Financial Services Sales Agent
Help clients invest and buy financial products, from stocks to retirement plans.
- $78,660
- 4 years plus licensing
Sales & Retail career
Insurance Agent
Also called: Insurance Sales Agent · Insurance Producer · Life Insurance Agent · Property and Casualty Agent
What insurance agents do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does an insurance agent do?
Insurance sales agents sell auto, home, life, health and business insurance, explaining coverage options, quoting policies and helping clients with changes and claims. The median pay is $62,280 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about 2–8 weeks for licensing, and employment is projected to grow +3.3% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$62,280$29.94/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+3.3%2025–35, about as fast as average
- Openings per year43,100Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationHigh school diploma or equivalentBLS classification
- Time to train2–8 weeks for licensingTypical program length
- U.S. jobs572,600Employment, 2025
What insurance agents do
Insurance agents help clients understand risk and choose coverage. They find prospects, review clients’ needs, quote and compare policies, explain coverage and costs, write applications, renew and update policies and help clients through claims. Captive agents sell for one company; independent agents represent several insurers.
Agents need a state insurance license for each line they sell, earned through pre-licensing courses and exams. Pay often includes commissions and renewals, so building a book of business drives income. Professional designations such as the CPCU and CLU support advancement.
Typical duties
- Prospect for new clients
- Assess clients’ insurance needs
- Quote and compare policies
- Explain coverage, limits and deductibles
- Write applications and bind coverage
- Service and renew policies
- Help clients with claims
Work environment and schedule
Agents work in agency offices, from home and at client locations, spending much of the day on the phone and computer.
Schedule: Most work full-time with some evenings and weekends to meet clients.
A day in the life
- Review renewals due this month and follow up on quotes.
- Meet a young family about life insurance.
- Quote auto and home bundles for a new client.
- Help a client file a claim after a car accident.
See a full day in the life of an insurance agent →
Insurance Agent salary
Half of insurance agents earned more than $62,280 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $37,330 for the lowest 10% to $138,140 for the top 10%.
Full insurance agent pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become an insurance agent
- Choose lines of insurance
- Complete pre-licensing education
- Pass the state exam
- Join an agency
- Build your book
A high school diploma is typical, though many agents have degrees. Agents need a state license for each line, such as property and casualty or life and health, through pre-licensing education and an exam.
Step-by-step guide to becoming an insurance agent →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Insurance products and coverage
- Quoting and rating software
- Needs analysis
- Sales and prospecting
- CRM management
People skills
- Trustworthiness
- Persistence
- Communication
- Empathy
All insurance agent skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- High earning potential with commissions
- Renewal income builds over time
- Licensing is quick
- Help people protect their families
Cons
- Income depends on sales at first
- Rejection and prospecting
- Licensing and continuing education
- Evening work
Certifications and licenses
- State insurance producer license: Required for each line of insurance sold.
- Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU): Advanced property and casualty designation.
- Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU): Life insurance designation.
- Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC): Professional development designation.
Career path
- Licensed Agent: Sell and service policies.
- Senior Agent: Grow a book of business.
- Agency Manager: Lead agents.
- Agency Owner: Run your own agency.
Learn the job before day one
Our Insurance Agent training (8 hours, $74.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as conduct an insurance needs review and compare auto insurance quotes, safety and how to land your first job.
Related careers
Claims Adjuster
Investigate insurance claims and decide how much should be paid.
- $78,000
- 3–12 months
Loan Officer
Help people and businesses get mortgages and loans, from application to closing.
- $76,690
- 3–6 months for mortgage licensing
Real Estate Agent
Help people buy, sell and rent homes and property: licensed by your state.
- $52,830
- 1–6 months (licensing)
Compare: Insurance Agent vs. Financial Sales Agent · Insurance Agent vs. Claims Adjuster · Insurance Agent vs. Loan Officer · Insurance Agent vs. Real Estate Agent
Insurance Agent FAQ
How long does it take to get an insurance license?
Often a few weeks of study plus an exam.
Do insurance agents earn commission?
Many earn commissions and renewals, sometimes with a base salary.
Captive or independent?
Captive agents sell one company’s products; independent agents offer several.
How much does an insurance agent make?
The median annual wage for insurance agents was $62,280 ($29.94 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $37,330 and the highest 10% earned more than $138,140.
How long does it take to become an insurance agent?
Most people need about 2–8 weeks for licensing of training. A high school diploma is typical, though many agents have degrees. Agents need a state license for each line, such as property and casualty or life and health, through pre-licensing education and an exam.
Do you need a degree to be an insurance agent?
No four-year degree is typically required. BLS lists “high school diploma or equivalent” as the typical entry-level education, plus moderate-term on-the-job training.
More insurance agent questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 41-3021 (Insurance sales agents).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Insurance sales agents (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.