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Licensed insurance agent vs insurance broker

The differences between licensed insurance agents and insurance brokers 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 $54,118 average annual salary of a licensed insurance agent.

The top three skills for a licensed insurance agent include excellent time management, work ethic and strong customer service. The most important skills for an insurance broker are customer service, life insurance products, and lead generation.

Licensed insurance agent vs insurance broker overview

Licensed Insurance AgentInsurance Broker
Yearly salary$54,118$94,006
Hourly rate$26.02$45.20
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs78,01638,403
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age4646
Years of experience--

What does a licensed insurance agent do?

A licensed insurance agent is primarily responsible for finding and utilizing opportunities to secure insurance sales. Moreover, a licensed insurance agent must reach out to potential clients, discuss and negotiate terms, respond to inquiries, and perform various assessments to determine their ability to uphold financial obligations. Besides building a client base, they also need to handle current policies, process renewals, monitor claims, maintain an accurate record of transactions, prepare progress reports and strategies, and distribute policy proceeds according to the company rules and regulations.

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.

Licensed insurance agent vs insurance broker salary

Licensed insurance agents and insurance brokers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Licensed Insurance AgentInsurance Broker
Average salary$54,118$94,006
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $88,000Between $62,000 And $141,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCBirmingham, AL
Highest paying stateHawaiiWashington
Best paying companyTorchmarkLiberty Mutual Insurance
Best paying industryFinanceInsurance

Differences between licensed insurance agent and insurance broker education

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

Licensed Insurance AgentInsurance Broker
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Licensed insurance agent vs insurance broker demographics

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

Licensed Insurance AgentInsurance Broker
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 39.0% Female, 61.0%Male, 62.5% Female, 37.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 3.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 4.9% White, 66.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1%Black 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%
LGBT Percentage7%7%

Differences between licensed insurance agent and insurance broker duties and responsibilities

Licensed insurance agent example responsibilities.

  • Explain and advice the customers about the insurance needs, handle objections and sale the Allstate company advantage.
  • Work with people in retirement helping manage their health and life insurance, also help structure their 401k's into annuities.
  • Used consultative upselling techniques to provide leads
  • Quote and sell home, mobile home, renters, auto, and motorcycle policies.
  • Process application on auto, homes, workers comp, trailer, motorcycle, commercial policies.
  • Provide financial services through life insurance, disability insurance and annuities.
  • Show more

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.

Licensed insurance agent vs insurance broker skills

Common licensed insurance agent skills
  • Excellent Time Management, 17%
  • Work Ethic, 17%
  • Strong Customer Service, 13%
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Insurance Sales, 11%
  • Financial Resources, 5%
Common insurance broker skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Life Insurance Products, 8%
  • Lead Generation, 8%
  • Financial Resources, 8%
  • Annuities, 8%
  • Insurance Carriers, 6%