Quick answer: The Reading metro employs about 120 real estate sales agents (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through your state real estate commission for current licensing requirements.
Compare real estate programs enrolling now:
Licensing
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Selling real estate requires a state license in every state, and the license - not the degree - is the legal credential. Licensing requirements, prelicensing coursework and exams are set state by state and change, and a degree does not replace them. The degree adds finance, appraisal and property management coursework the license does not cover.
See the Pennsylvania licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state real estate commission for current licensing requirements.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 5 schools
within 210 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
5 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
#1
University of Pennsylvania
📍
Philadelphia, PA
•47.1 miles away•BOC Score
83.3
Real Estate Sales Agents in the Reading area earn a median $51,930 per year, below the national median of $52,830 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Real Estate Pay in Reading, PA
Metric
Reading metro
Pennsylvania
National
Median annual wage
$51,930
$56,040
$52,830
10th percentile
$30,710
$31,500
$32,970
25th percentile
$43,850
$46,500
$40,040
75th percentile
$76,120
$78,840
$82,020
90th percentile
$96,320
$95,760
$123,590
Employment
120
5,510
193,370
Location quotient
0.57
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Reading, PA metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Reading median of $51,930 is below the national median of $52,830, and below the Pennsylvania statewide median of $56,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.57 means real estate sales agents are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Transaction volume drives this market, so growing metros with active construction and high housing turnover carry the most work.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do real estate sales agents make in Reading?
The median annual wage for real estate sales agents in the Reading, PA metro area is $51,930, below the national median of $52,830 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many real estate sales agents work in the Reading area?
The Reading, PA metro area employs about 120 real estate sales agents (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do real estate sales agents in Reading need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Selling real estate requires a state license in every state, and the license - not the degree - is the legal credential. Licensing requirements, prelicensing coursework and exams are set state by state and change, and a degree does not replace them. The degree adds finance, appraisal and property management coursework the license does not cover. Confirm current requirements with your state real estate commission for current licensing requirements.
Can I study real estate online from Reading?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state real estate commission for current licensing requirements.
Is Reading a better market than the rest of Pennsylvania?
The Reading metro median is $51,930 against a statewide median of $56,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Real Estate Sales Agents (SOC 41-9022), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
