Insurance Agent Pay: A Comprehensive Guide

Overhead Shot of a Woman Holding a Cheque
Credit: pexels.com, Overhead Shot of a Woman Holding a Cheque

Insurance agent pay can vary widely depending on the type of insurance being sold. In the US, for example, life insurance agents can earn an average annual salary of $64,440.

Most insurance agents work on a commission-only basis, meaning their pay is directly tied to the policies they sell. This can be both a blessing and a curse, as a slow sales month can result in little to no income.

Some insurance agents also earn a base salary, which can help stabilize their income. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for insurance sales agents in the US is $49,610.

In addition to commissions and base salaries, many insurance agents also earn bonuses for meeting sales targets or achieving certain milestones.

For your interest: Insurance Sales Income

Insurance Agent Pay

Insurance agents can earn money through various means, including commissions, salary, and bonuses. Commissions for new home and auto policies can range from 5% to 10% of the total premiums for the first year, while independent agents earn about 15%. For renewals, the rate is around 2% to 15%, with an average of 2% to 5%.

Credit: youtube.com, How much an insurance agent makes per policy

Life insurance agents receive front-loaded commissions of 40% to up to 115% of the policy's first-year premiums, but the rate drops to about 1% or 2% for renewals. Some agents stop receiving commissions after the third year.

Insurance agents can also work as salaried employees for insurance companies and agencies, earning a fixed wage or a combination of salary and commissions. Companies may provide staff bonuses if they reach a certain profit target.

Insurance Agent salary varies significantly from city to city. In San Francisco, CA, the salary is 25.0% above the national average, while in Miami, FL, it's 3.5% lower.

Here's a breakdown of Insurance Agent salary by location:

Insurance Agent pay can also be broken down by hourly, weekly, monthly, and annual salary. The 75th percentile salary is $63,924, while the average salary is $56,668. The hourly wage for Insurance Agents is around $31 at the 75th percentile and $27 at the average.

Life and Health Insurance

Credit: youtube.com, How much an insurance agent makes per policy

The average annual pay for a Life insurance agent in the United States was $83,442 a year as of early 2023.

Some states pay their Life insurance agents more than others. For example, Hawaii paid its Life insurance agents an average of $77,182 per year.

In contrast, Life insurance agents in South Carolina earned an average of $56,861 per year, the lowest among the states listed.

Here are the top four paying states for Life insurance agents: New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.

See what others are reading: How to Become New York Life Insurance Agent

Property and Casualty Insurance

Property and Casualty insurance agents sell a wide range of products, including auto insurance, property insurance, and workers' compensation. As of early 2023, the average annual pay for a Property and Casualty insurance agent in the United States was $49,936 a year.

The top 10 paying states for P&C agents are New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Arizona, Wyoming, Hawaii, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Nevada, and New Jersey. These states offer higher salaries than the national average.

Credit: youtube.com, How Much Commission Does A Property And Casualty Insurance Agent Make? - InsuranceGuide360.com

The average annual salary for P&C agents varies by state. In Hawaii, for example, the average annual salary is $53,160. In Washington, it's $51,527.

Here are the top 5 highest paying states for P&C agents, along with their average annual salaries:

P&C agents also earn an hourly wage, which can range from $18.71 in South Carolina to $25.56 in Hawaii.

Salary Ranges

Insurance agent pay can vary significantly depending on factors such as experience level and location. For instance, entry-level insurance agents with less than 1 year of experience can earn around $50,798, while senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience can earn up to $57,305.

The average annual salary for insurance agents in the United States is around $56,561, with a monthly pay of $4,713 and a weekly pay of $1,088. However, salaries can range from $31 to $130,350 per year, depending on the percentile.

Here's a breakdown of the salary ranges for insurance agents in the United States:

Factors Influencing Earnings

Credit: youtube.com, Factors that influence salary increase

Your salary as an insurance agent can vary greatly depending on several key factors.

The state where you sell insurance is a major influencer, with agents in large cities like New York City earning more than those in smaller cities like Albany or Buffalo.

Working as a captive agent or independent agent also impacts your earnings, with independent agents often earning more due to their ability to sell a wider range of products.

Your sales numbers are another crucial factor, with agents who sell more policies per month or year earning higher commissions.

The price of the plans you sell is also a factor, as insurance sales are commission-based and higher-priced plans mean higher commissions.

Experience plays a role too, with more experienced agents tend to earn more due to their ability to sell more policies and negotiate better deals.

Here are the main factors that impact how much insurance agents make:

  • The state where you sell insurance
  • Whether you work as a captive agent or independent agent
  • Your sales numbers
  • The price of the plans you sell
  • How many years of experience you have

Salary Range

The salary range for insurance agents varies widely, with the 75th percentile earning $63,803 per year, $5,317 per month, $1,227 per week, and $31 per hour.

