Sales Representatives, Services

How to become an Insurance Sales Agent

Official title: Insurance Sales Agents

Also called: Insurance Agent, Insurance Broker, Insurance Sales Agent, Sales Agent, Sales Associate, Sales Representative, Underwriting Sales Representative

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.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Although employers typically require that agents have a high school diploma, they may prefer to hire agents who have a bachelor's degree. Agents must be licensed in the states where they work.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Insurance Sales Agent (Nof).
Licence: A licence is required in 44 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $62,280 a year The middle half earn $46,870 to $96,950.
About 572,600 people work in this job now, and about 591,400 are projected by 2035. (+3.3%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become an Insurance Sales Agent?

Although employers typically require that agents have a high school diploma, they may prefer to hire agents who have a bachelor's degree. Agents must be licensed in the states where they work.

How much does an Insurance Sales Agent earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $62,280 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $46,870 to $96,950.

Is an Insurance Sales Agent a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 572,600 to about 591,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become an Insurance Sales Agent?

Not always. 46% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Insurance Sales Agent (Nof).

Will AI change the work of an Insurance Sales Agent?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.