Salaries for real estate brokers can vary greatly depending on sales, geographical location, and whether the agent is self-employed or working for a large company. As of January 2011 basic salaries for real estate agents ranged between $30,000 and $60,000 with an extra annual sum of $20,000 to $60,000 possible through commission. As with many jobs revolving around sales, a large part of the real estate agent's income is dependent on commission, bonuses and fees. Agents working for large organizations are more likely to receive a higher part of their income through basic salary while self-employed agents' income is more heavily related to their individual sales commission. Due to fluctuations in the property and housing market an agent's ability to stay savvy of trends in their field is essential to maximizing their earnings.