Insurance Agent Salary

Created by Henry Steele

By Henry Steele - January 8, 2018
Reading Time: 13 minutes
Reading Time: 13 minutes

The following article discusses the career path of Insurance Agent. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Insurance Agents.

Job Duties

Insurance refers to a policy that people pay for that in order to protecs them financially in case of a disaster, death or unexpected even. Common insurance products include car, health, life, long term disability, building, and landlord insurance, for instance. Typically, insurance agents will focus on a whole array of insurance policies, working in an office. Some work directly for insurance companies, others work for brokers or agencies. In the latter two cases, insurance agents must have knowledge not just of the different types of insurance products, but also about what sets different providers apart.

Insurance agents work with businesses or individuals to identify which policies are most suitable to their needs. At the same time, they provide advice on other financial packages that are available. Typically, their role includes explaining what different policies exist and what they are for.

The role of an insurance agent is also strongly about acquiring new clients. They must, therefore, be happy to contact individuals through “cold calling” and have strong sales tactics. At the same time, they must regularly communicate with existing policy holders to determine whether their details are still up to date and correct.

Other job duties of include:

  • Selling insurance policies
  • Using various forms of advertising, including mailings, phone calls, and referrals, to find new policy holders
  • Handling the paperwork involved in enrolling new customers onto a policy and working out their premiums
  • Explaining what different types of policies do and help clients create customized plans according to their needs

Where We Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 501,400 insurance sales agents in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals were:

  • Insurance agencies and brokerages: 54%
  • Self-employed workers: 18%
  • Direct insurance (except life, health, and medical) carriers: 9%
  • Direct health and medical insurance carriers: 4%

How to Become

Insurance agents do not generally need any special training. However, some may require a special license, which is usually sponsored by the employer. It is also advisable to be able to speak multiple languages. More and more often, employers look for those who have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in economics or business. However, sales experience tends to weigh much heavier than formal education.

Education Requirements

The minimum requirement in terms of education is a high school diploma or GED. However, holding a bachelor’s degree will greatly improve prospects. It is also useful for insurance agents to complete classes in public speaking so that they can improve their sales techniques. It is also common for them to complete classes in economics, finance, and business, particularly if they hope to grow into the role of management.

On the job training is provided and the main way in which insurance agents learn. They will usually shadow others for a period of time, so that they can learn about different policies and procedures and get to grips with the culture of the company.

Once employed, insurance agents usually have to take classes to ensure they remain up to date with new state and federal regulations, government benefits programs, and changes in tax laws. These all affect insurance packages. However, these programs are generally employer-sponsored.

Insurance agents usually have to be licensed. If they want to sell health or life insurance, casualty insurance or property insurance, they need to have a separate license for this. Usually, this means they have to complete certain courses first and then pass exams that cover state insurance laws and insurance fundamentals exams. For the license to remain valid, insurance agents must partake in continuous education classes.

Some agents obtain a license so that they can sell other financial products, including securities. However, this requires significant training. The licensing exam, which is Series 6 or Series 7, is administered by the FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority).

Certificates relating to insurance specialties also exist. Those are not required but they do demonstrate commitment to professionalism.

Traits & Qualities

The most effective have the following traits to some degree or other:

  • Excellent analytical skills
  • Great communication skills, verbal and written
  • Ability to take initiative
  • Having plenty of self-confidence in order to make cold calls and to not be disappointed by each rejection

Minimum Education

Bachelor’s Degree

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Insurance Agent was $62,908. This number is estimated from over 12,577,624 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $32.76 and monthly of $5,242.

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$14,000

$164,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Insurance Agent salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Massachusetts had the largest quoted salary of $81,978 while Oregon had the smallest quoted salary of $46,903.

AlaskaKentuckyNew York
AlabamaLouisianaOhio
ArkansasMassachusettsOklahoma
ArizonaMarylandOregon
CaliforniaMainePennsylvania
ColoradoMichiganRhode Island
ConnecticutMinnesotaSouth Carolina
DCMissouriSouth Dakota
DelawareMississippiTennessee
FloridaMontanaTexas
GeorgiaNorth CarolinaUtah
HawaiiNorth DakotaVirginia
IowaNebraskaVermont
IdahoNew HampshireWashington
IllinoisNew JerseyWisconsin
IndianaNew MexicoWest Virginia
KansasNevadaWyoming
Alaska$50,041Rank: 48th
The average salary ranks 48th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like AAA MountainWest, American Income Life, Mortgage, Life, & Retirement Protection Group, and The Lampe Group.

