Average commission by state / California
Average Real Estate Commission in California
California's average total commission is 5.47%, below the 5.70% national average.
Average total commission5.47%
Listing agent side2.73%
Buyer's agent side2.74%
Worked example
On a $400,000 home sold at California's average rate:
| Sale price | $400,000 |
| Listing agent (2.73%) | $10,920 |
| Buyer's agent (2.74%) | $10,960 |
| Total commission | $21,880 |
For your own price and rate, or to see your full net proceeds after closing costs and mortgage payoff, use the real estate commission calculator or the net proceeds calculator.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average real estate commission in California?
- The average total commission in California is 5.47% of the sale price: about 2.73% to the listing agent and 2.74% to the buyer's agent. That is below the 5.70% national average by 0.23%. These are averages for planning, not a fixed or legal rate -- commission is always negotiable.
- How much commission on a $400,000 home in California?
- At the California average of 5.47%, total commission on a $400,000 sale works out to about $21,880: roughly $10,920 to the listing agent and $10,960 to the buyer's agent.
- Is real estate commission negotiable in California?
- Yes. Commission rates are set by agreement between you and your agent, not by law or by any MLS, in California or anywhere else in the US. Since the August 2024 NAR settlement, buyer-agent compensation in particular is negotiated separately rather than automatically bundled into one listing-side rate.