Average Real Estate Commission by State (2026)
July 12, 2026
Real estate commission isn't set nationally, and it isn't the same everywhere. A February 2026 survey of 533 agents found a real spread between states, from 4.50% up to 6.20%. The table below has every state, ranked from highest average to lowest, with the listing side and buyer side broken out separately.
Where commission runs highest
| State | Average total commission |
|---|---|
| Michigan | 6.20% |
| Tennessee | 6.05% |
| Alabama | 5.96% |
| Missouri | 5.94% |
| South Carolina | 5.88% |
Where commission runs lowest
| State | Average total commission |
|---|---|
| Washington DC | 4.50% |
| New Jersey | 5.20% |
| Maryland | 5.41% |
| California | 5.47% |
| Oregon | 5.51% |
Full table: every state, listing and buyer side
Since the August 2024 NAR settlement, the listing-side and buyer-side rates are negotiated separately rather than bundled into one number the seller pays. The split columns below show the current average for each side. States linked in the table have a dedicated breakdown page.
| Rank | State | Total commission | Listing side | Buyer side |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 6.20% | 3.09% | 3.11% |
| 2 | Tennessee | 6.05% | 2.95% | 3.10% |
| 3 | Alabama | 5.96% | 2.96% | 3.00% |
| 4 | Missouri | 5.94% | 2.96% | 2.98% |
| 5 | Ohio | 5.90% | 3.10% | 2.80% |
| 6 | Washington | 5.90% | 2.75% | 3.15% |
| 7 | South Carolina | 5.88% | 2.91% | 2.97% |
| 8 | Texas | 5.88% | 2.93% | 2.95% |
| 9 | Iowa | 5.84% | 2.96% | 2.88% |
| 10 | Kansas | 5.84% | 2.96% | 2.88% |
| 11 | Minnesota | 5.84% | 2.96% | 2.88% |
| 12 | Nebraska | 5.84% | 2.96% | 2.88% |
| 13 | North Dakota | 5.84% | 2.96% | 2.88% |
| 14 | South Dakota | 5.84% | 2.96% | 2.88% |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 5.84% | 2.96% | 2.88% |
| 16 | Arizona | 5.82% | 2.90% | 2.92% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 5.82% | 2.90% | 2.92% |
| 18 | Oklahoma | 5.82% | 2.90% | 2.92% |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | 5.77% | 2.97% | 2.80% |
| 20 | Colorado | 5.71% | 2.98% | 2.73% |
| 21 | Idaho | 5.71% | 2.98% | 2.73% |
| 22 | Montana | 5.71% | 2.98% | 2.73% |
| 23 | Nevada | 5.71% | 2.98% | 2.73% |
| 24 | Utah | 5.71% | 2.98% | 2.73% |
| 25 | Wyoming | 5.71% | 2.98% | 2.73% |
| 26 | New York | 5.69% | 2.93% | 2.76% |
| 27 | Arkansas | 5.66% | 2.82% | 2.84% |
| 28 | Delaware | 5.66% | 2.82% | 2.84% |
| 29 | Georgia | 5.66% | 2.80% | 2.86% |
| 30 | Kentucky | 5.66% | 2.82% | 2.84% |
| 31 | Louisiana | 5.66% | 2.82% | 2.84% |
| 32 | Mississippi | 5.66% | 2.82% | 2.84% |
| 33 | West Virginia | 5.66% | 2.82% | 2.84% |
| 34 | Connecticut | 5.57% | 2.90% | 2.67% |
| 35 | Florida | 5.57% | 2.75% | 2.82% |
| 36 | Maine | 5.57% | 2.90% | 2.67% |
| 37 | Massachusetts | 5.57% | 2.90% | 2.67% |
| 38 | New Hampshire | 5.57% | 2.90% | 2.67% |
| 39 | Rhode Island | 5.57% | 2.90% | 2.67% |
| 40 | Vermont | 5.57% | 2.90% | 2.67% |
| 41 | Illinois | 5.53% | 2.81% | 2.72% |
| 42 | North Carolina | 5.53% | 2.80% | 2.73% |
| 43 | Alaska | 5.51% | 2.73% | 2.78% |
| 44 | Hawaii | 5.51% | 2.73% | 2.78% |
| 45 | Oregon | 5.51% | 2.73% | 2.78% |
| 46 | Indiana | 5.50% | 2.65% | 2.85% |
| 47 | Virginia | 5.50% | 2.75% | 2.75% |
| 48 | California | 5.47% | 2.73% | 2.74% |
| 49 | Maryland | 5.41% | 2.77% | 2.64% |
| 50 | New Jersey | 5.20% | 2.70% | 2.50% |
| 51 | Washington DC | 4.50% | 2.00% | 2.50% |
State rates in plain words
The table has every figure, but if you are checking one state, here are the numbers spelled out for the states people ask about most.
