What is an agent and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
introduction image

An agent represents and negotiates on behalf of clients in industries such as entertainment, sports, real estate, and finance. They use their expertise to secure the best deals for clients, including contracts, endorsements, and sponsorships. Agents act as intermediaries between their clients and third parties, providing guidance for career development, financial planning, and legal matters. They also schedule appointments and manage contracts. Agents advocate for their clients while building relationships with industry contacts.

ScoreAgentUS Average
Salary
3.0

Avg. Salary $37,864

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.8

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.15%

Asian 4.86%

Black or African American 9.24%

Hispanic or Latino 15.78%

Unknown 3.55%

White 66.42%

Gender

female 49.50%

male 50.50%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress Level
6.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
8.9

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.1

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an Agent?

Pros

  • Potential for high income

  • Flexibility in schedule and workload

  • Opportunities for personal growth and development

  • Potential for travel and seeing different locations

  • Ability to work independently and be your own boss

Cons

  • High level of competition in the industry

  • Unpredictable income and commission-based pay structure

  • Requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and persistence

  • Can be stressful and demanding at times

  • Can involve long hours and extensive travel

Agent career paths

Key steps to become an agent

  1. Explore agent education requirements

    Most common agent degrees

    Bachelor's

    44.3 %

    High School Diploma

    21.3 %

    Associate

    19.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific agent skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Insurance Products10.90%
    Customer Service9.87%
    Life Insurance8.30%
    HR6.36%
    Inbound Calls6.26%
  3. Complete relevant agent training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New agents learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an agent based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real agent resumes.
  4. Gain additional agent certifications

    Agent certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific agent certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for agents include Certified Professional, Life and Health Insurance Program (CPLHI) and Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research agent duties and 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.
  6. Prepare your agent resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your agent resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an agent resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Agent Resume templates

    Build a professional Agent resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Agent resume.
    Agent Resume
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  7. Apply for agent jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an agent job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Agent Job

Zippi

Are you an Agent?

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Average agent salary

The average Agent salary in the United States is $37,864 per year or $18 per hour. Agent salaries range between $19,000 and $72,000 per year.

Average Agent Salary
$37,864 Yearly
$18.20 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do agents rate their job?

2/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Agent reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

My own schedule and meeting great people.

Cons

No guarantee on income or relevance


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Pros

I enjoy working as a Bail Agent cause I enjoy helping people and as a Bail Agent you get to help people during a really hard time in there life. Also it’s always a new day new people and money is also decent .


profile
2.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Nov 2019
Pros

It give me unforgettable memories and experience In additional generating life time skills and excellence of the knowledge of is involved

Cons

It very stressful and so much calculation with the work plus graphical representation of the work experience


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.