Job description

Insurance sales agents work for insurance firms or serve as independent brokers to sell automobile, health, home and life insurance to clients. They compile personal information about clients and devise profiles to determine what is the best product for them.

Duties

    • Search for new clients by generating lists of potential customers using networking, referrals and other leads
    • Sell several different types of insurance, including life, car, health, property and accident insurance
    • Engage with niche clients for specialised products, such as medical malpractice
    • Calculate premiums and disclose the full cost of every policy
    • Interview prospects to gather personal data to construct a profile
    • Inspect property, medical examinations or automobiles and confirm if they meet company prerequisites
    • Discuss with potential clients about their various needs, options and policies
    • Contact policyholders to inform them of policy changes, adjustments or new products
    • Ensure all clients meet necessary requirements, such as medical exams and forms
    • Complete daily administrative tasks that ensure you are updating your records and files
    • Monitor and assess insurance claims to make sure they accurate and equitable
    • Institute bookkeeping protocols and resolve infrastructure setbacks

Skills and qualities

Analytical
Communication
Interpersonal
Independence
Time management
Sales
Organisational
Problem-solving
Decision-making
Customer service
Adaptability
Honesty
Emotional intelligence

Job outlook

Projected growth
The projected growth rate of employment in the US from 2018 to 2028, based on data collected through the BLS Employment Projections (EP) programme. The national average growth rate for all professions is 5%.

10%

New jobs
The number of jobs projected to become available in the US between 2018 and 2028, based on data collected through the BLS Employment Projections (EP) programme.

48.3k

Automation risk
The probability of computerisation, based on data published in ‘The Future of Employment’, a 2013 working paper by Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael Osborne.

92%

Career progression

There is plenty of room for advancement for an insurance sales agent. Some of the positions you could get promoted to include claims investigator, loss control specialist, risk manager, business development and technical management.

The insurance industry focuses on merit, meanwhile, so if you prove yourself as an insurance sales agent, then you can climb the sector’s ladder – internally or at another firm.

Working conditions

Average hours

40h/ week

Typical schedule

Full Time

Standard business hours

An insurance sales agent – who either works on a full-time basis or is self-employed – will work regular office hours, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

You will mostly work in a business environment, but there will be many occasions where you will need to travel for the job, whether it is to onsite workplaces or clients’ homes.

Salary

Bottom 10%

$28k

Median

$51k

Top 10%

$130k

Annual salary estimates are based on percentile wage data collected through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey of US workers.

Qualifications and training

Education level

High school

On-the-job training

Study time

4 weeks

Although it’s possible to become an insurance sales agent with a high school diploma, a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, risk management or a related field can significantly improve your job prospects.

You’ll need to be licensed in the state where you work. Although requirements vary by jurisdiction, you will generally need to complete specialist course and pass a state exam.

Last Updated: Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Perfect career wave

Search for jobs

Find insurance sales agent vacancies near you