Insurance Sales Agents vs Mechanical Engineers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Mechanical Engineers professionals earn $41,950 more per year than Insurance Sales Agents professionals — that's 69.5% higher. At the 90th percentile, Insurance Sales Agents earns $135,660 compared to $161,240 for Mechanical Engineers.
Salary Range Comparison
Insurance Sales Agents$36,390 – $135,660
Mechanical Engineers$68,740 – $161,240
$36,390$161,240
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Insurance Sales Agents | Mechanical Engineers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $36,390 | $68,740 | $-32,350 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,520 | $81,800 | $-36,280 |
| Median (50th) | $60,370 | $102,320 | $-41,950 |
| 75th Percentile | $91,150 | $130,290 | $-39,140 |
| 90th Percentile | $135,660 | $161,240 | $-25,580 |
| Mean (Average) | $81,510 | $110,080 | $-28,570 |
Employment Numbers
Insurance Sales Agents
469,480
employed nationwide
Mechanical Engineers
286,760
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 Mechanical Engineers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $147,730 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $145,640 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $128,660 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $126,870 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $124,160 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Insurance Sales Agents or Mechanical Engineers?
Mechanical Engineers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $41,950 (69.5% 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 Mechanical Engineers?
Mechanical Engineers salaries range from $68,740 (10th percentile) to $161,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $102,320.
How many Insurance Sales Agents and Mechanical Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 469,480 Insurance Sales Agents positions and 286,760 Mechanical Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Mechanical Engineers to Insurance Sales Agents?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Insurance Sales Agents has a median salary of $60,370 while Mechanical Engineers earns $102,320. 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