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Insurance Agent job description template

If you are hiring for this role, start here. This free template is our detailed definition of the position, with everything you need to find and hire the right person. Copy it, add your own requirements, and post it.

Free job description below
Median pay
$50,707per year, about $24 an hour
Range$19,000 to $83,500 a year
Hourly$9 to $40 an hour
EducationInsurance companies prefer to hire candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, business, or sales.
Also calledLife Insurance Agent, Insurance Broker, Insurance Adjuster
DepartmentInsurance
The role

What is an Insurance Agent?

Insurance Agents, or Insurance Sales Agents, are professionals who sell, negotiate, and recommend life, property, automobiles, healthcare, and business liability insurance protection to clients based on their needs and budgets.

They help clients manage potential risks and losses caused by accidents, illnesses, and other life-threatening situations by purchasing the most suitable policy or coverage if such events occur.

What to screen for

The top Insurance Agent skills.

Five things separate a strong hire from a résumé that reads well. Use these as your scorecard criteria.

SkillWhy it matters
People Skills and CommunicationPeople skills and effective communication are primary characteristics of Insurance Agents. They need to put their clients first, listen to their needs, and empathize with their situations. Only by doing so can insurance agents put together and offer an insurance policy that best fits clients’ situations.
Customer ServiceInsurance Agents must possess exceptional customer service skills since they work directly with clients. Being attentive, helpful, and informative as an Insurance Agent is a must, as well as responding to inquiries, emails, and phone calls timely. Insurance Agents need to ensure their clients feel appreciated at all times.
Sales SkillsInsurance Agents are salespeople. They need to have a strong and persuasive selling style to increase profits. Their ability to negotiate helps them make more sales and meet the company’s goals. This skill only makes sense if Insurance Agents are honest and not too aggressive when trying to make a sale.
Product KnowledgeWide knowledge of insurance-related products is crucial for Insurance Agents. They must understand the products and services they sell and easily describe and explain them to clients. Depending on clients’ situation, Insurance Agents should offer the most suitable solutions that best fit clients’ needs.
Technical KnowledgeInsurance Agents are more than just salespeople. They must be skilled in financial planning, tax, and budget preparation and understand the legal aspects behind every decision. Once they master the technical knowledge, they will be more likely to deeply understand their client's financial situation and therefore provide the best offers and solutions.
Free template

The job description, ready to post.

Copy it as written, or edit it until it sounds like your company. Both work.

Insurance AgentInsurance · Free to use and edit

Our insurance company is looking for a qualified and analytical Insurance Agent to join our team. You will be working directly with customers, face-to-face or via phone, to help them select and understand the most suitable insurance policy for their personal needs and financial abilities. You will also calculate risk management that fits clients’ risk profiles and assist in developing and implementing marketing strategies for insurance products.

As an Insurance Agent, you should be focused on providing exceptional customer service to clients, which means explaining, recommending, assisting, and educating clients on insurance coverage, policies, and financial resources. Every successful Insurance Agent must have excellent communication, customer service, sales, and technical skills, as well as a strong knowledge of current insurance products and services.

Duties and responsibilities

  • Evaluate business and individual customers’ financial needs and status
  • Recommend and propose protection plans that meet clients’ needs
  • Deliver risk management strategies that fit clients’ risk profiles
  • Promote and sell insurance products and services
  • Explain and educate clients on different types of insurance coverage
  • Assist in developing and implementing marketing strategies for insurance contracts, products, and services
  • Provide prompt, accurate, and relevant customer support
  • Meet with customers to discuss existing insurance coverage and financial resources
  • Suggest adjustments and updates in clients’ existing insurance policies
  • Put together customized insurance policies according to clients’ needs
  • Gather and maintain paper and electronic reports, files, and other documentation
  • Coordinate and monitor insurance claims
  • Ensure all necessary paperwork is filled out

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, sales business, or a related field
  • Prior working experience as an Insurance Agent or a similar position
  • Strong knowledge of different types of insurance plans (automobile, life, health, property, etc)
  • Computer proficiency and statistical analysis
  • Excellent verbal and written communication
  • Ability to sell, recommend, and explain various insurance policies and coverage
  • Outstanding customer service skills
Add your pay range, benefits, and location before you post. Postings with a stated range get significantly more finished applications than the ones that leave it out.

Take the template with you

Copy it straight into your job board or ATS, or have it emailed to you with the interview questions for this role.

Education

Degree first, then the certification.

Insurance companies prefer to hire candidates with a Bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, business, or sales.

Some employers may consider hiring a candidate with a high school diploma with good qualifications and sales experience.

Insurance agents must be licensed by the state in which they operate.

They need to possess separate licenses for life, property, health, and casualty insurance.

Insurance agents typically have to complete pre-license courses and then pass state examinations.

CPCU

Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter

Demonstrates expertise in property and casualty insurance.

The Institutes
CLU

Chartered Life Underwriter

Indicates proficiency in life insurance and estate planning.

The American College of Financial Services
Treat these as a signal, not a requirement. Plenty of strong candidates come up through experience without one.
After the applications land

Sample interview questions for an Insurance Agent.

Once you have gathered the applications, work through these in order. Twelve questions across four areas, enough to tell your shortlist apart.

Personal
  • What would your friends briefly say about you?
  • What would be your dream vacation destination if you could go anywhere in the world right now?
  • Do you play any sports?
Human Resources
  • What qualities do you think make you a good Insurance Agent?
  • How long have you been working at your previous position as an Insurance Agent?
  • What do you know about our insurance company so far?
Management
  • How would you negotiate unprofitable contract terms?
  • On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate your communication skills?
  • Do you prefer working with clients face-to-face to via phone calls?
Technical Skills and Knowledge
  • Most clients often refuse to buy insurance policies for the first time around. How do you keep clients interested and persuade them to make a purchase?
  • What are the most important questions you should ask a client when finding out about their needs?
  • What is your experience using specialized software and work-related programs?
Pay

How much to pay when hiring.

Annual pay by percentile. Where you land depends on the size of the cycle they will own, and the 25th percentile is usually where a first analyst hire sits.

10th percentile$19,000
25th percentile$32,000
Median$50,707
75th percentile$57,500
90th percentile$83,500

Hourly equivalents run from $9 at the 10th percentile to $40 at the 90th.

Related job titles

Candidates may apply under a different name.

Post the title your industry uses and keep the rest of the description. These three roles overlap enough that the same posting usually reaches all of them.

Same work, different title

Three titles, one description.

Search behavior varies by industry, so the same job is advertised under several names. If you are unsure which one your candidates search for, run two titles and see which fills.

Life Insurance Agent

Life Insurance Agents are individuals who help clients choose a life insurance policy that best fits their needs, preferences, and budget.

$83,578 median

Insurance Broker

Insurance Adjuster

Questions

Frequently asked questions.

What are the differences between Insurance Agents and Insurance Brokers?

These two professionals both work to select the best insurance policy for clients, but they have different responsibilities.

Insurance Agents work for insurance companies to sell and represent their insurance policies.

On the contrary, Insurance Brokers represent clients and they don’t work directly for the company.

They identify clients’ needs and reach out to Insurance Agents to select the best option and complete the final transaction.

What are the different types of Insurance Agents?

There are many different types of Insurance Agents based on their field of work.

There are Life Insurance Agents, Captive Agents, and Independent Insurance Agents.

There are also Insurance Agents who specialize in selling and representing automobile, property, health, and casualty insurances.

What are the essential skills for Insurance Agents?

Insurance Agents must have great communication, customer service, sales, technical, and organizational skills.

How much do Insurance Agents earn annually?

Insurance Agents typically earn between $19,000 and $83,500 per year.

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