Insurance Sales Agents: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more

Education Required

A high school diploma is the typical requirement for insurance sales agents, although a bachelor’s degree can improve one’s job prospects. Public-speaking classes can be useful in improving sales techniques, and often agents will have taken courses in business, finance, or economics. Business knowledge is also helpful for sales agents hoping to advance to a managerial position.

Training Required

Insurance sales agents learn many of their job duties on the job from other agents. Many employers have new agents shadow an experienced agent. This practice allows the new agent to learn how to conduct the company’s business and to understand how the agency interacts with clients.

Job Outlook

The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 10% (Faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.)

Licenses/Certifications

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 insurance laws, consumer protection, ethics, and the technical details of various insurance policies.

Median pay: How much do Insurance Sales Agents make?

$49,990 Annual Salary

$24.03 per hour

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.

What do Insurance Sales Agents do?

Insurance sales agents typically do the following:

Call potential clients in order to expand their own customer base
Interview prospective clients to get information about their financial resources and discuss existing coverage
Explain the features of various policies
Analyze clients’ current insurance policies and suggest additions or other changes
Customize insurance programs to suit individual clients
Handle policy renewals
Maintain electronic and paper records

Insurance sales agents commonly sell one or more types of insurance, such as property and casualty, life, health, and long-term care insurance.