Insurance Sales Agent Salary

An insurance sales agent is a person who helps individuals choose a policy that most closely fits their needs. The sales agent will typically represent and work for an individual company, but independent agents who represent many smaller insurance entities exist as well. In any event, these sales-oriented employees help to match up individuals with home, car, and life insurance policies that offer acceptable coverage to the consumer and provide a profit to the company. In some cases, the sales agent may also be the first contact when an insured person needs to file a claim.

Employees in insurance sales are expected to generate new business, as well as retain existing business. This can involve cold-calling, sales seminars, and other creative ways to generate new leads. Sales agents will also look to add coverage options to existing accounts by offering bundling discounts for customers willing to have multiple policy options from the same provider. Some state and local laws may also assist the sales agent, in places where certain coverages are mandated. Such laws help provide a constant infusion of new consumers into the marketplace.

Insurance sales agents must be excellent verbal and written communicators and have an aptitude and facility for salesmanship. While post-secondary education isn't a strict requirement for this job, many insurance companies will either put candidates through their own training programs or seek out applicants with prior insurance sales experience. Most insurance sales agents work business hours during the week in an office environment, but field work involving visiting potential clients or working in advisement seminars is also typical. In some jurisdictions agents must pass certification testing to ensure full understanding of the industry and its obligations to consumers. (Copyright 2017 PayScale.com)

Insurance Sales Agent Tasks

• Sells products that protect businesses or individuals from financial loss.
• Maintains relationship with clients, and advises of changes in coverage.
• Prepares reports, seek out new business, and maintains records.
• Serves as a first contact with the customer.

For Insurance Sales Agents, busy New York offers a higher-than-average pay rate, 35 percent above the national average. Insurance Sales Agents will also find cushy salaries in Phoenix (+33 percent), Los Angeles (+19 percent), Charlotte (+13 percent), and Indianapolis (+11 percent). Place of residence plays a huge part in an Insurance Sales Agent's salary, with Corpus Christi Insurance Sales Agents earning salaries that are 20 percent less than the national average. Orlando and Atlanta are a couple other places where companies are known to pay below the median — salaries tend to be 7 percent less than the median.