Insurance Sales Agents
SOC code 41-3021 · O*NET-SOC 41-3021.00 · Considerable preparation needed · Sales
Insurance sales needs a state licence per line of authority — life, health, property — rather than a degree. Earnings are heavily commission-driven, which is why the gap between the 10th and 90th percentile is so wide.
Insurance Sales Agents pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$62,280
a year
Hourly
$29.94
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$81,480
$39.18 per hour
Middle 50%
$46,870 – $96,950
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$37,330 – $138,140
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
479,100
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $37,330
- $17.95/hr
- 25th percentile
- $46,870
- $22.53/hr
- Median percentile
- $62,280
- $29.94/hr
- 75th percentile
- $96,950
- $46.61/hr
- 90th percentile
- $138,140
- $66.41/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+4%
Growing faster than average
568,800
jobs in 2024
589,800
projected for 2034
About 21,000 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What does an insurance sales agent do?
Sell life, property, casualty, health, automotive, or other types of insurance. May refer clients to independent brokers, work as an independent broker, or be employed by an insurance company.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Customize insurance programs to suit individual customers, often covering a variety of risks.
- Sell various types of insurance policies to businesses and individuals on behalf of insurance companies, including automobile, fire, life, property, medical and dental insurance, or specialized policies, such as marine, farm/crop, and medical malpractice.
- Explain features, advantages, and disadvantages of various policies to promote sale of insurance plans.
- Perform administrative tasks, such as maintaining records and handling policy renewals.
- Seek out new clients and develop clientele by networking to find new customers and generate lists of prospective clients.
- Call on policyholders to deliver and explain policy, to analyze insurance program and suggest additions or changes, or to change beneficiaries.
- Confer with clients to obtain and provide information when claims are made on a policy.
- Interview prospective clients to obtain data about their financial resources and needs, the physical condition of the person or property to be insured, and to discuss any existing coverage.
How to become an insurance sales agent
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 39% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree39%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree16%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)15%
- Post-Secondary Certificate15%
Common questions
How much does an insurance sales agent earn?
The national median is $62,280 a year. The full range runs from $37,330 at the 10th percentile to $138,140 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become an insurance sales agent without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is insurance sales agent in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 4% between 2024 and 2034 — growing faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Critical Thinking3.8/5
- Writing3.6/5
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.7/5
- Sales and Marketing4.6/5
- English Language4.1/5
- Mathematics3.6/5
- Law and Government3.5/5
- Transportation3.5/5
- Administration and Management3.4/5
- Education and Training3.1/5
Transferable strengths: Persuasion, Time Management, Service Orientation, Negotiation, Social Perceptiveness.