Best programs to become an insurance sales agent
You do not need a college degree to become an insurance sales agent. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Insurance (IPEDS completions).
1 college program at 69 schools trains insurance sales agents, graduating 1,798 people a year (IPEDS completions). The job pays a median of $62,280 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About insurance sales agents
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.
Best programs to study to become an insurance sales agent
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 52.1701 | 1,798 | 100.0% | 69 | $56,988 | $22,500 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American College of Financial Services King of Prussia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 494 | Insurance | — | — | — |
| 2 | University of Georgia Athens, GA Public · 1 feeder program | 259 | Insurance | 90% | — | 38% |
| 3 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FL Public · 1 feeder program | 92 | Insurance | 86% | — | 24% |
| 4 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SC Public · 1 feeder program | 63 | Insurance | 79% | — | 60% |
| 5 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WI Public · 1 feeder program | 59 | Insurance | 90% | — | 45% |
| 6 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 57 | Insurance | 71% | — | 82% |
| 7 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 45 | Insurance | 69% | — | 93% |
| 8 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 37 | Insurance | 79% | $34,418 | 89% |
| 9 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GA Public · 1 feeder program | 34 | Insurance | 53% | — | 55% |
| 10 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MO Public · 1 feeder program | 34 | Insurance | 75% | — | 78% |
| 11 | William Rainey Harper College Palatine, IL Public · 1 feeder program | 33 | Insurance | 48% | — | — |
| 12 | University of Mississippi University, MS Public · 1 feeder program | 31 | Insurance | 72% | — | 97% |
| 13 | University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, LA Public · 1 feeder program | 30 | Insurance | 54% | — | 85% |
| 14 | Eastern Kentucky University Richmond, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 28 | Insurance | 50% | — | 78% |
| 15 | Appalachian State University Boone, NC Public · 1 feeder program | 26 | Insurance | 75% | — | 90% |
| 16 | St. John's University - New York Queens, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 26 | Insurance | 66% | $27,359 | 83% |
| 17 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Public · 1 feeder program | 23 | Insurance | 75% | — | 85% |
| 18 | University of Houston - Downtown Houston, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 23 | Insurance | 33% | — | 90% |
| 19 | Illinois State University Normal, IL Public · 1 feeder program | 22 | Insurance | 65% | — | 88% |
| 20 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN Public · 1 feeder program | 21 | Insurance | 85% | — | 80% |
| 21 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Public · 1 feeder program | 20 | Insurance | 75% | — | 84% |
| 22 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 17 | Insurance | 96% | $15,315 | 4% |
| 23 | Lorain County Community College Elyria, OH Public · 1 feeder program | 17 | Insurance | 31% | — | — |
| 24 | Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 17 | Insurance | 57% | — | 89% |
| 25 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Oshkosh, WI Public · 1 feeder program | 17 | Insurance | 46% | — | 87% |
| 26 | The University of Olivet Olivet, MI Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 16 | Insurance | 35% | $21,946 | 83% |
| 27 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · 1 feeder program | 15 | Insurance | 40% | — | — |
| 28 | University of North Texas Denton, TX Public · 1 feeder program | 14 | Insurance | 61% | — | 72% |
| 29 | Rio Salado College Tempe, AZ Public · 1 feeder program | 13 | Insurance | 9% | — | — |
| 30 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 12 | Insurance | 89% | $21,956 | 11% |
| 31 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MO Public · 1 feeder program | 12 | Insurance | 58% | — | 91% |
| 32 | Wichita State University Wichita, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 12 | Insurance | 51% | — | 94% |
| 33 | University of Central Arkansas Conway, AR Public · 1 feeder program | 11 | Insurance | 54% | — | 89% |
| 34 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL Public · 1 feeder program | 10 | Insurance | 63% | — | 66% |
| 35 | Husson University Bangor, ME Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 10 | Insurance | 59% | $18,839 | 81% |
| 36 | Santa Monica College Santa Monica, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 10 | Insurance | 36% | — | — |
| 37 | Butler University Indianapolis, IN Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 9 | Insurance | 80% | $35,696 | 85% |
| 38 | Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI Public · 1 feeder program | 9 | Insurance | 47% | — | 91% |
| 39 | Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN Public · 1 feeder program | 9 | Insurance | 43% | — | 81% |
| 40 | Lansing Community College Lansing, MI Public · 1 feeder program | 8 | Insurance | 25% | — | — |
