Yes. You can work as a part-time real estate agent in Arizona—and earn real income doing it. According to ASREB's 2025 alumni survey, 15% of part-time Arizona agents earn six figures. The licensing requirements are identical to full-time agents (90 hours of pre-licensing education and the Pearson VUE exam), but your schedule, hours, and transaction volume are entirely your own.
Part-time real estate works for a wide range of people in Arizona: professionals testing the waters before going full-time, retirees supplementing income flexibly, and career changers who want to keep their salary while building a client base. What separates part-time agents who earn well from those who don't isn't the license—it's how consistently they treat real estate as a business rather than a hobby.
This guide covers everything you need to know: whether part-time real estate is realistic, what you can earn, how to set yourself up for success, and how to get licensed in Arizona.
| Key takeaways
• Can you do real estate part time in Arizona?: Yes. There is no minimum hour requirement. The licensing path is identical to full-time agents. • How much can a part-time Arizona agent earn?: 15% of part-time ASREB alumni earn six figures. Most working under 20 hours/week earn under $25K—the gap is about effort, not the license. • Is real estate a good side hustle?: Yes—if you treat it like a business. Two hours of daily lead generation separates part-time agents who earn from those who don't. • What brokerage should a part-time agent choose?: A team-based brokerage with admin support. If you're unavailable, your team covers it. • Do you need the same license as full-time agents?: Yes. Same 90-hour course, same Pearson VUE exam. Arizona has no part-time license category. |
Yes—and more agents do it than you might think. Arizona has no minimum hour requirement for licensed agents. You must hold an active salesperson license issued by the Arizona Department of Real Estate (ADRE) and work under a licensed broker, but how many hours you work each week is entirely your decision.
The flexibility that attracts people to real estate full-time applies equally to part-time agents. You set your own schedule, choose your clients, and decide how many transactions to pursue in a given month. The trade-off is simple: more hours and more transactions generally mean more income.
One important reality: real estate doesn't run on a 9-to-5 schedule. Most client activity—showings, negotiations, offers—happens evenings and weekends. If you're keeping a day job, this is actually an advantage. Your available hours naturally align with when buyers and sellers need you.
Yes. Arizona has no part-time license category. Every licensed real estate salesperson in Arizona completes the same requirements regardless of how many hours they intend to work:
Most Arizona candidates complete the process in one to three months. Even if you only plan to close a handful of transactions per year, your license establishes legal compliance and professional credibility from day one. For the full step-by-step breakdown, see how to become a real estate agent in Arizona.
Earnings are directly tied to hours worked and transaction volume—more so than in almost any other profession. The data from ASREB's 2025 alumni survey is instructive:
| Hours per week | Typical annual income | Source |
| Under 20 hrs/week | Under $25,000 | ASREB alumni survey 2025 |
| 20–40 hrs/week | $25,000–$74,999 | ASREB alumni survey 2025 |
| 40–60 hrs/week | $75,000–$199,999 | ASREB alumni survey 2025 |
| 60+ hrs/week | $200,000+ | ASREB alumni survey 2025 |
| Part-time—top 15% | Six figures | ASREB alumni survey 2025 |
Source: ASREB alumni survey, September 2025. 'Part-time' defined as under 40 hours/week. Full-time defined as 40+ hours/week.
The headline number—15% of part-time agents earning six figures—isn't an anomaly. It reflects agents who chose part-time intentionally, built a referral network, and treated every available hour as productive business time. The agents earning under $25K are typically in their first year, or working fewer than 10 hours per week without a structured lead generation approach.
In Arizona markets like Scottsdale, where the median sale price is approximately $969,000 (Redfin, April 2026), even one or two closings per year generates meaningful supplemental income. See exactly what you would earn per transaction with ASREB's free Arizona commission calculator. For a full breakdown of agent income by experience level, see the Arizona real estate agent salary guide.
Real estate is one of the few licensed side hustles where your income scales directly with effort—there's no hourly cap, no ceiling, and no limit on how many transactions you can close. In Arizona, where property values are high and market activity is strong, the commission math makes even modest part-time activity financially worthwhile.
Whether real estate works as a side hustle depends on three factors:
The catch: real estate isn't passive. Unlike rental income or dividends, being an agent requires active participation—client calls, showings, negotiations, and paperwork. Part-time agents who build sustainable income treat it like a business with defined working hours, not a hobby they pick up when convenient.
For a detailed look at what Arizona agents earn per transaction—including gross commission, broker split, and take-home—see our guide to realtor fees in Arizona.
The agents who make part-time real estate work have two things in common: they operate with the professionalism of a full-time agent, and they build systems that cover the gaps when they're unavailable. Here's how to set yourself up correctly from the start.
Not every brokerage welcomes part-time agents. Some prefer to invest training resources in full-time agents only. Be transparent about your intentions from the start and look for brokerages—or teams within brokerages—that offer administrative support, transaction coordination, and team coverage when you're unavailable.
| "If you are unavailable, your team member can make the appointment. By leveraging a team, you ensure your clients always have support, even when you are at your other job or spending time with family."