Credit: youtube.com, How Are Offers Created? And What About Those Salary Ranges??

According to the data, the average salary for an insurance agent is $56,561 per year, $4,713 per month, $1,088 per week, and $27 per hour.

The 25th percentile earns $51,657 per year, $4,305 per month, $993 per week, and $25 per hour.

Here's a breakdown of the salary range for insurance agents based on experience level:

Keep in mind that salaries can vary depending on the state, company, and type of insurance being sold.

Salary Variance

Salary variance is a significant factor in determining an insurance agent's pay. Insurance Agent salaries can range from $43,528 for Life Insurance Agents to $82,268 for Business Insurance Agents.

Salaries also vary widely from state to state, with some states offering significantly higher pay than others. In California, the average yearly salary for an Insurance Agent is $62,505, while in Massachusetts, it's $61,655.

Here's a breakdown of the top-paying states for insurance sales agents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

  • District of Columbia: $100,050/year, or $48.10/hour
  • New York: $93,610/year, or $45.01/hour
  • Massachusetts: $90,160/year, or $43.34/hour
  • Georgia: $83,760/year, or $40.27/hour
  • New Jersey: $81,640/year, $39.25/hour

Whether you're a Life insurance agent or a Business insurance agent, your salary will depend on various factors, including the state you work in, the products you sell, and your level of experience.

Wage Comparison to Average

Credit: youtube.com, What Is Salary Variance?

Insurance agents' salaries can vary significantly, but how do they compare to the average wage? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median income for insurance sales agents in the US is $49,840 per year, or $23.96 per hour.

This is 37% more than the national median income for workers in all other industries, which is $31,133. That's a notable difference.

The top-paying states for insurance sales agents in 2021 were the District of Columbia, New York, Massachusetts, Georgia, and New Jersey. In these states, mean wages ranged from $83,760 in Georgia to $100,050 in the District of Columbia.

Here's a breakdown of the top-paying states for insurance sales agents in 2021:

Keep in mind that these figures are based on mean wages, which can give a skewed view of the actual salaries for individual insurance agents.

Salary Variance by City

Salaries for insurance agents can vary greatly depending on the city they work in. In San Francisco, CA, the average yearly salary for an insurance agent is $70,835, which is significantly higher than the national average.

Credit: youtube.com, Demo how to get Salary variance between last month and this month Power BI

Insurance agents in New York, NY, can expect to earn an average of $66,188 per year, while those in Boston, MA, earn an average of $63,525 per year. These figures demonstrate a clear trend of higher salaries in larger cities with higher costs of living.

To give you a better idea of the salary variance, here's a list of average yearly salaries for insurance agents in select cities:

Keep in mind that these figures are averages and can vary depending on individual performance, experience, and other factors.

Salary by Location

Insurance agents' salaries can vary significantly depending on where they work. The national average salary for an insurance agent is around $56,561 per year.

If you're looking to become an insurance agent, you might want to consider working in San Francisco, CA, where the average salary is $70,701 per year, which is 25.0% above the national average. On the other hand, working in Miami, FL, might not be the best choice, as the salary is 3.5% lower than the national average.

Credit: youtube.com, How much money insurance agents make | In depth pay

Insurance agents in Washington, DC, can expect to earn around $62,952 per year, which is 11.3% higher than the national average. In contrast, those in Chicago, IL, can earn around $59,332 per year, which is 4.9% higher than the national average.

Here's a list of the top 5 cities with the highest salaries for insurance agents:

It's worth noting that salaries can also vary within states, with California averaging $62,505 per year, Massachusetts averaging $61,655 per year, and New Jersey averaging $62,108 per year.

Insurance Agent Jobs

Insurance agents can work in various roles, including Business Insurance Agent, Commercial Insurance Agent, Health Insurance Agent, Insurance Sales Agent, Life Insurance Agent, and Remote Insurance Agent.

The average annual salary for a Life Insurance Agent in the United States is $83,442, while Business Insurance Agents can earn $82,268 per year. Health Insurance Agents, on the other hand, earn significantly less, with an average annual salary of $53,696.

Credit: youtube.com, I Asked 166 Life Insurance Agent How Much Money They ACTUALLY Make Per Month

Experience level also affects an insurance agent's salary. Entry-level agents with less than 1 year of experience earn around $53,471, while senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience can earn up to $60,643 per year.

Here's a breakdown of the average salaries for different levels of insurance agents:

Insurance agents can also earn commissions on the policies they sell, with rates ranging from 5% to 115% of the policy's first-year premiums. For example, a Life Insurance Agent selling a whole life insurance policy could earn a $1,080 commission in the first year, plus $60 in renewals per year.

