Insurance Agent Salary in Fort Smith, AR: $62,989 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time insurance agent in Fort Smith, AR earns a median $62,989/year (≈ $30.28/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 41-3021). Once you factor in Fort Smith's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 85.9), that paycheck buys what $73,339 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.0% above the Arkansas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Fort Smith, Arkansas, the projected median annual salary for an insurance agent in 2026 stands at $62,989, which is slightly below the national median of $64,522. The salary range for these agents in the region spans from $36,757 at the lower 10th percentile to $128,526 at the top 90th percentile, according to data based on 2025 BLS OEWS surveys. This regional compensation reflects a diverse spectrum of earnings within the profession, influenced by factors such as specialization and the agent's business model. With local agents often focusing on personal lines, it's important to understand how commission structures may differ when handling commercial and specialty lines, leading to notable disparities in earnings across Fort Smith's insurance market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $36,757 | $17.67 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $46,682 | $22.45 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $62,989 | $30.28 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $85,211 | $40.96 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $128,526 | $61.80 |
Median Salary Position
2.38% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fort Smith
In Fort Smith, AR, the insurance agent salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $91,769 (2026 est.). At $62,989, the local median is 2.38% below the national median of $64,522.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fort Smith: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Fort Smith Insurance Agent Pay Compares
Fort Smith median: $62,989/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fort Smith Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Average | $59,989 | +5.00% more |
| National Average | $64,522 | -2.38% less |
Insurance Agents in Fort Smith, AR earn a median of $62,989 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.38% lower than the national median of $64,522 and 5.00% above the Arkansas state average of $59,989.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fort Smith has a cost of living 14.11% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fort Smith, AR has a cost-of-living index of 85.888 (below the national average of 100). A insurance agent earning $62,989 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $73,339 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.43% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$37,330
2025 BLS Actual
$60,800
2026 Current Est.
$62,989
2019–2027 Growth
+74.8%
Salary Trajectory for Insurance Agents in Fort Smith (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.60% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $37,330 | Actual |
| 2020 | $38,550 | Actual |
| 2021 | $36,960 | Actual |
| 2022 | $37,410 | Actual |
| 2023 | $38,680 | Actual |
| 2024 | $47,540 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,800 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,989 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65,256 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fort Smith metropolitan area, the median insurance agent salary grew 62.9% from $37,330 (2019) to $60,800 (2025). At a 3.60% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $65,256 by 2027 — a total increase of $27,926 (74.81%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fort Smith 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $36,757 – $46,682 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $46,682 – $62,989 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $62,989 – $85,211 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $85,211 – $128,526 |
Agent salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual insurance agent compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Insurance Agent Job Market in Fort Smith
The insurance agent job market in Fort Smith is relatively robust, with 190 agents currently employed in the area. The cost of living index is 85.888, indicating that overall expenses are lower than the national average, which can enhance the purchasing power of local salaries. Agents working for large brokerage firms like Marsh or in independent agencies might find more lucrative opportunities, especially as these positions often specialize in commercial lines, typically yielding significantly higher commissions compared to personal lines. Factors affecting the pay spread include the size of the agent’s book of business and whether they operate within a captive or independent framework. For agents looking to maximize their earnings in Fort Smith, focusing on building a strong commercial client base and pursuing additional qualifications, such as CPCU or CIC designations, can lead to increased income potential.
More salary data for Fort Smith, AR:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $60,800 for insurance agentsin the Fort Smith metropolitan area. A 3.60% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
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