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Insurance broker vs field agent

The differences between insurance brokers and field agents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an insurance broker has an average salary of $94,006, which is higher than the $37,324 average annual salary of a field agent.

The top three skills for an insurance broker include customer service, life insurance products and lead generation. The most important skills for a field agent are GPS, long-term care, and health insurance.

Insurance broker vs field agent overview

Insurance BrokerField Agent
Yearly salary$94,006$37,324
Hourly rate$45.20$17.94
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs38,40396,067
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4646
Years of experience--

What does an insurance broker do?

Insurance brokers are responsible for assisting clients to determine their liability risks and in selecting the appropriate policies for their family, home, business, or automobile to ensure their protection. They direct clients in creating a sound decision and supply them with a variety of quotes that best suit their needs. Their duties include demonstrating the benefits, terms, conditions, and suspension for a number of participating insurance policies. Also, they may negotiate lesser rates for their clients and continue in guiding these clients in technical issues like filing a claim or changing their insurance coverage.

What does a field agent do?

Field agents are the ones who work and do their job not inside the four corners of the office; instead, they do the assigned task outside. They often are expected to have good communication skills so that they can get a response from the most unwilling person in the area. Besides, they must also possess good character traits and professionalism to effectively address higher-up's concerns. As the man on the field, they provide customer support more effectively.

Insurance broker vs field agent salary

Insurance brokers and field agents have different pay scales, as shown below.

Insurance BrokerField Agent
Average salary$94,006$37,324
Salary rangeBetween $62,000 And $141,000Between $27,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CityBirmingham, ALBoston, MA
Highest paying stateWashingtonAlaska
Best paying companyLiberty Mutual InsuranceSmith Seckman Reid
Best paying industryInsuranceFinance

Differences between insurance broker and field agent education

There are a few differences between an insurance broker and a field agent in terms of educational background:

Insurance BrokerField Agent
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 64%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Insurance broker vs field agent demographics

Here are the differences between insurance brokers' and field agents' demographics:

Insurance BrokerField Agent
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 62.5% Female, 37.5%Male, 66.0% Female, 34.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 4.9% White, 66.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 4.8% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between insurance broker and field agent duties and responsibilities

Insurance broker example responsibilities.

  • Used consultative upselling techniques to provide leads
  • Work as an independent financial planner selling life insurance and annuities to individuals and families
  • Facilitate communications between doctors, hospitals, third party insurance companies and patients to obtain and verify patient billing information.
  • Deliver on the GEICO promise to customers by solving problems and giving competent insurance advice in a courteous and proficient manner.

Field agent example responsibilities.

  • Sell life insurance, long term care insurance and retirement annuities to assign members.
  • Assist senior base clients with understanding and purchasing Medicare supplements, annuities, health and life insurance products.
  • Operate remote telecommunications using applications and secure computer communications to troubleshoot and resolve issues on customer Samsung devices.
  • Help maintain Primerica as the number one source for insurance needs by directly switching accounts over to the company.

Insurance broker vs field agent skills

Common insurance broker skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Life Insurance Products, 8%
  • Lead Generation, 8%
  • Financial Resources, 8%
  • Annuities, 8%
  • Insurance Carriers, 6%
Common field agent skills
  • GPS, 28%
  • Long-Term Care, 17%
  • Health Insurance, 10%
  • Annuities, 9%
  • Subpoenas, 6%
  • Life Insurance Products, 6%