Key takeaway: The 10 best insurance recruiting firms for 2026 are: The Jacobson Group, DW Simpson, Ezra Penland, Capstone Search Group, Questpro, Insurance Relief, Smith Hanley Associates, Pryor Personnel Agency, Insurance Resourcing, and Korn Ferry's insurance practice. Jacobson is the broadest insurance-only firm, covering executive search, professional recruiting, and temporary staffing; DW Simpson and Ezra Penland dominate actuarial recruiting; Capstone, Questpro, and Insurance Relief are the strongest for underwriting, claims, and agency roles; Smith Hanley leads in insurance analytics; Pryor and Insurance Resourcing are regional specialists; Korn Ferry handles C-suite searches at carriers.
Insurance recruiting firms specialize in a talent market that generalist recruiters find opaque: underwriters, claims adjusters, actuaries, risk managers, agency producers, and the executives who run carriers, brokers, MGAs, and reinsurers. Credentials matter (FCAS, FSA, CPCU, ARM), lines of business matter more, and the best candidates rarely post resumes, so specialist firms with long-standing carrier relationships have an edge that is hard to replicate.
The industry is facing a well-publicized talent gap. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics counts roughly 2.9 million insurance carrier and related-activity jobs, and the US Chamber of Commerce has noted that about 50% of the insurance workforce is expected to retire within the next 15 years, with an estimated 400,000 open positions to fill. BLS projects 22% growth for actuaries from 2023 to 2033, far faster than average, while claims adjuster employment is projected to decline as automation absorbs routine work, which is why experienced complex-claims and specialty underwriting talent commands a premium.
This list ranks firms that work exclusively or primarily in insurance, plus one global search firm with a dedicated carrier practice. For adjacent finance roles, see our finance and accounting recruiting firms list; for general executive searches, see executive search firms.
How did we evaluate insurance recruiting firms?
| Criterion | Weight | What we assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance specialization | 30% | Share of placements in insurance and depth across lines of business and functions |
| Carrier and broker relationships | 20% | Long-standing client relationships with carriers, brokers, MGAs, and reinsurers |
| Functional depth | 20% | Strength in actuarial, underwriting, claims, risk, sales, and executive roles |
| Model flexibility | 15% | Executive search, contingency, and temporary or interim options |
| Market insight | 15% | Compensation surveys, labor studies, and advice on role design |
The 10 firms at a glance
| # | Firm | Headquarters | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Jacobson Group | Chicago, IL | Carriers and brokers that want one firm for executive search, permanent hiring, and interim or... |
| 2 | DW Simpson | Chicago, IL | Actuarial roles at every level, from entry-level analysts to chief actuaries, across life... |
| 3 | Ezra Penland | Chicago, IL | Actuarial, catastrophe modeling, and insurance data science roles |
| 4 | Capstone Search Group | Urbandale, IA | Underwriting, claims, risk management, and brokerage roles from mid-level to executive |
| 5 | Questpro | Dallas, TX | Property and casualty underwriting, claims, and agency roles in Texas and the Southwest, plus... |
| 6 | Insurance Relief | Fresno, CA | Agencies, brokers, and carriers on the West Coast hiring account managers, CSRs, underwriters... |
| 7 | Smith Hanley Associates | Southport, CT | Insurance carriers and insurtechs hiring data scientists, predictive modelers, and analytics... |
| 8 | Pryor Personnel Agency | Hicksville, NY | New York metro carriers, brokers, and agencies hiring underwriting, claims, and account... |
| 9 | Insurance Resourcing | Woodinville, WA | Pacific Northwest and West Coast insurance agencies and carriers hiring account managers... |
| 10 | Korn Ferry Insurance Practice | Los Angeles, CA | C-suite and board searches at carriers, reinsurers, and large brokers |
The 10 best insurance recruiting firms
1. The Jacobson Group
Type: Insurance-only executive search, professional recruiting, and temporary staffing Headquarters: Chicago, IL Best for: Carriers and brokers that want one firm for executive search, permanent hiring, and interim or project staffing
The Jacobson Group has served the insurance industry exclusively since 1971 and is the largest insurance-focused talent firm in the US. It runs retained executive searches for carrier and broker leadership, contingency and retained recruiting for professional roles across underwriting, claims, actuarial, finance, and technology, and a large temporary and interim staffing practice that supplies adjusters, underwriters, and project teams during catastrophes, system conversions, and backlogs. Its semiannual Insurance Labor Market Study, produced with Aon, is the industry's standard hiring benchmark.
