Real Estate Agent in Ohio

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for OH. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$43,860

trending_down -22.1% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Ohio.

engineering

4,230

Jobs (OH)

monitoring Stable

+3.1%

10-yr job growth

payments

$144

Licensing fees

schedule

4-6 months

Time to complete

route How to become a real estate agent in Ohio

To become a Real Estate Agent in Ohio, you must first complete 100 hours of approved pre-licensing education, covering topics like real estate principles, Ohio real estate law, appraisal, and finance. After securing a sponsoring broker, you'll submit an application with an $81 fee and undergo a state and federal criminal background check. The final step is to pass the Ohio Real Estate Salesperson Exam, administered by PSI, which costs $63. A 20-hour post-licensing course is also required within 12 months of receiving your license. Ohio offers partial reciprocity for out-of-state agents, generally requiring them to pass only the state-specific portion of the exam.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $29,720

25th percentile $36,890

50th (median) $43,860

75th percentile $61,530

90th (experienced) $80,090

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Ohio. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Ohio requirements

Licensing body	Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing
State license	Required
Education	100 hours of approved real estate education (40 hours Real Estate Principles and Practices, 40 hours Ohio Real Estate Law, 10 hours Real Estate Appraisal, 10 hours Real Estate Finance), plus a 20-hour post-licensing course within 12 months of licensure.
Exam	Ohio Real Estate Salesperson Exam (PSI) ($63)
Application fee	$81
Renewal	Every 3.0 years
Continuing education	30.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent (if born after 1950), be honest and truthful, and not have been convicted of a disqualifying offense or violated civil rights laws related to real estate within the past two years. A criminal background check (state and FBI) is required. Applicants must also be sponsored by an Ohio broker before submitting their application.

Source: Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing

workspace_premium Ohio license tiers

Ohio offers multiple tiers of real estate agent licensing:

Tier	Hours required
Salesperson	N/A
Broker	N/A

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+3.1%

Average

Annual openings

36,600

Nationwide per year

Total employment

420,900

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

error High exposure 0.86/1.00

Many tasks in this career are susceptible to AI automation. Long-term career planning should account for potential disruption.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

check_circleOhio license required — clearer credential signal to employers
warningElevated AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if a real estate agent career is the right fit?

See what the day actually looks like, who the role suits, and who should skip it — grounded in real practitioner sources.

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Frequently asked questions

What's required to work as a real estate agent in Ohio? expand_more

Ohio requires real estate agents to complete the required education (100 hours of approved real estate education (40 hours Real Estate Principles and Practices, 40 hours Ohio Real Estate Law, 10 hours Real Estate Appraisal, 10 hours Real Estate Finance), plus a 20-hour post-licensing course within 12 months of licensure.), pass the Ohio Real Estate Salesperson Exam (PSI), and submit your application ($81 fee).

Do I need a license to work as a real estate agent in Ohio? expand_more

A state license is required in Ohio. Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing handles real estate agent licensing — the Ohio Real Estate Salesperson Exam (PSI) is part of the process.

What is the average real estate agent salary in Ohio? expand_more

The median real estate agent salary in Ohio is $43,860 per year. — 22% under the $56,320 national average. The range spans from $29,720 at the entry level to $80,090 for top earners.

How much does it cost to become a real estate agent in Ohio? expand_more

The full cost to enter the field runs about varies, factoring in exam fee ($63) and application fee ($81) and required training.

How many months or years does real estate agent certification take in Ohio? expand_more

The typical timeline in Ohio is 4-6 months. This includes completing education, gaining any required experience, and passing the licensing exam.

How many CE hours do real estate agents need in Ohio? expand_more

To keep your license active, Ohio mandates 30.0 CE hours every 3.0 years.