Insurance is a $335 billion a year industry that employs millions of people.
From CEOs who make millions of dollars a year to call center employees who make a little more than minimum wage, there are a lot of opportunities for people who want to help others while working in a high capital industry.
Many of these careers need people with a wide range of skills; many jobs require creativity and a personal aspect.
1. Insurance Agent
Why Become an Insurance Agent?
Insurance agents help people to find the insurance products that are right for their families.
This is more than just a sales job; insurance agents analyze a person’s finances, family situation, and property to find the right policy for them.
You’ll help families to feel protected no matter what the world throws at them, and be the person who can fix things when disaster strikes.
This is an ideal job for people who want to work with others, but don’t like the idea of working in an industry that uses harsh sales tactics.
| Insurance Agent Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $69,340 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $33.34 |
| Education | 3-4 Years |
| Outlook | 22% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become an Insurance Agent
2. Insurance Underwriter
Why Become an Insurance Underwriter?
Insurance underwriters actually craft the policies that agents sell.
This can vary from so-called “generic” policies that fit a wide range of people and businesses, to individualized policies that can cover very specific items.
Underwriters have a lot of different career paths available; some work part-time and from home, while others can choose a job with high pay and lots of travel.
There is a high earning potential for underwriters; many underwriters go on to own their own agencies.
| Insurance Underwriter Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $79,940 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $38.43 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | -5% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become an Insurance Underwriter
3. Financial Analyst
Why Become a Financial Analyst?
Financial analysts are responsible for determining the financial limits of policies, as well as how and where policies will be sold.
The job has a high potential for promotion and high retainability, with many financial analysts making over six figures within a few years of starting their careers.
While this is a good career for people who are good at math and numbers, it can also be a good field for people who are able to explain the meaning behind those calculations.
The best financial analysts have a mix of both skills.
| Financial Analyst Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $79,940 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $38.43 |
| Education | 3-4 Years |
| Outlook | 10.8% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Financial Analyst
4. Real Estate Agent
Why Become a Real Estate Agent?
People don’t think of real estate agents as being involved in the insurance industry, but registered agents are needed to appraise and analyze risk for properties.
There is work to be found in both residential and commercial properties, and many agents prefer to work for an insurance company at a steady salary than deal with the sales and commission cycle of commercial real estate firms.
| Real Estate Agent Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $61,480 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $29.56 |
| Education | 0-6 Months |
| Outlook | 5.8% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Real Estate Agent
5. Real Estate Appraiser
Why Become a Real Estate Appraiser?
Appraisers are needed to make reports to insurance companies about the value of the properties they are looking to insure.
Appraisals are needed for all types of properties; there are real estate appraisers who specialize in specific types of commercial retail space or who only work in particular neighborhoods.
This career can have very flexible hours; many real estate appraisers work as independent contractors who own their own businesses, set their own hours, and choose who they want to work for.
| Real Estate Appraiser Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $70,050 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $33.68 |
| Education | 3-4 Years |
| Outlook | 14.4% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Real Estate Appraiser
6. Realtor
Why Become a Realtor?
Realtors work with insurance companies to make sure that new homeowners have the insurance coverage they need when they purchase a home.
While they are rarely employed directly by an insurance company, being a realtor is a good job for people who want to work with people and who don’t want to be stuck in an office all day.
| Realtor Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $61,480 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $29.56 |
| Education | 0-6 Months |
| Outlook | 5.8% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Realtor
7. Benefits Specialist
Why Become a Benefits Specialist?
Benefits specialists work for healthcare insurance companies and explain the benefits of specific insurance policies to their customers.
A benefits specialist works with individual patients and discusses how their insurance plan can help them pay for various parts of a treatment plan.
Benefits specialists can also help patients to find the right doctor or hospital and can work with the health care systems to find the right treatment plan for a patient.
| Benefits Specialist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $73,810 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $35.49 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 9% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Benefits Specialist
8. Insurance Claim Adjuster
Why Become an Insurance Claim Adjuster?
Insurance claim adjusters evaluate the damage done after an auto accident or natural disaster and determine the value of what was lost and how much it will take to fix it.
The job can be concentrated in one area, such as an auto claims adjuster who evaluates policyholders in his or her town or require a lot of travel, such as a homeowner’s adjuster who travels to the scene of natural disasters to evaluate property damage.
Some claims adjusters have very specific fields of specialization, while others can deal with multiple types of claims.
There are claims adjusters who work directly for an insurance company, while others are individual or sole proprietors who work for multiple companies and clients.
| Insurance Claim Adjuster Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $45,790 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $22.02 |
| Education | 2-4 Years |
| Outlook | -3% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become an Insurance Claim Adjuster
