Neither structure is automatically better. The right one depends on your runway, your nerves, and how honest the agency is about what it's paying.
Most new agents get offered one of two structures: a lower hourly wage plus commission, or commission only. We explained why we recommend different paths for new and experienced agents in Why We Split Pay. This post is the practical version: how to decide for yourself.
You're paid for your time while you learn, and you earn commission on top once you start selling. The hourly rate is usually modest. What you get is a floor, which makes your first months less stressful and gives you room to make mistakes while you learn.
The catch is making sure it's a real wage. Some offers call a draw against commission hourly pay. Ask whether it's deducted from your commissions, and what you owe if you earn less than you were advanced. We cover that difference in more detail in a separate post.
You're paid only when you sell. There is no floor, which means more risk, but the commission rate is often higher, and your income isn't capped by an hourly rate. People who know their own pace tend to prefer this, which is why we usually point experienced agents toward it.
For a new agent, the problem is timing. Your first weeks involve studying, learning systems, and making your early mistakes, and none of that earns commission.
We match new agents with agencies that offer a paid learning period when we can, and we tell you what each agency's pay structure actually is before your interview. We can't promise any agent's income, and neither can an agency that's being honest.