Real estate salary: where it sits on the Australian salary index

What is a real estate salary in Australia?

A real estate salary is the pay earned by employees in the property sector – sales agents, property managers, business brokers, and agency principals. In Australia, most real estate employees are covered by the Real Estate Industry Award (MA000106), which sets minimum wages for classifications from associate level to in-charge. But actual earnings often exceed award rates, especially for experienced agents who earn commissions.

This article explains where real estate salary sits on the Australian salary index – a measure that compares yearly gross pay to the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings line of $108,352 (index 100). We draw on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide, Jobs and Skills Australia’s occupation profile, and the Fair Work Commission’s modern awards database.

Award minimum rates for real estate employees

The Real Estate Industry Award, updated from 1 July 2026, sets these minimum weekly and hourly rates for full-time adult employees:

• Level 1 (associate) – first 12 months: $1,010.60/week, $26.59/hour. Index: 48.5.
• Level 1 (associate) – after 12 months: $1,063.90/week, $28.00/hour. Index: 51.1.
• Level 2 (representative): $1,119.10/week, $29.45/hour. Index: 53.7.
• Level 3 (supervisory): $1,231.00/week, $32.39/hour. Index: 59.1.
• Level 4 (in-charge): $1,287.30/week, $33.88/hour. Index: 61.8.

Casual employees get a 25% loading. For example, a casual Level 2 representative earns $36.81/hour, index 68.9 on a full-time equivalent basis. Junior rates apply for employees under 21, calculated as a percentage of the adult rate. A 19-year-old Level 2 earns $20.62/hour.

These award rates are the legal floor. Many real estate workers earn more, particularly through commissions or performance bonuses. The award also provides allowances for vehicle use, mobile phones, and stand-by.

Median real estate salary: what the data shows

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that real estate sales agents (ANZSCO 6121) have a median full-time weekly earnings of $1,504, or $40 per hour. This is based on the ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025. On the salary index, $1,504/week annualises to $78,208, giving an index of 72.2. That’s well below the national line of 100, but above the national minimum wage index of 48.2.

For context, the all-occupations median full-time earnings are $1,852/week (index 88.9). Real estate agents earn about 19% less than the typical Australian full-time worker. However, the occupation has a high share of full-time workers (79%) and average hours of 44 per week – similar to the national average.

State variations matter. The salary index for Western Australia is 106.9, for NSW 101.2, and for Tasmania 88.6. A real estate agent in Perth or Sydney may command higher pay than one in Hobart, reflecting local market conditions and cost of living. The industry index for rental, hiring and real estate services is not separately published, but the national median suggests it sits below the all-industries average.

How superannuation and tax affect take-home pay

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings. For a real estate employee on the median $1,504/week, that’s an extra $180.48/week in super, paid by the employer. The maximum contribution base is $270,830, so most real estate salaries fall well below that cap.

Take-home pay depends on tax. For the 2026–27 financial year, a resident earning $78,208 (median real estate salary) would pay:

• Nil on first $18,200
• 15% on $18,201–$45,000 = $4,020
• 30% on $45,001–$78,208 = $9,962.40
• Plus 2% Medicare levy = $1,564.16
• Total tax and Medicare: about $15,547
• Take-home: about $62,661 per year, or $1,205 per week.

Award-level employees earning $1,119/week ($58,188 annual) would have lower tax and take home around $47,000.

Where real estate salary fits in the Australian pay landscape

Compared to other industries, real estate sits below the national average. The salary index for retail trade is 75.9, for accommodation and food services 72.5 – similar to real estate’s 72.2. Professional, scientific and technical services index 114.7, mining 154.7. Real estate is a service industry with many entry-level roles and commission-based pay, which pulls the median down.

But career progression can lift earnings significantly. Senior agents, agency principals, and business brokers often earn well above the median. The award’s Level 4 in-charge rate is only index 61.8, so experienced professionals typically negotiate above-award packages.

For more detail on how the salary index works, see how the index works. To compare real estate pay with other occupations, visit industries. State-by-state breakdowns are available on our states page.

Key takeaways

• Real estate salary ranges from award minima around index 54 to a median full-time index of 72.
• The national line (index 100) is $2,083.70/week or $108,352/year.
• Super guarantee of 12% applies, and tax reduces take-home by roughly 20% for median earners.
• Actual pay varies by state, experience, and whether commissions are earned.

For the latest award rates, refer to the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guides. The Fair Work Commission’s Modern Awards Pay Database also provides detailed classification and allowance data.