Is getting an insurance license worth it?
Selling insurance requires a license in every state where you do business, and the pay compares well with the wider labor market. The median annual wage for insurance sales agents was $62,280 in May 2025, above the $50,980 median for all U.S. occupations, and the highest 10% earned more than $138,140. Most agents earn commissions, and the amount depends on the type and amount of insurance sold and on whether the transaction is a new policy or a renewal.
That is a personal judgment, but the entry costs are modest: a $50 to $75 exam fee, a vendor-set fingerprint background check fee, and the $80 producer license application fee. On the earnings side, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $62,280 for insurance sales agents as of May 2025, with the highest 10% earning above $138,140.
Sources: NIPR: Alabama resident individual renewal requirements; University of Alabama: Alabama insurance testing (state exam administrator); Alabama Department of Insurance (ALDOI) – Adjuster Requirements; BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
Whether a license pays off depends on your circumstances, but the costs and earnings are documented. In Arizona the direct regulatory costs are a $42-$59 exam fee depending on the line, $30.69 for fingerprints, and a $120 license fee. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median wage of $62,280 for insurance sales agents in May 2025, with the highest earners making over $138,140.
Sources: PSI: Arizona insurance candidate information bulletin (revised June 11, 2026); Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) Fee Schedule; BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
Whether it is worth it depends on your goals, but the federal wage data offers a benchmark: the median annual wage for insurance sales agents was $62,280 in May 2025, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 43,100 openings per year. In Arkansas the main costs are a $50 exam fee, a $15 application fee, and a prelicensing course, and most people finish the process within a few weeks to a couple of months.
Sources: Arkansas AID: Title insurance licensing; PSI: Arkansas insurance candidate information bulletin; NIPR: Arkansas resident individual licensing requirements.
Whether it is worth it is your call, but federal wage and employment data show steady demand. Insurance sales agents earned a median annual wage of $62,280 in May 2025, with the lowest 10% earning less than $37,330 and the highest 10% earning more than $138,140. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, or about 43,100 openings per year. In Colorado, getting licensed costs $41 for the exam and $44 per line of authority for residents.
Sources: BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021); Pearson VUE: Colorado Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook (July 2026, #120600).
That depends on your career goals, but federal data offers benchmarks. Insurance sales agents earned a median annual wage of $62,280 in May 2025, and employment is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as average. In Connecticut the direct licensing costs are modest: a $65 single-line or $105 combined exam fee and a $140 producer application fee.
Sources: BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021); Connecticut CID: Public adjuster license; Pearson VUE: Connecticut insurance candidate handbook (March 2026, #120700); Connecticut CID: Producer (individual) license.
In Delaware the required costs are modest: no prelicensing education is required, so you pay the $90 Pearson VUE exam fee and a $150 producer license fee. For earnings context, insurance sales agents nationally earned a median annual wage of $62,280 in May 2025, with the top 10% earning over $138,140, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3% employment growth from 2025 to 2035.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Delaware Insurance Candidate Handbook (June 2025); Delaware DOI: Domestic and Foreign Insurers Bulletin No. 152 / Producers and Adjusters Bulletin No. 37 — Licensing Fees (House Bill 18); BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
Whether an insurance license is worth it depends on your goals, but federal wage data offers a benchmark. Insurance sales agents earned a median of $62,280 in May 2025, with the lowest 10% earning less than $37,330 and the highest 10% earning more than $138,140. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 43,100 openings per year.
Sources: BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
Whether a license pays off depends on pay and job outlook, and federal data gives a picture of both. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $62,280 for insurance sales agents (May 2025), with the lowest 10 percent earning under $37,330 and the highest 10 percent over $138,140. Employment is projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 43,100 openings a year, mostly from replacement needs.
Sources: BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
That depends on your goals, but the pay data is concrete: insurance sales agents earned a median of $62,280 per year ($29.94 per hour) nationally in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned under $37,330, and the highest 10% earned over $138,140. The Bureau projects 3% job growth from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average occupation.
Sources: BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
That depends on your goals, but the entry cost is modest: $92 for the exam and $215 for the resident license, plus a $5.60 NIPR transaction fee, after 20 hours of pre-licensing education per line. Compensation is commission-based, so income grows with your book of business rather than a salary. Federal wage surveys show a wide spread between entry-level and experienced agents, and the data excludes self-employed agency owners, whose earnings are not captured.
Sources: Illinois IDOI: FAQs – Producer licensing exam changes (Pearson VUE testing); Illinois IDOI: Fee schedule; NIPR help: Apply for an initial license; Illinois IDOI: How to become a resident producer (Illinois insurance agent).