— Lee Dworshak, retired Arizona real estate agent |
The most common mistake part-time agents make is approaching real estate reactively—answering calls when convenient, working leads when time permits. That approach produces inconsistent results. The agents who earn reliably treat their available hours as fixed business hours with defined activities.
| "You should operate like a full-time professional with clear expectations about your earning potential even if you plan on working part-time. Dedicate two hours a day to lead generation. Stick to your schedule. Set clear expectations about your availability with clients and your brokerage."
— Valorie Easter, part-time Arizona real estate agent |
If you want maximum flexibility with minimal time commitment, a referral network is worth considering. Rather than taking every transaction yourself, you refer buyers and sellers to active agents—locally and across the country—in exchange for a referral fee at closing.
"Create a referral network. Refer buyers and sellers out to other agents locally and across the country. You can ask for a 25 to 30 percent or more referral fee when the property closes. You really can control your time and costs with referrals." — Valorie Easter
A referral fee of 25–30% on a $10,000 agent commission equals $2,500–$3,000 per closed referral, with minimal time commitment beyond the initial introduction.
Part-time agents who try to compete on Zillow leads and paid advertising against full-time agents with larger budgets typically struggle. Your advantage is your existing relationships. Sphere of influence—friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors—is the most time-efficient lead source for a part-time agent. One referral from a trusted contact requires no marketing spend and closes at a significantly higher rate than cold leads.
Clients need to know your availability before they commit to working with you. A part-time agent who communicates their schedule honestly builds trust—one who overpromises and underdelivers doesn't get referrals. Be specific: "I'm available for showings Tuesday through Thursday evenings and all day Saturday and Sunday. For urgent questions, I respond within two hours."
Many of Arizona's most successful real estate agents came from previous careers in management, finance, sales, retail, education, or the military. That prior experience isn't a liability— t's an asset. Negotiation skills, client relationships, market knowledge, and professional credibility transfer directly.
Part-time real estate is a natural first step for career changers who want to test the profession before going all in. You learn the business, build your network, and grow your transaction volume—all while keeping your primary income. The agents who transition to full-time real estate successfully are typically those who spent one to two years building a foundation while still employed elsewhere.
Every part-time or full-time real estate career in Arizona starts with the same 90-hour pre-licensing course and state licensing exam. ASREB has been preparing Arizona real estate professionals since 1969—with a 74% first-time exam pass rate and a guarantee no other school in the state offers.
| Pass or Don't Pay Guarantee
Follow ASREB's recommended study plan and pass the Arizona state exam on your first attempt—or ASREB refunds your first state exam fee. No hoops, no asterisks. Whether you're going full-time or starting part-time, your license starts here. |
ASREB students have a 74% first-time pass rate on the Arizona real estate exam—well above the statewide average of around 60%.
ASREB's pre-licensing courses are available online, livestream, and in-person—designed for people with existing jobs and schedules. You can complete the 90-hour requirement at your own pace and start building toward your license without disrupting your current income. View pre-licensing course options →
What you get when you enroll:
Yes. Arizona has no minimum hour requirement for licensed real estate agents. You must hold an active salesperson license issued by ADRE and work under a licensed broker, but your schedule and transaction volume are your own.
According to ASREB's 2025 alumni survey, part-time agents working under 20 hours per week typically earn under $25,000 per year. However, 15% of part-time ASREB alumni earn six figures — reflecting agents who approach part-time real estate with the discipline and structure of a full-time business. In high-value markets like Scottsdale, one or two closings per year generates $15,000–$20,000+ in agent take-home income.
Yes—for people with flexible schedules, strong communication skills, and the discipline to generate leads consistently. Real estate has no income ceiling, aligns naturally with evenings-and-weekends availability, and produces commission income rather than hourly rates. The key caveat: it's not passive. Part-time agents who treat it as a business earn well; those who treat it as a hobby typically don't.
Yes. Arizona has no part-time license category. All licensed Arizona real estate salespersons complete the same 90-hour pre-licensing course and pass the same Pearson VUE exam regardless of intended hours.
Team-based brokerages with administrative and transaction coordinator support are best for part-time agents. When you're unavailable, your team covers client needs. Be transparent about your hours from the start — brokerages that actively support part-time agents are worth prioritising over those that prefer full-time commitments.
Complete ASREB's 90-hour pre-licensing course (online, livestream, or in-person at your own pace), pass the Pearson VUE salesperson exam, obtain Arizona DPS fingerprint clearance, and activate your license with a brokerage that supports part-time agents. Most candidates complete the process in one to three months. See the full step-by-step guide →
Yes. A referral-based model is an option for part-time agents who want income with minimal time commitment. You refer buyers and sellers to active agents locally or nationally and collect a referral fee—typically 25–30% of the agent's commission—when the transaction closes. Valorie Easter, a part-time Arizona agent, specifically recommends this approach for agents who want to control their time and costs.
Disclaimer: This guide is for general informational purposes only, based on a September 2025 survey of ASREB alumni and publicly available industry sources. While ASREB 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.
