Switching careers can be challenging, no matter your age or professional background. However, if you’re considering transitioning into real estate, you’re in good company. Recent insights into real estate agent demographics show that many agents earn their licenses after careers in other industries, highlighting the profession’s openness to diverse experiences.
Looking closer at data from Washington at the end of 2023, new agents represent a wide range of age groups and educational backgrounds. Additionally, professionals report high levels of real estate agent job satisfaction, making real estate an appealing option for your next career move.
Key Takeaways
- Aspiring Brokers Span All Ages: While many prospective agents are in their 20s and 30s, 17% are between 18–24, showing real estate is a viable option at nearly any age.
- Diverse Professional Backgrounds: Many students enter real estate from unrelated fields, with top backgrounds including the service industry, sales, and administrative roles.
- Education Is Varied: Nearly half (45%) of prospective brokers don’t hold a bachelor’s degree, demonstrating that higher education isn’t a barrier to entry.
- Strong Career Commitment: Over half (52%) of surveyed students plan to pursue real estate as their full-time profession, reflecting high confidence in the career path.
Overview of Current Real Estate Agent Job Satisfaction
Before exploring survey insights for those transitioning into real estate, let’s take a look at the career outlook for active, seasoned agents, based on information from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).
The 2024 NAR Member Profile Highlights reveal that 73% of their survey respondents were sure (with an additional 19% “somewhat” sure) they would continue working in real estate for at least the next two years. Altogether, 92% of current agents are optimistic enough about the profession to plan on staying active. Clearly, job satisfaction among real estate agents is high.
Further, 75% of respondents identified real estate as their main occupation, while 51% reported that real estate earnings were their household’s primary income.
This data emphasizes that job satisfaction among real estate agents remains strong despite industry challenges.
Washington Real Estate Market Overview
While there isn’t specific career satisfaction data for real estate agents in Washington (referred to as “brokers”), the state’s housing market remains robust. As of April 2025, Zillow reports that home values have increased by 3.8% year over year, reaching an average of $596,514. This data is critical, as most real estate brokers earn a commission based on the property’s sale price. Homes are going under contract in a median of just 24 days, reflecting strong demand and a fast-moving market.
Survey Insights: Aspiring Real Estate Brokers in Washington
A survey conducted in November 2023 among individuals who had purchased—or were planning to purchase—a real estate education program in Washington showed that aspiring brokers come from a wide range of age groups and professional backgrounds, highlighting the diverse appeal of the industry.
Here’s what we learned about aspiring real estate brokers in Washington.
Age of prospective brokers
You’re not too young or too old for real estate! Brokers from many different age groups find success in the field. While most prospective agents are in their mid-twenties and early thirties, 17% of those surveyed were between 18 and 24 years old.
Professional background of prospective brokers
Most real estate students maintain full-time jobs while taking their real estate courses, but most work in jobs unrelated to the industry. This means that real estate students come from various employment backgrounds. Many Washington real estate students come from the service industry (10%), sales (10%), or have experience as administrative assistants (10%).
Educational background of prospective brokers
You don’t need a college degree to become a real estate broker in Washington. In fact, 45% of those surveyed do not have a bachelor’s degree. However, you do need to complete Washington real estate classes to work as a broker. Your qualifying education can be completed in person, through a livestream class, or at your own pace online.
Real estate career plans
Most prospective or newly licensed real estate brokers (52%) are fairly certain they’ll pursue real estate as their sole source of income. However, data shows that real estate can be a profitable part-time venture.
While those with industry experience are quick to note that it takes time to build a real estate business, Rockwell Institute’s 2025 Salary Guide reports that the average first-year salary of Washington real estate brokers with one to three years of experience is $100,000.
Reasons Why People Want to Earn a Real Estate License in Washington
Why do current brokers report high career satisfaction? What motivates Washington residents to leave other industries to become real estate brokers? According to our report, the top reasons include the following:
- Flexible schedule
- Increased income potential
- Opportunity to be your own boss
- Ability to help people
- Love of houses
- Increased career satisfaction
Why do you want to become a real estate broker in Washington? Whatever your reasons, you can get your license quickly by taking online real estate courses through Rockwell Institute. Rockwell also offers a live-lecture schedule that will enable you to complete your 90 hours of pre-licensing coursework, plus exam prep, in just three weeks.
No matter your background, chances are you know someone who needs real estate services—whether they’re buying, selling, or investing. That’s why people from all walks of life can thrive in a real estate career. If you’re ready to turn your connections and life experience into a new opportunity, start today with Rockwell Institute’s pre-licensing courses.
The Salary Guide mentioned in this article is for general informational purposes only, based on an August 2024 survey of Rockwell Institute alumni and publicly available industry sources. While Rockwell Institute strives for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the completeness, reliability, or applicability of the information. Earnings and outcomes vary widely based on factors like location, experience, and market conditions and should not be considered guarantees. This guide does not constitute professional advice. Users should consult additional sources for personalized guidance.
