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Agent income
How much Hawaii real estate agents actually make
By Josh Lin, licensed Hawaii real estate agent · updated 21 August 2026 · figures from the Hawaii Real Estate Commission FY2025 report
That single figure explains both the appeal and the trap of this business in Hawaii. High transaction values mean the ceiling is high. They also mean the market is competitive, deals are slower, and gross commission is not income.
Gross commission is not what you keep
Between the closing table and your bank account sit, in order: the split with your brokerage, any desk or franchise fee, your own marketing costs, association and MLS dues, and self-employment tax. A new agent on an unfavourable split can keep well under half of the gross.
| On a $1.1M sale | Illustrative |
|---|---|
| Gross commission, one side at 2.5% | ~$27,500 |
| After a 50/50 new-agent split | ~$13,750 |
| After marketing, dues and self-employment tax | materially less again |
Illustrative arithmetic from a published median price and a common commission rate, not a survey of Hawaii agent earnings. Splits and rates are negotiated and vary widely.
How many agents are competing for those deals
The Commission counted 14,181 active licensees in FY2025. Where they are matters as much as how many:
| Island | Active licensees | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Oahu | 8,274 | 56% |
| Maui | 2,155 | 15% |
| Hawaii Island | 1,978 | 13% |
| Kauai | 887 | 6% |
| Mainland / other | 836 | 9% |
| Molokai | 27 | <1% |
| Lanai | 12 | <1% |
Source: Hawaii Real Estate Commission FY2025 annual report. Percentages are of all active licensees.
Roughly 775 new salespersons were licensed in FY2025, down from 1,240 in 2019 — entry has been slowing for five years, which cuts both ways for somebody deciding now.
What actually determines a new agent's first year
- The brokerage you join, because it sets your split and whether anyone teaches you anything. See choosing a brokerage.
- Whether you are findable. Buyers and sellers search a name before they call it. An agent with no web presence is a referral-only agent.
- Niche. Military relocations, leasehold, condominium regimes, and post-Lahaina rebuilding on Maui are all specialist knowledge somebody is looking for by name.
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Licensee counts and new-license figures are from the Hawaii Real Estate Commission FY2025 annual report. The commission arithmetic is illustrative from a published median price, not a survey of what Hawaii agents earn, and nothing here is a projection of your income.
Common questions
How much do real estate agents make in Hawaii?
It depends entirely on transaction count and brokerage split. The scale is set by price: the median Oahu home is above $1.1M, so one side of a sale at 2.5% grosses roughly $27,500 before any split, marketing costs or tax.
How many real estate agents are there in Hawaii?
The Hawaii Real Estate Commission counted 14,181 active licensees in FY2025, with 56% on Oahu, 15% on Maui, 13% on Hawaii Island and 6% on Kauai.
Is it getting easier or harder to enter real estate in Hawaii?
New salesperson licenses have fallen from 1,240 in 2019 to 775 in FY2025, so fewer people are entering each year.