The average real estate commission rate in Tennessee is 6.05%, one of the highest in the country. Washington sits at 5.90%, with a heavier buyer side at 3.15%. South Carolina averages 5.88%, and New Mexico and Oklahoma both land at 5.82%. Colorado runs at 5.71%, in the middle of the pack alongside Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming, which all share that same figure. Delaware averages 5.66%. North Carolina comes in at 5.53%, and Connecticut at 5.57%. Maryland is on the lower end at 5.41%, just above New Jersey at 5.20% and Washington DC at 4.50%, the lowest average in the country.
Every one of these is a survey average, not a set price. Two sales in the same state can close at different rates depending on the home, the market, and how hard each side negotiates.
Why the gap exists
Nothing sets these rates by law. They reflect local norms: how competitive the agent market is, typical home values, and how much negotiating happens in each area. A state with lower average rates usually has a more competitive brokerage market or a customer base more used to negotiating, not a legal cap. That is also why so many states cluster around the same figure: the survey groups regional markets that behave alike, so neighbors like the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas share a rate.
What this means for your sale
The gap between the highest and lowest state average is 1.70 percentage points, which is a real difference in dollars on any decent-sized sale. On a $400,000 home, that's the difference between roughly $18,000 (at 4.50%) and $24,800 (at 6.20%) in total commission.
Your state's average is a starting point, not a fixed price. Commission is negotiable everywhere, and since the NAR settlement you can negotiate the listing side and the buyer side as two separate line items. If your agent quotes a rate above your state's average, that is worth a conversation.
How to use these numbers
Find your state in the table and note the total. Then run your actual sale price and your quoted rate through the real estate commission calculator to see the dollar figure. If you want to know what you'll actually walk away with after the mortgage payoff and closing costs, the net proceeds calculator takes it from commission down to the check you receive. And if you are weighing whether to list on your own, the FSBO savings calculator shows what skipping the listing side would save, and what it would cost you elsewhere.
Common questions
What is the average real estate commission in 2026? Nationally it lands around 5.7% of the sale price, split between the listing and buyer sides. State averages run from 4.50% in Washington DC up to 6.20% in Michigan.
Which state has the highest real estate commission? Michigan, at an average of 6.20% total. Tennessee and Alabama are close behind at 6.05% and 5.96%.
Which state has the lowest? Washington DC at 4.50%, followed by New Jersey at 5.20%. These are averages, so individual deals vary.
Does the seller pay both sides? Not automatically anymore. Since the August 2024 NAR settlement, buyer-agent compensation is negotiated separately and is no longer assumed to come out of one bundled rate the seller pays. Who pays the buyer side is now part of the deal. See who pays realtor fees for the details.
Is commission negotiable? Yes, in every state. The rates here are survey averages, not fixed prices. A more competitive local market usually means more room to negotiate.
What is the average realtor commission rate by state? It ranges from 4.50% in Washington DC to 6.20% in Michigan, with most states clustering between 5.5% and 5.9%. The full state-by-state table above lists every one, with the listing and buyer sides broken out.
What are realtor commission rates in my state? Find your state in the table above for the total and the two-sided split. For quick reference, high-tax-value states like Tennessee (6.05%) and Washington (5.90%) run above average, while Maryland (5.41%), New Jersey (5.20%), and DC (4.50%) run below it.
Check your state, then run your numbers
Averages tell you whether a quoted rate is normal for your area. Look up your state's average commission in the table above, then run your exact price and rate through the real estate commission calculator so you are negotiating from real dollar figures instead of a percentage.