Career comparison
Financial Services Sales Agent vs. Insurance Agent
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Financial services sales agents earn more at the median ($78,660 vs. $62,280), while insurance agents usually get to work faster (2–8 weeks for licensing of training). Financial services sales agents help clients invest and buy financial products, from stocks to retirement plans. Insurance agents help people and businesses protect what matters with the right insurance.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Financial Services Sales Agent | Insurance Agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $78,660 ($37.82/hr) | $62,280 ($29.94/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $48,040 – $212,880 | $37,330 – $138,140 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +1.4% (slower than average) | +3.3% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 35,100 | 43,100 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Training time | 4 years plus licensing | 2–8 weeks for licensing |
| Key credential | FINRA SIE | State insurance producer license |
| Work setting | Agents work in offices at banks, brokerages and financial firms, mostly at computers and on the phone.. | Agents work in agency offices, from home and at client locations, spending much of the day on the phone and computer.. |
What each job does
Financial Services Sales Agent
- Build and manage client relationships
- Assess clients’ financial goals and risk tolerance
- Recommend investments and products
- Execute trades and transactions
- Monitor accounts and markets
Insurance Agent
- Prospect for new clients
- Assess clients’ insurance needs
- Quote and compare policies
- Explain coverage, limits and deductibles
- Write applications and bind coverage
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with people, desk work, working independently, and remote-friendly work. Both are part of the sales & retail field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose financial services sales agent if…
- I’m interested in investing
- I like building relationships
- I’m motivated by sales goals
Choose insurance agent if…
- I like helping people plan ahead
- I’m comfortable selling
- I can handle rejection
Still torn? Take the Financial Services Sales Agent fit quiz and the Insurance Agent fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, financial services sales agent or insurance agent?
Financial Services Sales Agents earn more at the median: $78,660 versus $62,280 for insurance agents, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Insurance Agents typically train faster (2–8 weeks for licensing) than financial services sales agents (4 years plus licensing).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects insurance agents to grow +3.3% from 2025–35, compared with +1.4% for financial services sales agents.