Pros and Cons

Insurance agents can expect a good living salary with strong earning potential, as many earn income through commissions. If you have a great work ethic and are willing to establish relationships with clients, you'll have more opportunities to earn a higher income.

Insurance agents have fewer entry barriers, as most companies don't require a college degree, and you can learn the ropes on the job. However, having excellent people skills and an impervious nature is vital to be successful in this career.

Credit: youtube.com, PROS & CONS OF BEING AN INSURANCE AGENT

Here are some key things to consider when evaluating the pros and cons of being an insurance agent:

  • Pros: Fewer entry barriers, strong earning potential, flexible work hours, and the opportunity to change people's lives.
  • Cons: Unpredictable income, limited paid time off, and potential disrespect from clients.

Insurance agents can expect a 6% rise in employment over the next decade, with 52,700 new job openings annually, according to the BLS. This means there will be plenty of opportunities to start or advance in this career.

Pros

As an insurance agent, you'll have the opportunity to earn a good living salary with strong potential for growth. Many insurance agents earn income through commissions, so if you're willing to put in the work and establish relationships with clients, you can increase your earning potential.

Insurance agents learn the ropes as they go about their jobs and through various training programs, so a college degree is not always required. However, most companies prefer candidates with a degree.

With a strong demand for insurance, the job market is looking up. The BLS predicts that employment of insurance agents will rise around 6% in the next decade, which is equivalent to about 52,700 new job openings annually.

An Insurance Agent and an Elderly Man Shaking Hands
Credit: pexels.com, An Insurance Agent and an Elderly Man Shaking Hands

You'll have the flexibility to set your own work schedule, which means you can often work from home. However, you may still need to meet with clients in-person outside of your residence.

As an insurance agent, you'll have the chance to change people's lives for the better by helping them make informed decisions about their insurance coverage.

Cons

Being an insurance agent can be unpredictable, especially when it comes to your income. Since your earnings are based on sales, it can be difficult to predict how much your next paycheck will be.

You may also have limited paid time off, which can be a challenge if you're running your own business. This means you'll have to spend time away from building client relationships and looking for leads, which can cost you part of your earnings.

Dealing with difficult people can be a real test of your patience. You may encounter people who treat insurance agents with disrespect or disdain, which can be tough to handle.

Sales and Commission

Credit: youtube.com, For New Insurance Agents - How Commissions Work!

As an insurance agent, your pay can vary greatly depending on your performance and the policies you sell. Uni, the agent in our example, earns a commission of 90% on the first year's premium and 5% on future renewals, which can add up to a significant amount of money.

Uni's commission on a whole life insurance policy that costs $100 per month can be as high as $1,080 in the first year, and $60 in renewals for each subsequent year.

To put this into perspective, if Uni sells one or two policies per week, they could make $50,000 to $100,000 in their first year as an agent. This is a substantial income, especially considering the potential for future renewals.

However, it's worth noting that commission rates can vary between insurance companies, and not all agents will earn the same amount. In fact, the average annual salary for an insurance agent is around $56,561, according to our data.

Here's a breakdown of average salaries for insurance agents, based on industry data:

Guides

Credit: youtube.com, Insurance Agent Salary Guide

If you're considering a career in insurance sales, you're likely wondering how much insurance agents make. Insurance agents can earn a strong income, but the amount varies depending on several factors.

Insurance agents can earn a median salary of $50,000 to $100,000 or more per year, depending on their experience and the type of insurance they sell.

To succeed in insurance sales, you need to be knowledgeable about the products you're selling and have excellent communication skills. Building strong relationships with clients is key to earning a good income as an insurance agent.

Here are the two basic types of insurance agents: captive agents and independent agents. Captive agents work exclusively for one insurance company, while independent agents represent multiple companies.

Insurance agents can also be called insurance brokers or insurance consultants, but the terms are often used interchangeably.

For your interest: Captive Agent Insurance

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it hard to make money as an insurance agent?

Success as an insurance agent depends on various factors, including product knowledge and sales skills, but with dedication and effort, substantial income is achievable. With the right combination of skills and hard work, insurance agents can earn a lucrative income.

Which insurance agents get paid the most?

Life insurance agents tend to earn the highest commissions among all insurance professionals. If you're interested in a lucrative career in insurance, selling life insurance may be worth exploring further.

How much does a licensed insurance agent make in Texas?

In Texas, a licensed insurance agent's estimated total pay is $139,920 per year, with an average salary of $77,809. This compensation varies based on factors such as experience and performance.

Timothy Gutkowski-Stoltenberg

Senior Writer

Timothy Gutkowski-Stoltenberg is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, he has established himself as a versatile and reliable voice in the industry. His writing portfolio showcases a breadth of expertise, with a particular focus on the freight market trends.

Love What You Read? Stay Updated!

Join our community for insights, tips, and more.