Insurance Sales Agents contact potential customers and sell one or more types of insurance. Insurance sales agents explain various insurance policies and help clients choose plans that suit them.
Insurance sales agents commonly sell one or more types of insurance, such as property and casualty, life, health, and long-term care insurance.
Recruiter & Staffing Needs
Insurance Sales Agents contact potential customers and sell one or more types of insurance. Insurance sales agents explain various insurance policies and help clients choose plans that suit them.
Insurance sales agents commonly sell one or more types of insurance, such as property and casualty, life, health, and long-term care insurance.
Recruiter & Staffing Needs
Job Prospects
College graduates who have sales ability, excellent customer-service skills, and expertise in a range of insurance and financial services products are likely to have the best prospects. Multilingual agents may have an advantage, because they can serve a wider customer base. In addition, insurance terminology is often technical, so agents who have a firm understanding of the relevant technical and legal terms also should be desirable to employers.
Employment projections data for insurance sales agents, 2016-26
| Occupational Title | SOC Code | Employment, 2016 | Projected Employment, 2026 | Change, 2016-26 | Employment by Industry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||||
| Insurance Sales Agents | 41-3021 | 501,400 | 551,200 | 10 | 49,800 |  xlsx |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Employment projections data for insurance sales agents, 2016-26
| Occupational Title |
|---|
| Insurance Sales Agents |
| SOC Code |
| 41-3021 |
| Employment, 2016 |
| 501,400 |
| Projected Employment, 2026 |
| 551,200 |
| CHANGE, 2016-26 |
| PERCENT |
| 10 |
| NUMERIC |
| 49,800 |
| EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY |
| xlsx |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Pay
The median annual wage for insurance sales agents was $49,710 in May 2017. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,180, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $125,190.
In May 2017, the median annual wages for insurance sales agents in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Direct Health and Medical Insurance carriers | $58,630 |
|---|---|
| Direct Insurance (Except Life, Health, and Medical) Carriers | $52,640 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages | $47,880 |
Many independent agents are paid by commission only. Sales workers who are employees of an agency or an insurance carrier may be paid in one of three ways: salary only, salary plus commission, or salary plus bonus.
Insurance Sales Agents
Median annual wages, May 2017
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
Job Outlook
Employment of insurance sales agents is projected to grow 10 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations.
Because the profitability of insurance companies depends on a steady stream of new customers, the demand for insurance sales agents is expected to continue. Employment growth will likely be strongest for independent sales agents as insurance companies rely more on brokerages and less on captive agents as a way to control costs.
Many clients do their own Internet research and purchase insurance online. This practice somewhat reduces demand for insurance sales agents because many purchases can then be made without an agent’s services. However, agents will still be needed to interact with clients to help them understand their options and choose a policy that is right for them. Many customers lack the time or expertise to study the different types of insurance to decide what they need and will continue to rely on advice from insurance sales agents.
Insurance Sales Agents
Percent change in employment, projected 2016-26
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
Run Your First Background Check for Insurance Sales Agents
Similar Occupations
| Occupational Title | Job duties | Entry-Level education | 2017 Median pay | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Advertising Sales Agents | Advertising sales agents sell advertising space to businesses and individuals. They contact potential clients, make sales presentations, and maintain client accounts. | High School Diploma or Equivalent | $49,680 |
 |
Insurance Underwriters | Insurance underwriters decide whether to provide insurance, and under what terms. They evaluate insurance applications and determine coverage amounts and premiums. | Bachelor's Degree | $69,760 |
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Personal Financial Advisors | Personal financial advisors provide advice on investments, insurance, mortgages, college savings, estate planning, taxes, and retirement to help individuals manage their finances. | Bachelor's Degree | $90,640 |
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Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents | Real estate brokers and sales agents help clients buy, sell, and rent properties. Although brokers and agents do similar work, brokers are licensed to manage their own real estate businesses. Sales agents must work with a real estate broker. | High School Diploma or Equivalent | $47,880 |
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Sales Managers | Sales managers direct an organization's sales teams. They set sales goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for an organization's sales representatives. | Bachelor's Degree | $121,060 |
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Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents connect buyers and sellers in financial markets. They sell securities to individuals, advise companies in search of investors, and conduct trades. | Bachelor's Degree | $63,780 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
|---|
| Advertising Sales Agents |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Advertising sales agents sell advertising space to businesses and individuals. They contact potential clients, make sales presentations, and maintain client accounts. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $49,680 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
| Insurance Underwriters |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Insurance underwriters decide whether to provide insurance, and under what terms. They evaluate insurance applications and determine coverage amounts and premiums. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Bachelor's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $69,760 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
| Personal Financial Advisors |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Personal financial advisors provide advice on investments, insurance, mortgages, college savings, estate planning, taxes, and retirement to help individuals manage their finances. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Bachelor's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $90,640 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
| Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Real estate brokers and sales agents help clients buy, sell, and rent properties. Although brokers and agents do similar work, brokers are licensed to manage their own real estate businesses. Sales agents must work with a real estate broker. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $47,880 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
| Sales Managers |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Sales managers direct an organization's sales teams. They set sales goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for an organization's sales representatives. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Bachelor's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $121,060 |
|
| OCCUPATIONAL TITLE |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents |
| JOB DUTIES |
| Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents connect buyers and sellers in financial markets. They sell securities to individuals, advise companies in search of investors, and conduct trades. |
| ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION |
| Bachelor's Degree |
| 2017 MEDIAN PAY |
| $63,780 |
Free Staffing Resources
Professional Recruiter and Staffing Organizations
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National Association of Personnel Services
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Association of Talent Acquisition Professionals
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American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment
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National Association of Executive Recruiters
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National Association for Health Care Recruitment
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Recruitment Process Outsourcing Association
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American Staffing Association
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Top Echelon Recruiting Network
