Insurance Agent in New York

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for NY. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$75,860

trending_up +25.7% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, New York.

engineering

20,990

Jobs (NY)

monitoring Stable

+3.7%

10-yr job growth

payments

$113

Licensing fees

schedule

Varies (application must be submitted within 2 years of passing exam, name approval for trade names can take 4-6 weeks)

Time to complete

route How to become an insurance agent in New York

To become a licensed Insurance Agent in New York, individuals must be at least 18 years old and complete state-approved pre-licensing education, which varies by the line of authority (e.g., 20 hours for Life or Accident & Health, 40 hours for a combined Life, Accident & Health license). After completing the education, candidates must pass the New York Insurance Producer Licensing Exam, administered by PSI Services, and then submit an application to the New York Department of Financial Services within two years of passing the exam. A background check and fingerprinting are also required. New York offers reciprocity with most other states for non-resident applicants who hold an equivalent, active license in good standing in their home state.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $37,980

25th percentile $49,320

50th (median) $75,860

75th percentile $116,460

90th (experienced) $187,850

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for New York. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist New York requirements

Licensing body	New York Department of Financial Services
State license	Required
Education	Minimum of 20 hours for Life or Accident & Health, 40 hours for Life, Accident & Health combined, and 90 hours for Property and Casualty.
Exam	New York Insurance Producer Licensing Exam ($33)
Application fee	$80
Renewal	Every 2.0 years
Continuing education	15.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Minimum age 18. Requires fingerprinting and background check. CE requirements must be from a NY-approved provider and include at least 1 hour of Insurance Law, 1 hour of Ethics and Professionalism, and 1 hour of Diversity, Inclusion, and Elimination of Bias. If selling flood insurance, additional flood insurance instruction is required.

Source: New York Department of Financial Services

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+3.7%

Average

Annual openings

47,000

Nationwide per year

Total employment

568,800

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

error High exposure 1.34/1.00

Many tasks in this career are susceptible to AI automation. Long-term career planning should account for potential disruption.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

check_circleNew York license required — clearer credential signal to employers
warningElevated AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if an insurance agent career is the right fit?

See what the day actually looks like, who the role suits, and who should skip it — grounded in real practitioner sources.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I become an insurance agent in New York? expand_more

New York requires insurance agents to complete the required education (Minimum of 20 hours for Life or Accident & Health, 40 hours for Life, Accident & Health combined, and 90 hours for Property and Casualty.), pass the New York Insurance Producer Licensing Exam, and submit your application ($80 fee).

Is an insurance agent license required in New York? expand_more

A state license is required in New York. New York Department of Financial Services handles insurance agent licensing — the New York Insurance Producer Licensing Exam is part of the process.

How much does an insurance agent make in New York? expand_more

New York insurance agents bring home a median salary of $75,860. This exceeds the $60,370 national median by 26%. The range spans from $37,980 at the entry level to $187,850 for top earners.

How expensive is insurance agent licensing in New York? expand_more

Costs include exam fee ($33) and application fee ($80). The estimated total investment is varies, including education and training.

What's the timeline to become an insurance agent in New York? expand_more

Most candidates in New York complete the process in Varies (application must be submitted within 2 years of passing exam, name approval for trade names can take 4-6 weeks), from enrollment in a training program through licensure.

How many CE hours do insurance agents need in New York? expand_more

New York requires 15.0 hours of continuing education every 2.0 years to maintain your insurance agent license.