Insurance Sales Agents vs Insurance Underwriters: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Insurance Underwriters professionals earn $19,510 more per year than Insurance Sales Agents professionals — that's 32.3% higher. At the 90th percentile, Insurance Sales Agents earns $135,660 compared to $138,020 for Insurance Underwriters.
Salary Range Comparison
Insurance Sales Agents$36,390 – $135,660
Insurance Underwriters$51,640 – $138,020
$36,390$138,020
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Insurance Sales Agents | Insurance Underwriters | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36,390 | $51,640 | $-15,250 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,520 | $63,070 | $-17,550 |
| Median (50th) | $60,370 | $79,880 | $-19,510 |
| 75th Percentile | $91,150 | $104,820 | $-13,670 |
| 90th Percentile | $135,660 | $138,020 | $-2,360 |
| Mean (Average) | $81,510 | $90,830 | $-9,320 |
Employment Numbers
Insurance Sales Agents
469,480
employed nationwide
Insurance Underwriters
107,820
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Insurance Sales Agents
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $81,890 |
| Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | $79,860 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $78,130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $77,630 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $76,570 |
Best Cities for Insurance Underwriters
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $106,380 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $103,270 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $98,860 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $98,500 |
| Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | $98,400 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Insurance Sales Agents or Insurance Underwriters?
Insurance Underwriters professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $19,510 (32.3% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Insurance Sales Agents?
Insurance Sales Agents salaries range from $36,390 (10th percentile) to $135,660 (90th percentile), with a median of $60,370.
What is the salary range for Insurance Underwriters?
Insurance Underwriters salaries range from $51,640 (10th percentile) to $138,020 (90th percentile), with a median of $79,880.
How many Insurance Sales Agents and Insurance Underwriters jobs are there?
There are approximately 469,480 Insurance Sales Agents positions and 107,820 Insurance Underwriters positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Insurance Underwriters to Insurance Sales Agents?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Insurance Sales Agents has a median salary of $60,370 while Insurance Underwriters earns $79,880. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS