Occupation Summary

Insurance Sales Agents

O*NET 41-3021.00

Description:

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.

Annual Wages:
$66,484.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 16.72%.
Education Level:
Bachelor's Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Call on policyholders to deliver and explain policy, to analyze insurance program and suggest additions or changes, or to change beneficiaries.
  2. Calculate premiums and establish payment method.
  3. Customize insurance programs to suit individual customers, often covering a variety of risks.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Seek out new clients and develop clientele by networking to find new customers and generate lists of prospective clients.
  7. Explain features, advantages, and disadvantages of various policies to promote sale of insurance plans.
  8. Contact underwriter and submit forms to obtain binder coverage.
  9. Ensure that policy requirements are fulfilled, including any necessary medical examinations and the completion of appropriate forms.
  10. Confer with clients to obtain and provide information when claims are made on a policy.
  11. Perform administrative tasks, such as maintaining records and handling policy renewals.
  12. Select company that offers type of coverage requested by client to underwrite policy.
  13. Monitor insurance claims to ensure they are settled equitably for both the client and the insurer.
  14. Develop marketing strategies to compete with other individuals or companies who sell insurance.
  15. Attend meetings, seminars, and programs to learn about new products and services, learn new skills, and receive technical assistance in developing new accounts.
  16. Inspect property, examining its general condition, type of construction, age, and other characteristics, to decide if it is a good insurance risk.
  17. Install bookkeeping systems and resolve system problems.
  18. Plan and oversee incorporation of insurance program into bookkeeping system of company.
  19. Explain necessary bookkeeping requirements for customer to implement and provide group insurance program.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Insurance Sales Agents employed Annual Growth Rate
Agencies, brokerages, and other insurance related activities 63.6 1.08
Insurance carriers 20.5 0.58


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $31.96
2024 National average hourly wage $39.19
2022 National employment 536,800
2022 Texas employment 63,511
Texas projected employment by 2032 74,131
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 6,493




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
93.80%
Sales and Marketing
Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
92.40%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
82.00%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
71.60%
Law and Government
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
70.80%
Transportation
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
69.20%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
67.80%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
61.80%
Communications and Media
Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
61.40%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
58.00%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
80.00%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
77.60%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
77.60%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
75.00%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
72.40%
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
72.40%
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
70.00%
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
67.60%
Negotiation
Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
65.00%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
62.40%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
80.00%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
80.00%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
80.00%
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
75.00%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
72.40%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
72.40%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
70.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
65.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
65.00%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
62.40%


  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    -- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Selling or Influencing Others
    -- Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
  • Working with Computers
    -- Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    -- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Other Activities


  • Independence
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.



Tools

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Digital cameras: Digital cameras;

Franking or postage machines: Postage meters;

Laser fax machine: Laser facsimile machines;

Laser printers: Laser printers;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers; Notebook computers;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Wearable computing devices: Pen-based computers;


Technology

Calendar and scheduling software: Scheduling software;

Customer relationship management CRM software: Tangle S Creations Your Insurance Office; Allied Financial Software Act4Advisors; Applied Systems Vision; Benefits Technology Group SalesLogix; CPU Tracker Software CPU Tracker; Customer relationship management CRM software; E-Z Data SmartOffice; Fiserv FSC Manager; Hoffman Computer Systems Amsoft; Infospectrum Quick Insure; InStar Orion; Insurance Systems WebWriter BackOffice; Insurance Technologies ForeSight Enterprise;

Data base user interface and query software: Insurance Technology Consultants WOW;

Document management software: Allstar Software Systems Kofax;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: MI-Assistant MI Management System; Microsoft Dynamics; Skywire Software Policyware; Special Agent; NaviSys Front Office; North American Software Associates Eclipse; Online Database Solutions Agent Intelligence; QuickQuote QuickFile Agency Management System; Results International Systems Artius Suite; Terrace Consulting AgencyInsight; Tritech Financial Systems General Insurance Management System GIMS; United Systems and Software Individual Life and Health Administration System; Vulcan Solutions Vulcan Insurance; AMS Services AMS 360; AMS Services AMS Sagitta; Advantage Information Systems The Agency Advantage; Agency management software; Agency Master; Agency Software AgencyPro; CoVirt VirtGate; Applied Systems The Agency Manager; irs-aims MARS; LIDP Consulting Services The Administrator; Insurance Technologies Corporation InsurancePro; DORIS FILESERVERonline; FINEOS Insure; G2X Agility:Insurance; GBS Agency Expert;

Financial analysis software: Insurance analysis software; Insurance rating software; Cygnus Software IncomeMax; Underwriting software;

Instant messaging software: GroupMe;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Medical software: Medical procedure coding software; Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Operating system software: Microsoft Windows;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel; Spreadsheet software;

Video conferencing software: LogMeIn GoToMeeting; Zoom;

Video creation and editing software: YouTube; Adobe After Effects; Apple Final Cut Pro;

Web page creation and editing software: Facebook; LinkedIn;

Word processing software: Word processing software; Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Insurance Sales Agents include:
  • 43-4041.00 Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks
  • 13-2071.00 Credit Counselors
  • 43-4051.00 Customer Service Representatives
  • 13-2051.00 Financial and Investment Analysts
  • 43-9041.00 Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
  • 13-2053.00 Insurance Underwriters
  • 13-2072.00 Loan Officers
  • 13-2052.00 Personal Financial Advisors
  • 41-3091.00 Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
  • 41-3031.00 Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about insurance sales agents, visit: National Association of Professional Insurance Agents
  • Insurance Information Institute
  • For more information about insurance sales agents in the healthcare industry, visit: National Association of Health Underwriters
  • For more information about certifications, visit: The Institutes
  • The American College of Financial Services
  • For more information about securities licensure, visit: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
  • Information about insurance sales agent licensure is available from state insurance department websites.
  • Insurance Sales Agents

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.