That depends on your goals, but federal labor data offer benchmarks: insurance sales agents earned a national median of $62,280 per year in May 2025, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 3% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 43,100 openings each year. Entry costs in Indiana are modest for a licensed profession: 20 to 40 pre-licensing hours, a $69 exam fee, and a $40 application fee for major lines.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021); Pearson VUE: Indiana insurance candidate handbook (Aug 2026); NIPR: Indiana resident individual renewal requirements.
Whether a license is worth it depends on your own cost and earnings picture. In Iowa, each licensing exam costs $44, the license fee is $50, and fingerprinting costs $37.35 at an Iowa Fieldprint site. Nationally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports median pay of $62,280 per year for insurance sales agents as of May 2025, with employment projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Iowa insurance candidate handbook (incl. content outlines, July 2025 / effective Jan 2026); Iowa IID: Insurance producers; Iowa IID: Fingerprinting and criminal history checks; BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
That depends on your costs and income goals, but both sides are documented. A Kansas resident producer license requires a $30 application fee, a $60 fingerprint background check fee, and a $64 combined exam, and Kansas requires no prelicensing course. The median annual wage for insurance sales agents was $62,280 in May 2025, with the lowest 10% earning less than $37,330 and the highest 10% more than $138,140.
Sources: K.S.A. 40-4905: License application, fingerprinting and background check; Kansas KDOI: Producer licensing (resident and nonresident); Kansas KDOI: Producer examinations; BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
Whether a license pays off depends on your market and effort, but the federal wage data gives a benchmark. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 2025 median pay for insurance sales agents of $62,280 per year, with the lowest 10% earning under $37,330 and the highest 10% earning over $138,140. The occupation also projects about 43,100 openings each year on average through 2035.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
The median annual wage for U.S. insurance sales agents was $62,280 in May 2025, ranging from $37,330 at the 10th percentile to $138,140 at the 90th. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment to grow 4% from 2024 to 2034, with about 47,000 openings each year. Whether a license pays off depends on your goals and local market, but these figures give the national earnings picture.
Sources: CareerOneStop (US DOL): Insurance Sales Agents national profile.
That depends on your goals, but federal labor data can inform the decision. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $62,280 for insurance sales agents as of May 2025, with employment projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as average. About 43,100 openings are projected each year over that decade, mostly from replacement needs.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
That depends on your career goals, but federal labor data offers context. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $62,280 for insurance sales agents (May 2025), with 3% projected employment growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 43,100 openings each year. Most agents work full time, and 63% worked in insurance agencies and brokerages, while 12% were self-employed.
Sources: BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
Whether a license pays off is a personal call, but the earnings and cost data can frame it. U.S. insurance sales agents earned a median of $62,280 per year in May 2025, with the lowest 10% earning under $37,330 and the highest 10% over $138,140, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In Mississippi, the main entry costs are the $50 exam fee per attempt and the $100 license fee, and agents must complete continuing education to keep the license active.
Sources: BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021); Pearson VUE: Mississippi insurance candidate handbook (PDF, July 2025); Mississippi MID: Licensing forms and fees.
Median pay for insurance sales agents nationwide was $62,280 per year in May 2025, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the field projects 3% job growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 43,100 openings per year. The typical entry-level education is a high school diploma or equivalent. Most agents work in insurance agencies and brokerages.
Sources: BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
Whether a license is worth it depends on your income goals, and Montana keeps entry costs low. A resident Insurance Producer license carries no state application fee, each Pearson VUE exam costs $65, and the fingerprint-based background check costs $30. With no prelicensing education required, the main investment is study time.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Montana insurance candidate handbook (June 2025); Montana CSI: Fingerprints for insurance licensing purposes.
That is a personal decision, but federal wage and outlook data can inform it. Insurance sales agents earned a median annual wage of $62,280 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the lowest 10% earning less than $37,330 and the highest 10% earning more than $138,140. Employment is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035. In Nebraska, entry requires no pre-licensing education, a $43 single-line exam, and a $50 license fee.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021); PSI: Nebraska Insurance Licensing Examination Candidate Information Bulletin; Nebraska DOI: Licensing Fee Schedule (7/17/2026).
That depends on your goals, but the figures are measurable. Insurance sales agents earned a median annual wage of $62,280 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $37,330 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $138,140, and employment projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035. In New Hampshire, licensing costs a $59 or $72 exam fee plus the $210 license fee, and no prelicensing course is required.