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$14,000

$119,000

Salary Distribution
Alabama$54,233Rank: 39th
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bankers Life, ALLSTATE INSURANCE – THE COLONIAL AGENCY, NAA, and The F.I.T Agency LLC.

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$14,000

$128,000

Salary Distribution
Arkansas$58,457Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bankers Life, PLATINUM SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, Alan Springer Agency, Inc., and Pro Benefits.

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$14,000

$141,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona$64,796Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ABN FInancial Group, Western Heritage Group, MySecureQuote.com, and Bankers Life.

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$14,000

$171,000

Salary Distribution
California$64,352Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Ideal Concepts, Inc., National Agents Alliance, Freedom Equity Group, and AAA.

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$14,000

$168,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado$63,874Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ABN FInancial Group, PLATINUM SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, Colorado Insurance, and Life Insurance Final Expense.

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$14,000

$171,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut$74,594Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bankers Life, Hoisington Insurance and Financial Services, Unique Writers, and The Benn Agency.

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$21,000

$159,000

Salary Distribution
DC$79,663Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Social Security Administration, American Income Life, Bankers Life, and NASB Brokerage Harrisburg Pa..

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$14,000

$217,000

Salary Distribution
Delaware$63,213Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Family First Life, Liberty Mutual, American Income Life, and The Lampe Group.

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$14,000

$182,000

Salary Distribution
Florida$66,446Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like USHealth Advisors, World Financial Group, Senior Life Services, and National Agents Alliance.

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$14,000

$172,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia$61,624Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Symmetry Financial Group, ABN FInancial Group, Lincoln Heritage Life Insurance Company, and Acceptance Insurance.

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$14,000

$163,000

Salary Distribution
Hawaii$50,519Rank: 46th
The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bankers Life, Ameritas Independent Agencies, Virtual Staffer, and American Income Life.

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$14,000

$121,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa$56,474Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Gold Standard Supplemental Insurance, Bankers Life, PLATINUM SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, and Farm Bureau Financial Services.

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$14,000

$125,000

Salary Distribution
Idaho$54,542Rank: 38th
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Senior Life Insurance Company, The Leazer Group, and Symmetry Financial Group.

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$14,000

$126,000

Salary Distribution
Illinois$48,684Rank: 50th
The average salary ranks 50th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Futurity First Insurance Group, Final Expense Trainer, PLATINUM SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, and MySecureQuote.com.

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$14,000

$129,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana$57,640Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bankers Life, National Agents Alliance, MySecureQuote.com, and TheAgencyExchange.

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$14,000

$156,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas$59,041Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Andercare Insurance, Farmers Insurance – Kansas City District Office, Farmers Insurance Group – Kansas City District Office, and PLATINUM SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE.

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$14,000

$145,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky$50,766Rank: 45th
The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ERIE INSURANCE AGENT OPPORTUNITY, Bankers Life, SummitWest Financial LLC (Team Kentucky), and National Agents Alliance.

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$14,000

$125,000

Salary Distribution
Louisiana$63,489Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Andercare Insurance, Symmetry Financial Group, Senior Life Services, and Bankers Life.

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$14,000

$170,000

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts$81,978Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Lifetime Recruiting Strategies, Bankers Life, Patriot Insurance Group Inc., and ABN FInancial Group.

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$20,000

$185,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland$65,099Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Transamerica Agency Network, State Farm Insurance- Walter G. Jones, Sales Leader, DAVIES GROUP, and Mortgage, Life, & Retirement Protection Group.

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$14,000

$176,000

Salary Distribution
Maine$57,888Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bankers Life, American Income Life, Mortgage, Life, & Retirement Protection Group, and The Keator Group.

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$14,000

$141,000

Salary Distribution
Michigan$53,507Rank: 40th
The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Andercare Insurance, Insurance One LLC & MySecureQuote, My Secure Quote llc., and Bankers Life.

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$14,000

$147,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota$53,215Rank: 41st
The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Andercare Insurance, PLATINUM SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, Farm Bureau Financial Services, and Liberty Mutual.

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$14,000

$138,000

Salary Distribution
Missouri$52,517Rank: 43rd
The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Missouri Farm Bureau, Family First Life, Vanguard Management Recruiting – Our Client, and PLATINUM SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE.

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$14,000

$140,000

Salary Distribution
Mississippi$69,004Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Andercare Insurance, National Agents Alliance, NAA, and Social Security Administration.

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$19,000

$150,000

Salary Distribution
Montana$56,768Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, Western Heritage Group, Bankers Life, and American Income Life.

