Insurance Sales Agents
Insurance sales agents contact potential customers and sell one or more types of insurance.
Is insurance sales agents a good career?
It scores 23/100 and ranks #253 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- Pays above the U.S. median wage ($62,280)
- High volume of openings — about 47,000 a year
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- No notable tradeoffs stand out in the wage and projection data.
What insurance sales agents earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. insurance sales agents earn between $46,870 and $96,950 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Strongest employment concentration
Live insurance sales agents jobs
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- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Outlook
- Employment is projected to grow as fast as average through 2034.
Education
A high school diploma is typically required for insurance sales agents. However, some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in a field such as business.
Training
Insurance sales agents learn many of their duties on the job, such as by shadowing an experienced agent. New agents learn about insurance products, the sales process, and how to interact with clients.
Employers often expect agents to stay abreast of changes in tax laws, government benefits programs, and other state and federal regulations that may affect clients’ insurance needs and the way in which agents conduct business. Agents may take continuing education to meet employer expectations.
Licenses, certifications & registrations
Insurance sales agents must have a license in the states where they work. Separate licenses are required for agents to sell life and health insurance and property and casualty insurance. In most states, licenses are issued only to applicants who complete specified courses and who pass state exams covering insurance fundamentals and state insurance laws. Most state licensing authorities also require agents to take continuing education courses focusing on topics such as insurance laws, consumer protection, ethics, and the technical details of various insurance policies.
Some insurance sales agents also sell securities and other financial products. To do so, they must become licensed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). FINRA's Series 6 exam is for agents who want to sell financial products, such as municipal fund securities, mutual funds, and variable annuities. Its Series 7 exam is the main FINRA series license, which qualifies agents as general securities sales representatives.
A number of organizations offer certifications that show an agent’s expertise in insurance specialties. These certifications are not required for employment, but they may give job candidates an advantage over other applicants.
Important qualities
Analytical skills. Insurance sales agents must evaluate the needs of each client to determine the appropriate insurance policy.
Communication skills. Insurance sales agents must listen to clients and be able to clearly explain suitable policies.
Initiative. Insurance sales agents need to actively seek out new clients in order to increase business.
Interpersonal skills. Insurance sales agents must be able to establish trust in networking for prospective clients and in interactions with existing clients, including to handle claims.
Self-confidence. Insurance sales agents should be confident when contacting prospective clients. They must be persuasive and able to maintain composure if rejected.
Related occupations
How much do insurance sales agents make?
The national median wage is $62,280 a year, with the middle half earning between $46,870 and $96,950 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is insurance sales agents a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 23 of 100 and ranks #253 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +3.7% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a insurance sales agent?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.
Where do insurance sales agents earn the most?
Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($84,530). Local pay for every state and metro is below.