Insurance Sales Agent Salary in San Diego, CA
Insurance Sales Agents in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $77,020 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,063 take-home, or $4,922 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median insurance sales agent salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,114
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,775
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,117
- California income tax$2,949
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,001
- Take-home pay$59,063
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Insurance Sales Agent pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,950 | $21.61 | $36,926 | $3,077 |
| 25th percentile | $60,820 | $29.24 | $48,560 | $4,047 |
| Median (50th) | $77,020 | $37.03 | $59,063 | $4,922 |
| 75th percentile | $101,340 | $48.72 | $73,610 | $6,134 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,330 | $79.00 | $110,396 | $9,200 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,020 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median insurance sales agent's $59,063 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,788 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Insurance Sales Agent jobs are less concentrated in San Diego, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.78), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for insurance sales agents, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #16 of 41 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $81,540 | $63,690 | $62,104 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $72,020 | $58,298 | $62,070 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $84,670 | $64,161 | $61,210 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $95,640 | $70,204 | $60,724 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | $75,990 | $58,968 | $58,934 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $80,940 | $61,421 | $57,581 |
| 7 | Birmingham, AL | $66,640 | $52,644 | $57,444 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $77,590 | $60,709 | $57,391 |
| 16 | San Diego, CA | $77,020 | $59,063 | $52,788 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 41 metros →
About the job: insurance sales agents
Sell life, property, casualty, health, automotive, or other types of insurance. May refer clients to independent brokers, work as an independent broker, or be employed by an insurance company.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.3% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Insurance Sales Agent salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $95,640
- Sacramento, CA — $80,940
- Los Angeles, CA — $76,870
- Riverside, CA — $56,020
Frequently asked questions
How much does a insurance sales agent make in San Diego, CA?
The median insurance sales agent salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $77,020 a year, or about $37.03 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,820 and $101,340.
What is a insurance sales agent’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $77,020 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $59,063 a year ($4,922 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,951 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a insurance sales agent?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $62,280. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,788 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #16 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a insurance sales agent afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 50% of a median insurance sales agent’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $76,180
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $76,100
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $74,610
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $56,300
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $42,600
- Retail Salesperson — $37,810
- Cashier — $37,020