Summary
![Insurance sales agents](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121017150342im_/http://www.bls.gov/ooh/images/p24-to-p25/p240-1-jpg.jpg)
Quick Facts: Insurance Sales Agents | |
---|---|
$46,770 per year
$22.48 per hour |
|
High school diploma or equivalent | |
None | |
Moderate-term on-the-job training | |
411,500 | |
22% (Faster than average) | |
90,200 |
What Insurance Sales Agents Do
Insurance sales agents help insurance companies generate new business by contacting potential customers and selling one or more types of insurance. An agent explains various insurance policies and helps clients choose plans that suit them.
Work Environment
Although most insurance sales agents work for insurance brokerages selling the policies of several companies, some work directly for a single insurance company. Most insurance sales agents work in offices, although some may spend much of their time traveling to meet with clients.
How to Become an Insurance Sales Agent
Although many employers require agents to have a high school diploma, more than one-third of insurance sales agents have a bachelor’s degree. Agents must be licensed in the states where they work.
Pay
The median annual wage of insurance sales agents was $46,770 in May 2010. Many sales agents are paid through commissions rather than a fixed salary.
Job Outlook
Employment of insurance sales agents is projected to grow 22 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. An aging population and changes in federal regulation should increase demand for agents who sell health and long-term care insurance.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of insurance sales agents with similar occupations.
O*NET
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Contacts for More Information
Learn more about insurance sales agents by contacting these additional resources.