Sources: BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021); PSI: New Hampshire insurance candidate information bulletin; New Hampshire NHID: Licensing fees.
Licensing is mandatory for anyone who sells insurance, so the requirement itself is fixed regardless of career goals. Insurance sales agents earned a median annual wage of $62,280 in May 2025, with the top 10% earning more than $138,140. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 43,100 openings each year.
Sources: BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
The value depends on your goals, but the occupation data is measurable. Insurance sales agents earned a median annual wage of $62,280 in May 2025, and employment is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 43,100 openings per year. Entry costs in New Mexico are comparatively low: no prelicensing course is required, and the main costs are the $75 exam fee, the $67 background check, and the $30 license fee.
Sources: BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021); PSI: New Mexico Insurance Candidate Information Bulletin; New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance — Individual Licensing Instructions (PDF); New Mexico OSI: License Fees 2026.
There is no single answer, because the value depends on your goals and circumstances. Federal labor data offers context: insurance sales agents earned a median annual wage of $62,280 in May 2025, with the lowest 10% earning under $37,330 and the highest 10% earning more than $138,140. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 43,100 openings each year.
Sources: BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
The answer depends on costs and earnings you can weigh against each other. An Ohio resident license requires a $49 exam fee, a $72.25 fingerprint fee, and a $10 application fee per line of authority, plus a pre-licensing course whose cost varies by provider. For comparison, insurance sales agents earned a median annual wage of $62,280 in May 2025, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3% employment growth for the occupation from 2025 to 2035.
Sources: Ohio ODI: Exam reservation and scheduling; Ohio ODI: Criminal background check (fingerprints); Ohio ODI: License fees and application fee chart; BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
That depends on your goals, but the entry cost in Oklahoma is low: the state requires no prelicensing education, the producer exam costs $38, and the resident application fee is $60. Agent earnings vary by state, products sold, sales volume, and whether the agent works for one company or several.
Sources: Oklahoma PSI: Insurance Licensing Examination Candidate Information Bulletin; Oklahoma OID: License Fee Schedule (revised 09/07/2023).
Whether the license pays off depends on an agent's market and sales volume, but federal labor data gives a reference point: insurance sales agents earned a median of $62,280 per year in May 2025, with the lowest 10% earning under $37,330 and the highest 10% earning over $138,140. Entry requires only a high school diploma or equivalent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 43,100 openings per year, mostly from replacement needs.
Sources: BLS OOH: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
Whether it is worth it depends on your career goals and the costs involved. In Rhode Island, the direct costs are an $80 exam fee and a $120 resident producer license fee, with no prelicensing education hours required. Licenses renew every two years with 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics. Agent earnings come from commissions paid by insurers and vary with sales volume.
Sources: Pearson VUE: Rhode Island insurance content outlines (effective May 28, 2026); Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation — Insurance Regulation 103 / 230-RICR-20-50-5 (Licensing and Renewal Fees); 230-RICR-20-50-2: Continuing education for insurance producers.
The licensing data points to a steady occupation. Insurance sales agents earned a median annual wage of $62,280 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the top 10% earning more than $138,140. The occupation is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, producing about 43,100 openings per year. A producer license also requires ongoing work: 24 hours of continuing education every two years, including 3 hours of ethics.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Insurance Sales Agents (41-3021); TN TDCI — Registration for Fingerprinting; TN TDCI — Continuing Education Requirements.
That depends on your goals, but federal wage data offers a benchmark. Insurance sales agents earned a median annual wage of $62,280 in May 2025, with the lowest 10% earning less than $37,330 and the highest 10% earning more than $138,140. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of insurance sales agents to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations, with about 43,100 openings each year. The license itself costs little; the Virginia exam is $35 and the application is $15 per line of authority.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021); Prometric: Virginia Bureau of Insurance Licensing Information Bulletin (effective December 13, 2024); NIPR: Virginia resident individual licensing requirements.
Whether it is worth it depends on your own cost and income comparison, but federal data gives concrete benchmarks: the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $62,280 for insurance sales agents as of May 2025, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $138,140. Employment is projected to grow 3 percent from 2025 to 2035, and about 43,100 openings are projected each year.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Insurance Sales Agents (SOC 41-3021).
That depends on your career goals, but the barrier to entry in Wyoming is low. The state requires no prelicensing education hours, the resident application fee is $100, and fingerprints cost $39. Earnings depend on the line of insurance you sell and your sales volume.
Sources: Wyoming DOI: producer licensing requirements, fees and FAQs.