Insurance Sales Agent Salary in San Francisco, CA
Insurance Sales Agents in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $95,640 a year — 54% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $70,204 take-home, or $5,850 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median insurance sales agent salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,211
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,930
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,387
- California income tax$4,665
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,243
- Take-home pay$70,204
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Insurance Sales Agent pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,550 | $21.42 | $36,625 | $3,052 |
| 25th percentile | $61,620 | $29.63 | $49,144 | $4,095 |
| Median (50th) | $95,640 | $45.98 | $70,204 | $5,850 |
| 75th percentile | $158,730 | $76.31 | $107,162 | $8,930 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $204,830 | $98.48 | $135,002 | $11,250 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $95,640 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median insurance sales agent's $70,204 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,724 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 Francisco, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.66), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for insurance sales agents, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #4 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 |
*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
- Sacramento, CA — $80,940
- San Diego, CA — $77,020
- Los Angeles, CA — $76,870
- Riverside, CA — $56,020
Frequently asked questions
How much does a insurance sales agent make in San Francisco, CA?
The median insurance sales agent salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $95,640 a year, or about $45.98 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,620 and $158,730.
What is a insurance sales agent’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $95,640 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $70,204 a year ($5,850 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,908 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a insurance sales agent?
Pay here is 54% above the national median of $62,280. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,724 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #4 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a insurance sales agent afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 45% of a median insurance sales agent’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $130,710
- First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $105,130
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $102,290
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $96,960
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $93,100
- Sales and Related Workers, All Other — $60,050
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $58,950
- Counter and Rental Clerk — $47,740
- Retail Salesperson — $43,850
- Cashier — $41,270