Exploring the Payment Structure of Real Estate Agents: Hourly Wages versus Commission-Based Models Hourly Wages for Real Estate Definition and explanation Agents in the real estate industry are usually not paid on an hourly rate. Instead, real estate agents earn a fee on the purchase or sale of a home. This means that the income of real estate agents is directly tied to how well they can close deals. The commissions are a percentage based on the final price of the property. They can vary based on the market, the client’s agreement and the particular agent. This commission is split