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Insurance underwriter, sales vs agent

The differences between insurance underwriters, sales and agents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an insurance underwriter, sales has an average salary of $40,226, which is higher than the $37,864 average annual salary of an agent.

The top three skills for an insurance underwriter, sales include lead generation, financial services and customer service. The most important skills for an agent are insurance products, customer service, and life insurance.

Insurance underwriter, sales vs agent overview

Insurance Underwriter, SalesAgent
Yearly salary$40,226$37,864
Hourly rate$19.34$18.20
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs50,699184,325
Job satisfaction-2
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4646
Years of experience--

What does an insurance underwriter, sales do?

A sales insurance underwriter evaluates new or renewal applications in turn for insurance coverage for companies and individuals. Insurance underwriters analyze insurance proposal risks and identify policy terms. They perform calculations on premiums based on statistical, background, and actuarial information. Several insurance businesses and companies operate graduate schemes that offer to underwrite. Among the necessary skills for this job include communication, decision making, and detail orientation.

What does an agent do?

Agents are individuals who are employed by their clients to represent them in various dealings. Agents are usually employed by people in the show business industry, such as actors, writers, or directors. They meet people who are interested in dealing with their clients. They listen to the plans and vision for the project and assess if the project fits their clients' interests or public image. In the case of agents whose clients are actors, they send their clients to auditions upon review of the project details. Agents are also responsible for negotiating terms on behalf of their clients, such as salary, royalties, and set benefits, among others. They also inform the project leaders of their clients' demands on set. Agents are expected to be business-savvy and good negotiators.

Insurance underwriter, sales vs agent salary

Insurance underwriters, sales and agents have different pay scales, as shown below.

Insurance Underwriter, SalesAgent
Average salary$40,226$37,864
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $56,000Between $19,000 And $72,000
Highest paying CityLos Angeles, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateWisconsinNew York
Best paying companyNew York Life InsuranceLatham & Watkins
Best paying industryInsurance-

Differences between insurance underwriter, sales and agent education

There are a few differences between an insurance underwriter, sales and an agent in terms of educational background:

Insurance Underwriter, SalesAgent
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 55%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Insurance underwriter, sales vs agent demographics

Here are the differences between insurance underwriters, sales' and agents' demographics:

Insurance Underwriter, SalesAgent
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 61.0% Female, 39.0%Male, 50.5% Female, 49.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% Asian, 4.9% White, 66.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.8% Asian, 4.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between insurance underwriter, sales and agent duties and responsibilities

Insurance underwriter, sales example responsibilities.

  • Used consultative upselling techniques to provide leads
  • Sell life and health insurance, annuities and mutual funds.
  • Facilitate communications between doctors, hospitals, third party insurance companies and patients to obtain and verify patient billing information.
  • License in life, health and annuities.CLU certificate in pension planning.
  • Deliver on the GEICO promise to customers by solving problems and giving competent insurance advice in a courteous and proficient manner.

Agent example responsibilities.

  • Schedule and meet individuals\groups for assign or self-generate leads, assist and enroll eligible individuals in suitable Medicare product.
  • Verify documentation and coding using CPT and ICD-9 correct coding standards.
  • Assist TANF customers with obtaining employment.
  • Direct compliance with all CPT and Medicare guidelines.
  • Train BDC representatives on phone skills and CRM use.
  • Bill appropriate ICD-9 codes to the correct insurance companies.
  • Show more

Insurance underwriter, sales vs agent skills

Common insurance underwriter, sales skills
  • Lead Generation, 27%
  • Financial Services, 13%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Sales Process, 6%
  • Strong Work Ethic, 5%
  • Insurance Carriers, 4%
Common agent skills
  • Insurance Products, 11%
  • Customer Service, 10%
  • Life Insurance, 8%
  • HR, 6%
  • Inbound Calls, 6%
  • Financial Services, 6%