One of the toughest parts of starting a new career in real estate is the lack of a regular income. Real estate agents are paid on commission, and there’s a direct correlation between salary and experience.
GlassDoor reports that the average real estate agent salary in Nebraska is $144,000 (as of January 2026). However, a real estate agent’s salary is highly dependent on years of experience as well as how many hours per week you are willing to work.
Although being a real estate agent consistently ranks among the best jobs—particularly for job satisfaction—there are still bills to pay. The first year working as a professional, when income is typically the lowest, can be challenging for some. Earning top wages in the real estate industry often takes a few years to master.
How can you make ends meet while you get your Nebraska real estate career off the ground? We put together our top tips for how new real estate agents can boost their salaries during the first crucial years while they build their business.
Related Article: How Much Commission do Real Estate Agents Make in Nebraska?
Tip 1: Increase Your Earning Sources
Being a real estate agent gives you the freedom of being your own boss for the most part, but just like any small business owner, you’ll have expenses. In most cases, you must pay out-of-pocket for business costs such as advertising, website management, transportation, and healthcare.
Experienced agents tell wannabe real estate agents to start saving money before they get licensed. Having money in the bank will make it much easier to get through those first few years.
Tip #2: Work Other Industry-Related Side Gigs
Another idea is to supplement your real estate income with additional income streams to gain industry experience while building your name in your area. The list below offers a few choices for supplementary income sources that will blend perfectly with your real estate profession:
- Offer Property Management Services: Handle tenant screening, rent collection, repairs, and periodic inspections. This adds a predictable monthly revenue stream while keeping you connected to investors who may buy or sell again.
- Provide Short-Term Rental Setup and Co-Hosting: Help owners furnish, photograph, price, and manage Airbnb/VRBO listings, then collect an ongoing percentage of booking revenue without owning the property yourself.
- Create a Relocation Concierge Package: Partner with movers, utility companies, and local service providers to sell bundled “move-in” or “settling-in” services to corporate transferees and out-of-town buyers for a flat or tiered fee.
- Offer Staging Services: Do you understand design that sells? Assist established real estate agents with staging services (virtual and traditional).
Not only are these all viable side businesses that generate extra income for new real estate agents, but the experience you gain will be invaluable. Any of these can help you learn more about the non-sales side of the business, show you other facets of the real estate industry, and put you on track to becoming a specialist in the field.
Interested in becoming a real estate agent? Download our free Career Switch Kit for everything you need to know about how to become a real estate agent.
Tip #3: Broaden Your Experience
Consider a specialty in a secondary real estate market. In addition to residential real estate, consider luxury home marketing, relocation specialization, and commercial property sales. Broadening your experience to include additional niche areas allows you to focus your marketing efforts on a specific audience segment.
#4: Find a Seasoned Mentor
First-year real estate brokers can get a head start on their peers by mentoring under an experienced broker. Consider finding a mentor in a specialty you want to pursue to start building your future career.
It’s also crucial that you do your homework and find the right brokerage with which to work. Find one that aligns with your real estate career goals.
#5: Continue Your Real Estate Education
Nebraska agents are required to complete 18 hours of continuing education to renew their licenses. Join the Nebraska Real Estate CE Membership and obtain income-building resources while meeting every continuing-education requirement. All tiers unlock our full library of Nebraska state-approved CE courses, on-demand Learning Snacks, and exclusive savings on luxury-home marketing training. Upgrade to the Pro level to receive one professional certification of your choice, or choose Premier to claim two certifications plus additional discounts on future programs. A Colibri CE Membership will enable you to gain the skills, credentials, and connections that set top Nebraska real-estate talent apart.
Bonus Tip: Become Tax Savvy
Increase your bottom line by reducing one of your largest expenses — taxes. Learn more about tax tips for real estate agents from our recent webinar – How to Save Thousands in Taxes — Legally.
Ready to Start Your Career as a Nebraska Real Estate Agent?
Our Nebraska real estate learning packages include everything you need for a strong start in your career, including the required pre-licensing course.
