Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Insurance Agent
- Insurance Broker
- Sales Agent
- Sales Representative
Alternate Job Titles
- Account Representative
- Account Specialist
- Auto Insurance Agent (Automotive Insurance Agent)
- Bilingual Insurance Sales Agent
- Bond Writer
- Burial Agent
- Commercial Lines Account Manager
- Compensation Agent
- Customer Relations Rep (Customer Relations Representative)
- Cyber Insurance Policy Specialist
- Debit Agent
- District Agent
- Enrollment Specialist
- Estate Planner
- Field Marketing Representative
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Customer and Personal Service
- Sales and Marketing
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Law and Government
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Persuasion
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Social Orientation
- Dependability
- Perseverance
- Achievement Orientation
- Integrity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Independence
- Achievement
- Support
- Working Conditions
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe After Effects
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
- Zoom
Tools & Equipment
- Desktop computers
- Digital cameras
- Laptop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Laser printers
- Notebook computers
- Pen-based computers
- Personal computers
- Postage meters
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Frequency of Decision Making
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $36,390 |
| Median | $60,370 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $135,660 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 469,480
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $66,260
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $48,450
Customer Service Representatives
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $42,830
Personal Financial Advisors
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $102,140
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $78,140
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.