual |
| 2020 | $52,580 | Actual |
| 2021 | $50,260 | Actual |
| 2022 | $50,430 | Actual |
| 2023 | $63,910 | Actual |
| 2024 | $59,010 | Actual |
| 2025 | $57,090 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $57,946 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $58,816 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Detroit metropolitan area, the median real estate agent salary grew 2.1% from $55,930 (2019) to $57,090 (2025). At a 1.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $58,816 by 2027 — a total increase of $2,886 (5.16%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Detroit 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $33,231 – $41,168 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $41,168 – $57,946 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $57,946 – $80,388 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $80,388 – $108,006 |
REA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual real estate agent compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Real Estate Agent Job Market in Detroit
Currently, Detroit's local job market supports around 930 real estate agents, a figure that reflects both opportunity and competition within the industry. The cost of living index stands at 100.298, indicating a slightly above-average cost of living, which can impact take-home purchasing power. Notably, agents specializing in luxury properties or working in team frameworks typically achieve higher earnings, while those in discount or fee-based brokerages might face slimmer margins due to lower commission splits. The disparity in pay is often driven by factors such as transaction volume, average sale price, and shifts in commission structures following the 2024 NAR settlement, which has focused more on decoupling buyer agent commissions. Agents aiming to maximize their earnings in this market should consider joining a successful team, focusing on high-end listings, or building a robust referral network to capitalize on the evolving dynamics of real estate agent pay in Detroit.
More salary data for Detroit, MI:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do real estate agents make in Detroit, MI in 2026?
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a real estate agent?
Can real estate agents make $100K in Detroit?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted real estate agent salary in Detroit?
How much does a real estate agent make per hour in Detroit?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Michigan
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $57,090 for real estate agentsin the Detroit metropolitan area. A 1.50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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