Sales
Insurance Sales Agents
Also called: Insurance Agent, Insurance Broker, Insurance Sales Agent, Sales Agent
US median pay
$62,280
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+3.3%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
43,100
572,600 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- Customize insurance programs to suit individual customers, often covering a variety of risks.
- Sell 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.
- Explain features, advantages, and disadvantages of various policies to promote sale of insurance plans.
- Perform administrative tasks, such as maintaining records and handling policy renewals.
- Seek out new clients and develop clientele by networking to find new customers and generate lists of prospective clients.
- Call on policyholders to deliver and explain policy, to analyze insurance program and suggest additions or changes, or to change beneficiaries.
- Confer with clients to obtain and provide information when claims are made on a policy.
- Interview prospective clients to obtain data about their financial resources and needs, the physical condition of the person or property to be insured, and to discuss any existing coverage.
- Contact underwriter and submit forms to obtain binder coverage.
- Select company that offers type of coverage requested by client to underwrite policy.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Persuasion3.6/5
- Time Management3.5/5
- Service Orientation3.4/5
- Negotiation3.2/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0/5
- Coordination3.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.9/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service4.7/5
- Sales and Marketing4.6/5
- English Language4.1/5
- Mathematics3.6/5
- Law and Government3.5/5
- Transportation3.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Bachelor's degree39%
- Associate's degree16%
- High school diploma15%
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.