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$14,000

$139,000

Salary Distribution
North Carolina$65,944Rank: 16th
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like INSURANCE SERVICE CENTER, The Leazer Group, Symmetry Financial Group, and MySecureQuote.com.

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$14,000

$166,000

Salary Distribution
North Dakota$64,663Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like PLATINUM SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, American Income Life, Farmers Insurance Group, and The Lampe Group.

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$14,000

$155,000

Salary Distribution
Nebraska$64,719Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Equis Financial, PLATINUM SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, Farm Bureau Financial Services, and Farmers Insurance Group.

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$14,000

$171,000

Salary Distribution
New Hampshire$52,664Rank: 42nd
The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The Occeus Group, American Income Life, Mortgage, Life, & Retirement Protection Group, and Bankers Life.

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$14,000

$117,000

Salary Distribution
New Jersey$67,500Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CARNEGIE NATIONAL ABSTRACT, The Alliance, The Occeus Group, and Care One Health Group.

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$14,000

$167,000

Salary Distribution
New Mexico$72,879Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like PLATINUM SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, NAA, Farm Bureau Financial Services, and DAVIES GROUP.

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$14,000

$185,000

Salary Distribution
Nevada$62,302Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Phillips Financial Group, Senior Life Insurance Company, PHP Agency, and MySecureQuote.com.

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$14,000

$168,000

Salary Distribution
New York$58,017Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Primerica, Jackson Hewitt, Bankers Conseco Life Insurance Company, and Selby Jennings.

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$14,000

$160,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio$68,501Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ABN FInancial Group, The Soto Group, AIG, and One Life America.

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$14,000

$170,000

Salary Distribution
Oklahoma$55,487Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like PLATINUM SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, Farmers Insurance – Tulsa District Office, Liberty Mutual, and Ancora.

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$14,000

$155,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon$46,903Rank: 51st
The average salary ranks 51st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like National General Insurance, New York Life & NYLife Securities LLC, American Fidelity Assurance, and SENIOR LIFESTYLE SOLUTIONS.

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$14,000

$129,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania$69,306Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ABN FInancial Group, Bianco Insurance Agency LLC, One Life America, and Ideal Concepts, Inc..

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$14,000

$176,000

Salary Distribution
Rhode Island$71,785Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bankers Life, NAA, Combined Worksite Solutions | A CHUBB Company, and The Keator Group.

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$21,000

$153,000

Salary Distribution
South Carolina$66,934Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Andercare Insurance, Tucker Financial Group, The ASSURANCE Group, and The Watkins Group SFG.

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$14,000

$180,000

Salary Distribution
South Dakota$68,847Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like PLATINUM SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, Western Heritage Group, Farm Bureau Financial Services, and Fbfs.

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$24,000

$136,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee$65,843Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Andercare Insurance, ABN FInancial Group, NAA, and National Agents Alliance.

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$14,000

$176,000

Salary Distribution
Texas$69,126Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like AIG, USHA, Equis Financial, and American National.

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$14,000

$185,000

Salary Distribution
Utah$71,705Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bankers Life, Farm Bureau Financial Services, Symmetry Financial Group, and Appreciation Insurance and Financial Services, LLC.

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$20,000

$154,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia$63,466Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Adam Hale & Associates, Bankers Life, Patriot Insurance Group Inc., and North American Senior Benifits.

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$14,000

$162,000

Salary Distribution
Vermont$65,813Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like American Income Life, The Lampe Group, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, and The ASSURANCE Group (TAG).

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$14,000

$179,000

Salary Distribution
Washington$50,048Rank: 47th
The average salary ranks 47th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ABN FInancial Group, Final Expense Trainer, Futurity First Insurance Group, and Olson Agency.

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$14,000

$137,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin$49,491Rank: 49th
The average salary ranks 49th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Lincoln Heritage, Family First Life, Adam Hale & Associates, and Farmers Insurance – Southeastern Wisconsin.

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$14,000

$131,000

Salary Distribution
West Virginia$51,754Rank: 44th
The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like PLATINUM SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, Webb Insurance Group, The Alliance, and Symmetry Financial Group.

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$14,000

$155,000

Salary Distribution
Wyoming$70,556Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like PLATINUM SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE, Western Heritage Group, American Income Life, and AAA MountainWest.

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$25,000

$137,000

Salary Distribution

Top 20 National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Insurance Agent. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary

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Related Careers

Career NameAverage Salary

Henry Steele
Managing Editor
Henry is Managing Editor of BusinessStudent.com. He is a seasoned business professional who regularly consults with local business's throughout Southern California. Henry pursued his undergrad in Business and Economics at the University of San Diego and gained valuable life changing experience through a unique internship upon graduation.

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