| 41 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK Public · 1 feeder program | 8 | Insurance | 37% | — | 78% |
| 42 | Danville Area Community College Danville, IL Public · 1 feeder program | 7 | Insurance | 45% | — | — |
| 43 | Owens Community College Perrysburg, OH Public · 1 feeder program | 7 | Insurance | 35% | — | — |
| 44 | Ball State University Muncie, IN Public · 1 feeder program | 6 | Insurance | 62% | — | 85% |
| 45 | Baylor University Waco, TX Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 6 | Insurance | 80% | $35,682 | 51% |
| 46 | Kent State University at Salem Salem, OH Public · 1 feeder program | 6 | Insurance | 31% | — | — |
| 47 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OH Public · 1 feeder program | 6 | Insurance | 88% | — | 61% |
| 48 | Gallaudet University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 5 | Insurance | 47% | $14,382 | 58% |
| 49 | University of South Florida Tampa, FL Public · 1 feeder program | 5 | Insurance | 77% | — | 43% |
| 50 | Washburn University Topeka, KS Public · 1 feeder program | 5 | Insurance | 53% | — | — |
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
What insurance sales agents earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvaniamoderate | $73,370 | 19,390 | 1.04× | 3 | 532 |
| Georgialimited | $61,850 | 18,030 | 1.20× | 2 | 293 |
| Kansas | $60,370 | 6,360 | 1.44× | 5 | 136 |
| Floridamoderate | $59,790 | 47,560 | 1.55× | 3 | 107 |
| Wisconsinmoderate | $79,450 | 7,860 | 0.87× | 3 | 77 |
| South Carolinalimited | $61,350 | 8,220 | 1.16× | 1 | 63 |
| Illinoismoderate | $64,280 | 16,360 | 0.87× | 3 | 62 |
| Ohio | $61,260 | 16,250 | 0.95× | 7 | 62 |
| Missourimoderate | $58,990 | 10,030 | 1.11× | 3 | 47 |
| New Yorkmoderate | $78,110 | 22,420 | 0.75× | 3 | 44 |
| Texasmoderate | $51,180 | 47,060 | 1.09× | 3 | 43 |
| Indiana | $61,360 | 10,440 | 1.06× | 5 | 40 |
| Michiganmoderate | $61,900 | 12,160 | 0.90× | 4 | 36 |
| Louisianalimited | $55,440 | 7,100 | 1.19× | 2 | 34 |
| Mississippilimited | $47,930 | 3,210 | 0.90× | 1 | 31 |
| Kentuckylimited | $60,880 | 6,210 | 1.01× | 1 | 28 |
| Minnesotamoderate | $78,640 | 10,010 | 1.10× | 3 | 26 |
| North Carolinalimited | $58,710 | 20,540 | 1.35× | 1 | 26 |
| Iowalimited | $60,140 | 6,840 | 1.42× | 2 | 22 |
| Californiamoderate | $76,120 | 41,160 | 0.73× | 4 | 21 |
| Arizonalimited | $61,560 | 11,870 | 1.19× | 2 | 15 |
| Massachusettslimited | $79,300 | 9,940 | 0.89× | 1 | 12 |
| Arkansaslimited | $56,720 | 4,580 | 1.14× | 1 | 11 |
| Mainelimited | $62,920 | 2,240 | 1.14× | 2 | 11 |
| Oklahomalimited | $47,920 | 5,310 | 1.01× | 1 | 8 |
| District of Columbialimited | $84,530 | — | — | 1 | 5 |
| New Jerseylimited | $81,640 | 11,370 | 0.86× | 1 | 4 |
| Washingtonlimited | $61,040 | 10,500 | 0.96× | 1 | 2 |
Skills and knowledge
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- 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.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Active Listening3.9
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Writing3.6
- Active Learning3.0
- Mathematics3.0
- Monitoring2.9
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service4.7
- Sales and Marketing4.6
- English Language4.1
- Mathematics3.6
- Law and Government3.5
- Transportation3.5
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension4.0
- Oral Expression4.0
- Written Comprehension4.0
- Speech Clarity3.8
- Speech Recognition3.6
- Written Expression3.6
Core activities
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships4.2
- Getting Information4.0
- Selling or Influencing Others4.0
- Working with Computers3.9
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.7
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards3.5
How to get in
How to become an insurance sales agent
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
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.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 1 majors mapped to Insurance Sales Agents1 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 52.1701Insurance
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become an insurance sales agent?+
You do not need a college degree to become an insurance sales agent. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Insurance (IPEDS completions).
Which college majors lead to becoming an insurance sales agent?+
The field of study that leads most directly to this job is Insurance (IPEDS completions). In all, the NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 1 program to this job, which graduates about 1,798 people a year.
How much do insurance sales agents earn?+
The median is $62,280 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $37,330 at the 10th percentile to $138,140 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for insurance sales agents growing?+
BLS projects a +3.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 47,000 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
69 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 1 program that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do insurance sales agents work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Sales Agent, Insurance Agent, Insurance Broker, Sales Representative among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 41-3021.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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