Thanks to additional distribution through the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, the annual Florida Underwriter salary survey enjoyed a wider response rate than ever before. The survey also pulled in answers from significantly more CSRs. Of the 2011 respondents, 21.9 percent were CSRs, compared to 5.6 percent in 2010. The rest of the occupation breakdown for 2011 versus 2010 was: Underwriters, 5.6 percent in 2011, 6.3 percent in 2010; Agents/Brokers, 53.6 versus 66.7; Others, 18.9 percent versus 21.5 percent.

As testimony to the long-term viability of the insurance profession, a vast majority of the respondents said they have been in the business for two decades or more;; the average for all respondents was 24.3 years. Fifty-two percent had college or post-graduate degrees. Males accounted for 42 percent of the respondents; females 58 percent. This varies significantly from 2010, when the gender ratio was males 66 percent, and females 34 percent. The average age of respondents was 50.8 years. The youngest respondent was 24; the oldest 76.

Compensation and Workplace Norms
A slight majority (56.1 percent) of the respondents reported that they were salary-based only. Those that did receive commission reported rates across the board, from 100 percent to one percent. Of those, 21 percent reported decreased commissions in 2011, 14.3 percent said their commissions stayed about the same, and 8.7 percent reported increases.