How much do insurance agents make?

Insurance careers offer excellent opportunities for job seekers seeking a lucrative, flexible, and ever-changing professional path. To make the most of your job search in this competitive industry, it’s important to have thorough knowledge of each sector’s unique benefits and requirements. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of insurance sales agents is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations, with about 43,100 openings a year.

In this article, we’ll cover salary statistics for property and casualty insurance agents, professionals in life and health insurance roles, and highlight the top companies for building rewarding insurance careers in each specialized field. You’ll learn the basics of the most common forms of insurance and how much insurance agents make in each field.

Property insurance agent salary

Property insurance protects against the loss of physical assets, including cars, homes, jewelry, electronics, and other valuable items. It covers losses and damages caused by theft, vandalism, natural disasters, and other similar events. Examples of property insurance include homeowners insurance, renters insurance, and commercial property insurance.

Salary

Insurance sales agents who work for property and casualty carriers (which the BLS groups as “direct insurance, except life, health, and medical, carriers”) earned a median of $63,810 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay varies by location: in May 2025, insurance sales agents had the highest average pay in the District of Columbia ($119,380), Massachusetts ($103,070), New Jersey ($102,460), New York ($101,750), and Minnesota ($100,270). Overall, the compensation of insurance agents is influenced by their area of expertise and the location where they practice.

The biggest property insurance companies

The top property and casualty insurance companies in the U.S. include State Farm, Berkshire Hathaway, and Progressive. These industry leaders are recognized as some of the top property and casualty insurance companies in the nation, with their property insurance divisions ranking among the largest in the country. While these major insurers offer a range of services, their commercial and residential property branches contribute significantly to their reputation and overall size in the insurance sector. Pay structures differ: agents employed by a carrier may earn a salary plus commission or bonus, while independent agents may be paid by commission only.

Casualty insurance agent salary

Casualty insurance is a broad category within the insurance property and casualty jobs sector, offering protection to individuals and businesses against legal liability. This essential form of liability insurance protects policyholders in situations where they may be held financially liable for accidents, injuries, or damages. As alluded to above, casualty insurance is often paired with property insurance as a single plan (property and casualty or P&C). Insurance property and casualty jobs frequently involve managing policies such as car insurance, workers’ compensation, and product liability insurance, all of which fall under the umbrella of casualty insurance.

Salary

The BLS doesn’t report casualty agents separately from property agents, so the $63,810 median for agents at property and casualty carriers is the closest figure. Across all insurance sales agents, the median was $62,280 in May 2025, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $138,140. Again, pay varies depending on your location.

The biggest casualty insurance companies

Once again, State Farm, Berkshire Hathaway, and Progressive are at the top of the list. Berkshire Hathaway’s ownership of Geico emphasizes its substantial presence in the P&C sector as well as other insurance markets. These industry leaders consistently dominate the market, providing extensive policy offerings and demonstrating strong financial performance. Allstate, well-known for its auto insurance products, is also recognized as a top company for property and casualty insurance. Many P&C firms, such as State Farm, also have significant stakes in the life and health insurance markets.

Life insurance agent salary

Life insurance is structured as a contract in which the policyholder pays a premium to the insurance company to fund future payments. When the policyholder dies, the money is paid to the policy’s beneficiaries. The money is generally allocated towards funeral expenses, debts, lost income, and other related costs.

Salary

The BLS doesn’t publish a separate figure for life insurance agents. Across all types of insurance carriers, insurance sales agents earned a median of $72,350 in May 2025, compared with $61,550 at insurance agencies and brokerages, where most agents work.

The biggest life insurance companies

New York Life, Northwestern Mutual, and MetLife wrote the most life insurance premiums in the U.S. in 2025, according to the NAIC. These leading organizations dominate the life insurance sector, serving distinct customer needs in this specialized field.

Health insurance agent salary

Individuals pay health insurance premiums to an insurance company in exchange for protection against the costs of healthcare services, such as doctor’s visits, emergency room visits, prescription medications, and so on.

Salary

Insurance sales agents at health and medical insurance carriers earned a median of $73,440 in May 2025, the highest of the employer types the BLS reports. Again, pay varies by location.

The biggest health insurance companies

UnitedHealth Group, Elevance Health, and Centene Corporation are among the largest health insurance companies in the U.S. UnitedHealth Group is the parent organization of UnitedHealthcare and offers a wide range of health and life insurance products. Elevance Health, formerly known as Anthem, ranks among the top health insurance companies in the U.S. These companies offer a range of services, including individual and group health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid plans, as well as specialty health benefits.

Conclusion

Pursuing a career in the insurance industry can offer a financially rewarding experience, especially when you explore various insurance careers. Before beginning your journey, it’s recommended that you familiarize yourself with the different opportunities available and consider which roles align with your skills and goals. With this article as a starting point, you’re on the right track to gaining valuable insights into the insurance agent career path and the wide range of insurance jobs. Your research and due diligence now will have a big impact on navigating your future career in insurance.