What You Need to Know About Insurance Sales Agent
Job Description: 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.
Life As an Insurance Sales Agent: What Do They Do?
- 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.
- 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.
- Calculate premiums and establish payment method.
- Monitor insurance claims to ensure they are settled equitably for both the client and the insurer.
- Perform administrative tasks, such as maintaining records and handling policy renewals.
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Qualities of an Insurance Sales Agent
Insurance Sales Agents state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Types of Insurance Sales Agent Jobs
- Insurance Sales Agent
- Sales Specialist
- District Agent
- Group Leader
- Enrollment Specialist
Job Demand for Insurance Sales Agents
In the United States, there were 501,400 jobs for Insurance Sales Agent in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 9.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 49,800 new jobs for Insurance Sales Agent by 2026. The BLS estimates 54,700 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Insurance Sales Agent are Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Vermont, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Insurance Sales Agents Make A Lot Of Money?
Insurance Sales Agents make between $27,500 and $125,610 a year.
Insurance Sales Agents who work in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, or Connecticut, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Insurance Sales Agents in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $81,410 |
Alaska | $71,150 |
Arizona | $59,160 |
Arkansas | $58,340 |
California | $76,420 |
Colorado | $68,560 |
Connecticut | $80,120 |
Delaware | $60,450 |
District of Columbia | $74,990 |
Florida | $63,180 |
Georgia | $59,940 |
Hawaii | $66,150 |
Idaho | $57,410 |
Illinois | $69,520 |
Indiana | $65,310 |
Iowa | $63,130 |
Kansas | $68,100 |
Kentucky | $55,800 |
Louisiana | $50,420 |
Maine | $60,840 |
Maryland | $66,590 |
Massachusetts | $89,100 |
Michigan | $66,910 |
Minnesota | $74,140 |
Mississippi | $61,650 |
Missouri | $59,420 |
Montana | $63,620 |
Nebraska | $72,040 |
Nevada | $70,870 |
New Hampshire | $65,310 |
New Jersey | $76,160 |
New Mexico | $47,070 |
New York | $84,540 |
North Carolina | $69,020 |
North Dakota | $63,940 |
Ohio | $60,500 |
Oklahoma | $60,010 |
Oregon | $65,040 |
Pennsylvania | $80,970 |
Rhode Island | $67,880 |
South Carolina | $58,600 |
South Dakota | $63,180 |
Tennessee | $57,460 |
Texas | $62,760 |
Utah | $54,370 |
Virginia | $60,100 |
Washington | $61,930 |
West Virginia | $52,240 |
Wisconsin | $74,690 |
Wyoming | $57,190 |
What Tools & Technology do Insurance Sales Agents Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Insurance Sales Agents may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Windows
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Scheduling software
- YouTube
- Medical procedure coding software
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- Adobe Systems Adobe AfterEffects
- Applied Systems Vision
- Insurance rating software
How do I Become an Insurance Sales Agent?
Are there Insurance Sales Agents education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become an Insurance Sales Agent?
Where Insurance Sales Agents Work
Below are examples of industries where Insurance Sales Agents work:
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming an Insurance Sales Agent might also be interested in the following careers:
- Gaming Managers
- Sales Managers
- Human Resources Managers
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage
- Supply Chain Managers
Career changers with experience as an Insurance Sales Agent sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Nick Youngson via Creative Commons 3 - CC BY-SA 3.0
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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