How much does a insurance sales agent make?
The median insurance sales agent in the United States earns $60,370 per year, about $29.02 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all insurance sales agents earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 41-3021.
Insurance sales agent salary range
Pay for insurance sales agents spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $36,390 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $135,660. The average (mean) wage of $81,510 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,390 | $17.50 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $45,520 | $21.88 | |
| Median (50th) | $60,370 | $29.02 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $91,150 | $43.82 | |
| 90th percentile | $135,660 | $65.22 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for insurance sales agents (SOC 41-3021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Insurance sales agent salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Insurance sales agents earn the most in Minnesota at $78,650 a year, and the least in West Virginia at $44,080. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $78,650 | 9,470 |
| New Jersey | $78,080 | 11,080 |
| Massachusetts | $77,660 | 10,360 |
| Connecticut | $77,090 | 5,520 |
| New York | $75,860 | 20,990 |
| District of Columbia | $75,180 | 510 |
| Rhode Island | $74,360 | 1,860 |
| Wisconsin | $70,650 | 7,920 |
| Vermont | $70,390 | 670 |
| North Dakota | $65,850 | 1,240 |
| California | $64,990 | 41,150 |
| Hawaii | $63,950 | 960 |
| Iowa | $63,150 | 6,160 |
| Alabama | $63,060 | 7,900 |
| Pennsylvania | $62,230 | 17,600 |
| Indiana | $61,710 | 12,980 |
| South Dakota | $61,630 | 2,010 |
| New Hampshire | $61,190 | 1,840 |
| Colorado | $61,020 | 9,340 |
| Kansas | $60,920 | 5,960 |
| Oregon | $60,710 | 4,550 |
| Maine | $60,630 | 2,100 |
| Maryland | $60,120 | 4,780 |
| Ohio | $59,990 | 15,750 |
| Delaware | $59,910 | 1,140 |
| Florida | $59,790 | 44,080 |
| Missouri | $59,680 | 10,350 |
| Kentucky | $59,590 | 6,310 |
| Virginia | $59,570 | 14,090 |
| Arizona | $59,400 | 9,910 |
| Illinois | $59,340 | 17,640 |
| Michigan | $58,910 | 12,310 |
| Washington | $58,660 | 10,430 |
| Nebraska | $58,480 | 5,390 |
| Montana | $57,360 | 1,860 |
| North Carolina | $57,110 | 19,540 |
| Wyoming | $55,770 | 770 |
| Louisiana | $55,590 | 6,240 |
| Alaska | $54,720 | 490 |
| Utah | $52,440 | 4,730 |
| South Carolina | $51,550 | 7,490 |
| Arkansas | $51,280 | 3,890 |
| Georgia | $50,210 | 19,520 |
| Tennessee | $49,130 | 8,650 |
| Idaho | $48,140 | 2,690 |
| Mississippi | $47,550 | 3,100 |
| Texas | $47,530 | 44,670 |
| New Mexico | $46,990 | 1,930 |
| Oklahoma | $45,550 | 5,310 |
| Nevada | $44,990 | 2,850 |
| West Virginia | $44,080 | 1,770 |
State median wages for insurance sales agents (SOC 41-3021), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for insurance sales agents
The BLS projects employment of insurance sales agents to grow 3.3% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 572,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 591,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 43,100 openings a year for insurance sales agents. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an insurance sales agent
The typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an insurance sales agent earns
Commission structure, product, employer, and territory drive a wide pay spread. Top performers in high ticket sales earn far above the median.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Minnesota, $78,650) and the lowest (West Virginia, $44,080) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 469,480 people work as insurance sales agents in the United States. At $60,370 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Insurance sales agent salary FAQ
How much does an insurance sales agent make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an insurance sales agent is $29.02. The middle half of insurance sales agents earn between $21.88 and $43.82 per hour.
What is the highest insurance sales agent salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of insurance sales agents earn more than $135,660 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an insurance sales agent make a year?
The median annual salary for an insurance sales agent is $60,370. The average (mean) wage of $81,510 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an insurance sales agent a well paid job?
At $60,370 a year, an insurance sales agent earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 469,480 people work as insurance sales agents in the United States.
Which state pays insurance sales agents the most?
Minnesota has the highest median salary for insurance sales agents at $78,650 a year. New Jersey ($78,080) and Massachusetts ($77,660) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being an insurance sales agent a good career?
Employment of insurance sales agents is projected to grow 3.3% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 43,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an insurance sales agent?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for insurance sales agents as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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