How much do life insurance agents earn?

There is no single official figure for life-only agents, because the Bureau of Labor Statistics counts them within insurance sales agents overall, who earned a median of $62,280 in May 2025. Private estimates for life agents span roughly $51,000 to $89,000 and vary widely by source and year. First-year term life commissions commonly run 30-80% of the annual premium, falling to a few percent on renewals, which drives much of the spread.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual wage of $62,280 for insurance sales agents in May 2025, the category that includes life insurance agents. Pay varies widely across the occupation, and the Bureau does not publish a separate figure for life insurance agents specifically. Most agents earn commissions, so income depends on the policies sold.