Insurance Sales Agent salary in Columbia, SC
Insurance Sales Agents in the Columbia, SC metro area earn a median of $74,100 a year ($35.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $35,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $174,630 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $62,280. Pay here is 21% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $61,350. There are 3.9 insurance sales agents per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $88,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for insurance sales agents in Columbia, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,710 | $17.17 |
| 25th percentile | $47,330 | $22.76 |
| Median | $74,100 | $35.63 |
| 75th percentile | $103,520 | $49.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $174,630 | $83.96 |
| Average (mean) | $88,570 | $42.58 |
Half of insurance sales agents earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,175 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,087.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,850 |
| Weekly | $1,425 |
| Hourly | $35.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $74,100 salary, see how much house you can afford in South Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Insurance Sales Agent salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $78,890 | 1,330 |
| Sumter, SC | $66,370 | 90 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $62,490 | 6,800 |
| Florence, SC | $62,440 | 260 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $60,980 | 240 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $48,980 | 240 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $48,560 | 430 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $48,450 | 1,500 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $46,950 | 540 |
Highest-paying states for insurance sales agents
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $84,530 |
| New Jersey | $81,640 |
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Wisconsin | $79,450 |
| Massachusetts | $79,300 |
| Minnesota | $78,640 |
| New York | $78,110 |
| California | $76,120 |
| Connecticut | $74,840 |
| New Hampshire | $74,370 |
See Insurance Sales Agent pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Columbia, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $48,570 | $23.35 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $58,890 | $28.31 |
| Advertising Sales Agent | $49,500 | $23.80 |
| Travel Agent | $31,650 | $15.22 |
| Retail Salesperson | $29,540 | $14.20 |
| Cashier | $27,830 | $13.38 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $62,470 | $30.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $47,680 | $22.92 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Parts Salesperson | $34,310 | $16.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $75,630 | $36.36 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $49,480 | $23.79 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $109,080 | $52.44 |
| Telemarketer | $36,100 | $17.36 |
More: Sales and Related Occupations · all salaries in Columbia, SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 41-3021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a insurance sales agent make in Columbia, SC?
The median salary for insurance sales agents in the Columbia, SC metro area is $74,100 a year, or $35.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $35,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $174,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid insurance sales agents make in Columbia, SC?
The top 10% of insurance sales agents in the Columbia, SC metro area earn at least $174,630 a year. The top 25% earn $103,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for insurance sales agents in Columbia, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $35,710 a year, and a quarter of insurance sales agents earn $47,330 or less.
How many insurance sales agents work in Columbia, SC?
About 1,540 insurance sales agents are employed in the Columbia, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.