Jetted FoxCareers · Sales & real estate
Insurance sales agents
Sell car, home, life or health insurance to people and businesses, and handle their policy changes and claims. No college degree needed.
Start now · paid while you train
Starting pay ranges from about $16.48/hr in West Virginia to $35.02/hr in Massachusetts.
Pay in every state
| State | Start | 2 years |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $17.57–22.95/hr | $31.50/hr |
| Alaska | $18.31–23.94/hr | $24.28/hr |
| Arizona | $19.38–23.09/hr | $29.59/hr |
| Arkansas | $16.49–19.69/hr | $27.27/hr |
| California | $18.54–23.74/hr | $36.60/hr |
| Colorado | $20.41–23.73/hr | $33.04/hr |
| Connecticut | $20.51–25.77/hr | $35.98/hr |
| Delaware | $17.28–21.71/hr | $22.46/hr |
| Florida | $17.88–22.12/hr | $28.75/hr |
| Georgia | $17.47–22.11/hr | $29.74/hr |
| Hawaii | $18.63–27.85/hr | $30.85/hr |
| Idaho | $17.98–22.95/hr | $28.13/hr |
| Illinois | $17.80–22.49/hr | $30.90/hr |
| Indiana | $18.22–23.48/hr | $29.50/hr |
| Iowa | $18.07–22.01/hr | $28.92/hr |
| Kansas | $18.28–22.50/hr | $29.03/hr |
| Kentucky | $15.46–22.24/hr | $29.27/hr |
| Louisiana | $16.89–20.90/hr | $26.65/hr |
| Maine | $22.78–24/hr | $30.25/hr |
| Maryland | $18.78–21.72/hr | $28.03/hr |
| Massachusetts | $27.70–35.02/hr | $38.12/hr |
| Michigan | $18.44–23.02/hr | $29.76/hr |
| Minnesota | $23.73–28.82/hr | $37.81/hr |
| Mississippi | $15.34–17.99/hr | $23.04/hr |
| Missouri | $15–20.18/hr | $28.36/hr |
| Montana | $20.32–24.09/hr | $29.83/hr |
| Nebraska | $18.03–23.22/hr | $29.61/hr |
| Nevada | $18.25–20.22/hr | $23.60/hr |
| New Hampshire | $22.39–26.12/hr | $35.75/hr |
| New Jersey | $23.72–28.87/hr | $39.25/hr |
| New Mexico | $14.08–17.55/hr | $21.72/hr |
| New York | $18.17–26.83/hr | $37.55/hr |
| North Carolina | $17.31–21.14/hr | $28.23/hr |
| North Dakota | $22.49–27.60/hr | $34.24/hr |
| Ohio | $18.14–22.74/hr | $29.45/hr |
| Oklahoma | $17.13–18.44/hr | $23.04/hr |
| Oregon | $21.47–23.19/hr | $29.66/hr |
| Pennsylvania | $19.12–23.50/hr | $35.28/hr |
| Rhode Island | $23.13–29.43/hr | $38.43/hr |
| South Carolina | $16.89–21.63/hr | $29.50/hr |
| South Dakota | $23.60–27.82/hr | $34.61/hr |
| Tennessee | $17.85–21.49/hr | $27.46/hr |
| Texas | $14.49–19.10/hr | $24.61/hr |
| Utah | $16.96–22.10/hr | $29.44/hr |
| Vermont | $24.55–29.28/hr | $34/hr |
| Virginia | $17.46–22.30/hr | $29.10/hr |
| Washington | $21.22–23.35/hr | $29.34/hr |
| Washington, DC | $23.35–29.07/hr | $40.64/hr |
| West Virginia | $14.14–16.48/hr | $21.86/hr |
| Wisconsin | $22.81–27.44/hr | $38.20/hr |
| Wyoming | $20.82–26.34/hr | $34.53/hr |
Estimates, May 2025. Start = what the lowest-paid 10–25% earn; 2 years = the median. US Bureau of Labor Statistics
What it takes
Before you're hired
Once you're hired
State insurance producer license: required in every state. It lets you sell insurance for commission. Rules differ by state; check your state's licensing board.
A normal day
You work from an agency office or call center, calling leads, answering quote requests and meeting clients. You compare coverage options, run quotes in the insurer's software, write policies, and handle renewals and changes. Part of the day goes to existing customers with claims and billing questions.
The good parts
The state license takes weeks, not years. Renewal commissions build steady income over time. Tens of thousands of openings every year.
The hard parts
Early pay is often a low base plus commission until you build a client list. Lots of cold calls and rejections. Some agencies expect you to sell to friends and family.
Where it leads
senior agent, agency manager, commercial insurance specialist or owner of an independent agency within 5-10 years.
Quick answers
Do insurance sales agents need a college degree?
No. You can start now: paid while you train.
How long is the training for insurance sales agents?
2–6 weeks for the license, then 6–12 months to build a client base.
How much do insurance sales agents make?
About $17.95–22.53 an hour to start and $29.94 an hour at the median across the US (May 2025).
Is it a fit for you?
Answer a few questions and see your paths. Free, about 7 minutes.
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Last updated October 13, 2026. Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Jobs: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Training, costs and requirements: Jetted Fox research (estimates). This site includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Jetted Fox has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Facts, not advice.