Insurance Producer
Find clients, explain coverage options, and sell insurance policies that fit what people need.
Top earners: $100k+
- Median pay (U.S.)
- $62,280
- Degree
- No degree required
- Training time
- Learn on the job
- Speed to entry
- Data coming soon
- Hands-on or desk
- Desk-based
- Working with people
- People-focused
Labels like Hands-on and People-focused are BWTD classifications based on occupational data[8]. How we classify
Career data
What it pays
Top earners: $100k+. The top 10% nationally earn more than $100,000.
- Median
- $62,280
- Half of workers earn more than this, and half earn less.
- Middle 50%
- $46,870–$96,950
- Half of all workers earn somewhere in this range.
- Top 10%
- Over $138,140
- One in ten workers earns more than this.
Pay structures vary. Independent agents may be paid by commission only. Agents employed by an agency or insurance carrier may be paid salary only, salary plus commission, or salary plus bonus.
National figures for all workers in this occupation (May 2025, United States). This is not starting pay and not a guarantee. Pay varies with location, experience, employer, and hours. Personal stories on BWTD show one person's experience and are reported separately.
Job outlook
What you'd actually do
Insurance producers (also called insurance sales agents) contact potential customers and sell one or more types of insurance. They learn about a client's situation, explain policy options, suggest changes to existing coverage, handle sales and renewals, and help clients through the claims process.
Typical duties[5]
- Contact potential clients to expand their own customer base
- Interview prospective clients to get information about their financial situation and discuss existing coverage
- Explain the features of various insurance policies
- Analyze clients' current policies and suggest additions or other changes
- Customize insurance programs to suit individual clients
- Handle policy sales and renewals
- Assist clients with the insurance claims process
- Maintain client records
How people get in
Education
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent
Training
BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical for insurance sales agents.
Licensing & certification[4]
Agents must be licensed in the states where they work. Separate licenses are required to sell life and health insurance and property and casualty insurance. Most states also require continuing education to keep a license.
What the work is like
Qualities that matter
- Analytical skills
- Communication
- Initiative
- Interpersonal skills
- Self-confidence
As listed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.[5]
How to get started
- Decide which line you're interested in (life and health, or property and casualty). Each needs its own license.
- Look up your state's pre-licensing and exam requirements.
- Ask agencies how new producers are paid (salary, commission, or a mix) before you accept an offer.
Requirements vary by state and employer. Always confirm licensing, certification, and hiring requirements where you plan to work.
Sources
- [1]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Insurance Sales Agents
Median annual pay $62,280 (May 2025). Lowest 10% earned less than $37,330; highest 10% more than $138,140. Pay may be commission only, salary only, salary plus commission, or salary plus bonus.
Source updated Aug 27, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
- [2]
National annual wage percentiles, May 2025: 25th $46,870; 75th $96,950.
Accessed Oct 1, 2026 · Retrieved from the BLS Public Data API, series OEUN000000000000041302112 (25th percentile) and OEUN000000000000041302114 (75th percentile); values match the OOH figures. On the tables page, choose National (May 2025).
- [3]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Insurance Sales Agents
Employment 572,600 (2025); projected growth 3% from 2025 to 2035, as fast as average.
Source updated Aug 27, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
- [4]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Insurance Sales Agents
Typical entry-level education: high school diploma or equivalent; moderate-term on-the-job training. Agents must be licensed in the states where they work, with separate licenses for life/health and property/casualty; most states require continuing education.
Source updated Aug 27, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
- [5]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Insurance Sales Agents
Duties and important qualities as listed by BLS.
Source updated Aug 27, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
- [6]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Insurance Sales Agents
Most work in office settings and may travel to meet clients; most work full time.
Source updated Aug 27, 2026 · Accessed Oct 1, 2026
- [7]
O*NET OnLine: Insurance Sales Agents (41-3021.00), O*NET 31.0 Database
Work context: 82% work more than 40 hours in a typical week.
Accessed Oct 1, 2026 · O*NET 31.0 (August 2026 release); worker survey data dated 08/2018.
- [8]
O*NET OnLine: Insurance Sales Agents (41-3021.00), O*NET 31.0 Database
Ratings used for BWTD classifications (1–5 scales): Spend Time Sitting 4.60; Spend Time Using Your Hands 1.91; Performing General Physical Activities importance 1.66; Deal With External Customers or the Public 4.97; Selling or Influencing Others importance 4.01.
Accessed Oct 1, 2026 · Supports BWTD classifications "Desk-based" and "People-focused" (methodology v1). Remote and travel not classified: no authoritative source.
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. Built Without the Degree has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.