Insurance Agent Hourly Pay in Wilmington, NC: $29.83 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a insurance agent working in Wilmington, NC runs $29.83 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $62,036 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 41-3021). Weighted against Wilmington's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.4, 4% below national), each hour of work buys what $30.93 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $37,223 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Wilmington, North Carolina, the projected median hourly pay for insurance agents is $29.83, slightly below the national median of $31.02. This figure can significantly impact various working arrangements, particularly for part-time agents who work around three days a week. With an hourly rate of $29.83, a part-time agent working 24 hours a week could expect to earn approximately $37,500 annually. The hourly pay range for insurance agents in Wilmington varies considerably, from $14.28 at the lower end for entry-level positions to $62.37 for seasoned professionals at the 90th percentile. These figures reflect the competitive nature of the local insurance market, where agents operate in diverse environments such as independent agency offices, corporate brokerage floors, and client business visits, including remote policy quoting scenarios. This data is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026.
Insurance Agent Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $14.28 | $114.21 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $22.61 | $180.84 |
| Median (P50) | $29.83 | $238.61 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $38.03 | $304.25 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $62.37 | $498.94 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Wilmington
Based on $29.83/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $29.83/hr, a insurance agent working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Wilmington, NC can expect to earn approximately $62,039 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $35,792. With a cost-of-living index of 96.42 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Wilmington.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Wilmington
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,193.06 | $5,170 | $62,039 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $715.83 | $3,102 | $37,223 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $477.22 | $2,068 | $24,816 |
Compare Agent Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Insurance Agent (Wilmington) | $29.83 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent (National Avg) | $32.36 |
| Personal Financial Advisor (National Avg) | $51.62 |
| Insurance Underwriter (National Avg) | $37.70 |
| Claims Adjuster (National Avg) | $35.30 |
Insurance Agents in Wilmington, NC earn a median of $62,036 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.85% lower than the national median of $64,522 and 18.40% above the North Carolina state average of $52,395.
Insurance Agent Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $29.83/hr = $37,223/year (purchasing power: $38,605).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $62,039/year (purchasing power: $64,341).
CoL index: 96.422 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$18.58/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$28.79/hr
2026 Current Est.
$29.83/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+66.3%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Insurance Agents in Wilmington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.60% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $18.58/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $19.12/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $22.74/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $29.26/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $23.15/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $26.94/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $28.79/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $29.83/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $30.90/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for insurance agents in Wilmington grew 55.0% from $18.58/hr (2019) to $28.79/hr (2025). At a 3.60% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $30.90/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem insurance agents can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wilmington metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.60% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Insurance Agent in Wilmington
Part-time insurance agents who work in Wilmington may find certain earning dynamics quite favorable compared to their full-time counterparts. With an average of 24 hours per week, a part-time agent could bring home close to $37,500 annually, contrasting sharply with a full-time agent's potential for more substantial earnings by securing higher commissions through increased client engagement. Per diem work is relatively uncommon in this field due to the commission-based nature of compensation, which means most agents generate income directly from sales rather than hourly pay. Hourly compensation can differ significantly depending on the employer type; captive agents might earn less on an hourly basis than those working for large brokerage firms, where more complex commercial lines are prevalent and demand higher compensation. Additionally, many insurance professionals—especially those in specialized roles—might accept lower hourly rates at captive agencies in exchange for benefits such as health insurance. This trade-off is essential for agents negotiating their contracts, as understanding local market trends and valuation can lead to more favorable terms.
More salary data for Wilmington, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Related Pages
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Written by Jordan Lee, MBA
Career Analyst
Jordan has over 10 years of experience in the insurance industry. He specializes in property and casualty insurance. He has worked in both agency and corporate settings.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.60% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for insurance agents in Wilmington. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.60%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for insurance agents (SOC 41-3021).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, MBA, a licensed insurance agent with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov