Insurance Sales Agents
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.
Also called: Account Representative, Account Specialist, Auto Insurance Agent (Automotive Insurance Agent), Bilingual Insurance Sales Agent, Bond Writer, Burial Agent
Median pay
$62,280
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$37,330 – $138,140
People employed
479,100
Holland code
ECS
Enterprising · Conventional · Social
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you enjoy serving customers or the public?
- 2.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 3.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
- 4.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 5.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 6.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 7.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 8.Are you OK with hours that change?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Insurance Sales Agents pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What insurance sales agents do
- 01Customize insurance programs to suit individual customers, often covering a variety of risks.
- 02Sell 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.
- 03Explain features, advantages, and disadvantages of various policies to promote sale of insurance plans.
- 04Perform administrative tasks, such as maintaining records and handling policy renewals.
- 05Seek out new clients and develop clientele by networking to find new customers and generate lists of prospective clients.
- 06Call on policyholders to deliver and explain policy, to analyze insurance program and suggest additions or changes, or to change beneficiaries.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Mathematics
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Law and Government
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from insurance sales agents
- Loan Officers88% · +23%
- Personal Financial Advisors88% · +69%
- Insurance Underwriters86% · +31%
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists81% · +26%
- Financial Managers80% · +167%
Change into insurance sales agents
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Real Estate Brokers82% · $73,220
- Credit Counselors81% · $52,230
- Insurance Underwriters81% · $81,370
- Loan Officers80% · $76,690
- New Accounts Clerks78% · $47,670
Majors that lead here
- Insurance
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.