Ranked list · updated 2026-10-09
Highest-paying insurance & risk credentials
7 insurance & risk credentials are ranked below by the median annual wage published for the occupation each one unlocks. Every figure is quoted from the source named inside that credential's own guide, and the exam fee shown beside it comes from the awarding body.
- Credentials ranked
- 7
- Exam fees
- $100–$400
- Field
- Insurance & Risk
Which insurance & risk credentials lead to the highest published pay?
The 7 credentials below are ordered by the median annual wage published for the occupation each one unlocks. The order is computed from the researched guides; the sentence printed for each credential is that guide's own sourced headline, reproduced verbatim so its attribution stays attached to the number.
| # | Credential | Published median for the occupation it unlocks (quoted) | Exam fee | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Associate in Insurance | $79,880 median for insurance underwriters (BLS, May 2024) — the AINS is the entry designation that moves new insurance staff onto a professional track | ~$300-$400 per course | 2026-08 |
| 2 | CPCU 500: Becoming a Leader in Risk Management and Insurance | $79,880 median for insurance underwriters (BLS, May 2024) — and the CPCU is the senior designation that moves experienced insurance professionals to the top of the occupation’s wage distribution | ~$300-$400 | 2026-08 |
| 3 | Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter Designation | Expect underwriting and insurance-specialist pay at a May 2024 median of $77,860 for underwriters (BLS) — the CPCU is the industry’s premier designation, and holders typically advance into the higher-paying risk and management tiers | $300-700 per course | 2026-08 |
| 4 | Certified Insurance Counselor | Expect insurance-sales and underwriting pay at a May 2024 median of $60,370 for sales agents (BLS) — the CIC is the agency-side designation, and holders typically advance into the higher-paying producer and agency-management tiers | $400-600 per institute | 2026-08 |
| 5 | Certified Insurance Service Representative | CISR is the agency-staff standard: insurance sales agents earned a $60,370 median in May 2024 (BLS) | ~$300-$500 per course | 2026-08 |
| 6 | Health Insurance Associate | $60,370 median for insurance sales agents (BLS, May 2024) | ~$175 (many carriers reimburse or discount to ~$125) | 2026-08 |
| 7 | Managed Healthcare Professional | $60,370 median for insurance sales agents (BLS, May 2024) — but the MHP is a managed-care operations credential, and the roles it supports sit across health-plan administration and provider contracting | ~$100-$200 | 2026-08 |
What does this ranking actually measure?
Ranked by the median annual wage published for the occupation each credential unlocks, most recent figure per occupation, quoted from the source named in the guide (usually the BLS occupational series). A credential is the entry ticket to an occupation, not a pay guarantee: these are occupation medians, not starting salaries.
Each row also carries the month its guide was last checked against the primary source, so you can see how current the figure is before you rely on it. Fees and pass rules change; the guide linked from every row carries the authoritative reference.
Where does this field sit in the site-wide ranking?
The main ranking pools all 424 credential-with-median pairs across 15 fields, so a credential that leads this page may still sit outside the site-wide top 25 — and a credential outside this page's top few may rank highly overall. Use whichever view matches the question you are answering.
- All fields, site-wide ranking 424 ranked
- Accounting & Tax 8 ranked
- Admissions & Academic Testing 33 ranked
- Allied Health & Medical Support 43 ranked
- Finance & Securities 20 ranked
- Fitness, Wellness & Personal Care 27 ranked
- Food Safety & Hospitality 17 ranked
- Government & Public Safety 18 ranked
- Healthcare & Clinical Licensure 10 ranked
- IT, Cloud & Cybersecurity 122 ranked
- Project Management & Business 22 ranked
- Teaching & Education 42 ranked
- Trades, Construction & Engineering 24 ranked
- Transportation & Aviation 16 ranked
- Workplace Safety 15 ranked
Frequently asked questions
How many insurance & risk credentials are ranked here?
7 of this field's published guides carry a citable occupation median and are ranked below. Site-wide, 424 credentials across 15 fields are ranked, so this page is a subset of the main list rather than an alternative to it.
What does a insurance & risk credential cost to attempt?
Exam fees across this field's ranked credentials run from about $100 to $400. Fee is what the exam costs to sit; the median quoted for each row is what the occupation pays once you hold the credential, and the two do not move together.
Is the highest-paying insurance & risk credential the right one to start with?
Not necessarily. The ranking orders by the median for the occupation each credential unlocks, and several of the credentials here are sequential steps in the same career path rather than competing alternatives — one may be the prerequisite for another on this list. Read the guide for a credential's eligibility rules before treating its position here as a starting recommendation.
Why is a credential I expected to see missing?
Only credentials with a published occupation median appear. A credential whose guide does not carry a citable median is left out rather than estimated, and any credential whose researched text marks its exam as retired, withdrawn or no longer obtainable is removed — pointing at a dead exam in a recommendation list would be actively misleading.