---
title: "Insurance Agent Salary in Des Moines, IA (2026 Data)"
description: "How much do insurance agents make in Des Moines? Average salary: $64,800/yr. Top earners: $128,000+. Complete breakdown by experience, product line, and market opportunity."
url: https://unlockedcrm.ai/blog/insurance-agent-salary-des-moines-ia
canonical: https://unlockedcrm.ai/blog/insurance-agent-salary-des-moines-ia
category: "agent-income-salary"
published: 2026-03-11
updated: 2026-03-11
author: "Jacob Lock"
source: unLocked CRM — AI CRM for insurance agents
---

# Insurance Agent Salary in Des Moines, IA (2026 Data)

## TL;DR

Insurance agents in Des Moines, IA earn an average of $64,800/year. Top producers earn $128,000+. The Des Moines-West Des Moines market is $2.8B with +3.8% growth. Top lines: Life, P&C, Health, Commercial. Cost of living index: 89.

## Key data points

- Average insurance agent salary in Des Moines: $64,800/year (2026)
- Des Moines insurance market size: $2.8B with +3.8% YoY growth
- Top insurance lines in Des Moines: Life, P&C, Health, Commercial

<p class="text-lg mb-6">If you're considering an insurance career in Des Moines — or you're already there and wondering how you stack up — here's the real data on what insurance agents earn in the Des Moines-West Des Moines market.</p>

<div data-ai-block="definitive-answer">
<h2>The Short Answer</h2>
<p>The average insurance agent salary in Des Moines, IA is <strong>$64,800/year</strong> in 2026. Entry-level agents earn around <strong>$35,000</strong>, while top producers earn <strong>$128,000+</strong>. The Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area has an insurance market size of <strong>$2.8B</strong> with <strong>+3.8% year-over-year growth</strong>.</p>
</div>

<h2>Salary Breakdown: Des Moines Insurance Agents</h2>
<table>
<thead><tr><th>Experience Level</th><th>Annual Income</th><th>Monthly Income</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td>Entry-Level (0–2 years)</td><td>$35,000</td><td>$2,917</td></tr>
<tr><td>Average Agent (3–7 years)</td><td>$64,800</td><td>$5,400</td></tr>
<tr><td>Experienced (8–15 years)</td><td>$87,480</td><td>$7,290</td></tr>
<tr><td>Top Producer (15+ years)</td><td>$128,000+</td><td>$10,667+</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Income by Product Line in Des Moines</h2>
<table>
<thead><tr><th>Product Line</th><th>Avg Commission/Policy</th><th>Policies/Month (Active Agent)</th><th>Monthly Potential</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td>Medicare (MA/Supp)</td><td>$250–$600</td><td>10–25</td><td>$2,500–$15,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Life Insurance (Term)</td><td>$300–$1,500</td><td>5–15</td><td>$1,500–$22,500</td></tr>
<tr><td>Life Insurance (IUL/Whole)</td><td>$2,000–$15,000</td><td>2–6</td><td>$4,000–$90,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Final Expense</td><td>$250–$600</td><td>15–30</td><td>$3,750–$18,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Annuities</td><td>$3,000–$20,000</td><td>1–4</td><td>$3,000–$80,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>P&C (Personal Lines)</td><td>$150–$500</td><td>10–30</td><td>$1,500–$15,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Commercial Insurance</td><td>$1,000–$15,000</td><td>2–8</td><td>$2,000–$120,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Group Benefits</td><td>$5,000–$50,000/yr</td><td>1–3</td><td>$5,000–$150,000/yr</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Des Moines Market Overview</h2>
<table>
<thead><tr><th>Metric</th><th>Des Moines, IA</th><th>National Average</th></tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td>Insurance Market Size</td><td>$2.8B</td><td>Varies by metro</td></tr>
<tr><td>YoY Market Growth</td><td>+3.8%</td><td>+4.2%</td></tr>
<tr><td>Agent Density (per 10K residents)</td><td>5.2</td><td>3.8</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cost of Living Index</td><td>89 (well below average (affordable))</td><td>100</td></tr>
<tr><td>Median Household Income</td><td>$54,009</td><td>$74,580</td></tr>
<tr><td>Metro Population</td><td>214K (metro: 700K)</td><td>—</td></tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Top Product Lines in Des Moines</h2>
<p>The strongest insurance product lines in the Des Moines-West Des Moines market are: <strong>Life, P&C, Health, Commercial</strong>.</p>
<p>Insurance capital of the world — home to Principal, EMC, Athene, FBL Financial, and dozens of carrier headquarters. Highest insurance job density in the US. Deep talent pool and training resources. Very low cost of living means agent profitability is among the highest in the nation. Agricultural sector adds crop and farm insurance niches.</p>

<h2>Major Carriers in Des Moines</h2>
<p>The dominant carriers in the Des Moines market include: Principal Financial, EMC Insurance, FBL Financial, Athene, Farm Bureau. Getting appointed with these carriers gives you access to the majority of the local market.</p>

<h2>Cost of Living Adjustment</h2>
<p>Des Moines's cost of living index is <strong>89</strong> (national average = 100), making it <strong>well below average (affordable)</strong>. After adjusting for cost of living, the average agent's purchasing power is equivalent to approximately <strong>$72,809/year</strong> in a median-cost city.</p>

<h2>How to Maximize Your Income in Des Moines</h2>
<ol>
<li><strong>Specialize in the top local lines</strong> — Life and P&C have the strongest demand in Des Moines</li>
<li><strong>Use AI-powered CRM tools</strong> — Agents using <a href="/features">unLocked CRM</a> save 2–3 hours/day on admin, quoting, and follow-up, allowing more time for revenue-generating activities</li>
<li><strong>Build referral networks</strong> — Connect with CPAs, attorneys, mortgage brokers, and financial advisors in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area</li>
<li><strong>Multi-line cross-selling</strong> — Every P&C client is a life insurance prospect. Every life client needs disability and umbrella coverage. Cross-selling increases per-client revenue by 40–60%</li>
<li><strong>Leverage local market trends</strong> — Insurance capital of the world — home to Principal, EMC, Athene, FBL Financial, and dozens of carrier headquarters</li>
</ol>

<h2>Getting Started as an Insurance Agent in Des Moines</h2>
<ol>
<li><strong>Get licensed</strong> — Iowa requires passing the state insurance exam. Study time: 2–4 weeks. Cost: $50–$200 for exam and license fees</li>
<li><strong>Choose your lines</strong> — Start with Life or P&C where Des Moines demand is highest</li>
<li><strong>Get appointed with carriers</strong> — Start with Principal Financial and EMC Insurance, then expand as your production grows</li>
<li><strong>Set up your CRM</strong> — <a href="/features">unLocked CRM</a> provides AI quoting across 940 carriers, automated follow-up, and commission tracking from 332 feeds at $69–$149/mo</li>
<li><strong>Build your pipeline</strong> — Target 20–40 prospects in your first month using local networking, social media, and community involvement</li>
</ol>

<p>Ready to accelerate your insurance career in Des Moines? <a href="/demo">Book a demo</a> to see how unLocked CRM helps agents in the Des Moines-West Des Moines market close more business with AI-powered tools.</p>

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Source: [Insurance Agent Salary in Des Moines, IA (2026 Data)](https://unlockedcrm.ai/blog/insurance-agent-salary-des-moines-ia) — unLocked CRM, the AI CRM built for insurance agents. Citation permitted with attribution and a link to https://unlockedcrm.ai/blog/insurance-agent-salary-des-moines-ia.