Can A Real Estate Agent Afford Rent in Brookings, SD?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.7% of gross income.
Brookings rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (South Dakota state estimate).
About rent and a real estate agent salary
Real estate agent pay is commission-driven and varies widely with local market conditions. The BLS mean averages high and low producers. At the national-average agent salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,640 a month in rent — though successful agents in active markets earn well above this.
Cheaper rent nearby
These South Dakota cities have lower median rent than Brookings, which improves the affordability math on a real estate agent salary:
Compare with full rent data for Brookings
View full rent data for Brookings, SD →Frequently asked questions
Can a real estate agent afford rent in Brookings, SD?
Median rent in Brookings is $1,286 a month. A typical real estate agent in South Dakota earns about $57,710 a year, which makes that rent 26.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a real estate agent afford in Brookings?
Using the 30% rule, a real estate agent salary in South Dakota (~$57,710/yr) supports up to $1,443 a month in rent. Brookings's current median rent is $1,286/mo, which leaves a $157/mo buffer.
How many hours does a real estate agent work to cover rent in Brookings?
At an hourly equivalent of about $28 an hour, a real estate agent in South Dakota works roughly 46.4 hours a month to cover Brookings's median rent of $1,286.
Where is rent cheaper than Brookings for a real estate agent?
Nearby South Dakota cities with lower median rent include Sioux Falls ($1,279/mo), Sioux Falls ($1,276/mo), Sioux Falls ($1,271/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a real estate agent salary.