Strengths:
- Broadest insurance-only offering: search, recruiting, and staffing
- Industry-standard labor market research
- Deep relationships across carriers, brokers, and reinsurers
Limitations:
- Large-firm pricing and process for small agencies
- Less depth in actuarial recruiting than the actuarial specialists
2. DW Simpson
Type: Actuarial recruiting Headquarters: Chicago, IL Best for: Actuarial roles at every level, from entry-level analysts to chief actuaries, across life, health, and property and casualty
DW Simpson has recruited actuaries since 1990 and is the largest actuarial recruiting firm in the world, placing credentialed and student actuaries at insurers, reinsurers, consultancies, and pension plans. Its annual Actuarial Salary Survey is the reference compensation source for the profession, and its recruiters are organized by practice area so that a health actuary is recruited by someone who understands health. The firm also places data science and analytics roles adjacent to actuarial work.
Strengths:
- Largest actuarial network and most-cited salary survey
- Recruiters aligned to life, health, and property and casualty specialties
- Global reach for actuarial roles
Limitations:
- Actuarial focus means limited coverage of other insurance functions
- High demand for actuaries means long client queues at peak times
3. Ezra Penland
Type: Actuarial and insurance analytics recruiting Headquarters: Chicago, IL Best for: Actuarial, catastrophe modeling, and insurance data science roles
Ezra Penland is the other major actuarial recruiting firm, placing actuaries, catastrophe modelers, predictive modelers, and insurance data scientists across the US and internationally. It publishes an annual actuarial salary survey and maintains close ties with the Casualty Actuarial Society and Society of Actuaries communities. Carriers and consultancies often run searches with both Ezra Penland and DW Simpson to cover the full actuarial market.
Strengths:
- Deep actuarial and catastrophe modeling network
- Strong in insurance predictive analytics roles
- Regular salary and market research
Limitations:
- Narrow specialization outside actuarial and analytics
- Smaller team than DW Simpson
4. Capstone Search Group
Type: Insurance recruiting for carriers, brokers, and MGAs Headquarters: Urbandale, IA Best for: Underwriting, claims, risk management, and brokerage roles from mid-level to executive
Capstone Search Group recruits exclusively for the insurance industry, with recruiters who specialize by function across underwriting, claims, loss control, risk management, agency and brokerage, and corporate roles. Based in the Des Moines area, one of the country's densest insurance hubs, it serves carriers, retail and wholesale brokers, MGAs, and corporate risk departments nationwide on contingency and retained terms. It is a frequent first call for regional and specialty carriers that need experienced underwriters.
Strengths:
- Function-aligned insurance recruiters
- Strong Midwest and national carrier relationships
- Covers brokerage and corporate risk roles as well as carriers
Limitations:
- No temporary staffing arm
- Less actuarial depth
5. Questpro
Type: Insurance recruiting and staffing Headquarters: Dallas, TX Best for: Property and casualty underwriting, claims, and agency roles in Texas and the Southwest, plus national specialty searches
Questpro has recruited for the insurance industry since 1997 and places professionals across underwriting, claims, risk, premium audit, loss control, and agency roles on direct-hire, contract, and executive search terms. Based in Dallas, it has strong relationships with the many carriers and brokers headquartered in Texas and the Southwest, and it has expanded nationally in specialty lines. Its temporary and contract practice supports catastrophe claims surges and project work.
Strengths:
- Direct-hire, contract, and executive search under one roof
- Deep Texas and Southwest carrier network
- Experienced with catastrophe and project claims staffing
Limitations:
- Regional strength is stronger than its national coverage
- Limited actuarial and life insurance depth
6. Insurance Relief
Type: Insurance staffing and recruiting Headquarters: Fresno, CA Best for: Agencies, brokers, and carriers on the West Coast hiring account managers, CSRs, underwriters, and claims staff
Insurance Relief places insurance professionals on temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct-hire terms, with particular strength in agency and brokerage roles such as account managers, customer service representatives, producers, and processors, as well as underwriting and claims positions at carriers. Headquartered in California, it serves clients nationally and is known for fast placements in the high-turnover agency support segment. It has been recognized repeatedly by ClearlyRated for client and talent satisfaction.
Strengths:
- Strong agency and brokerage staffing bench
- Temporary and temp-to-hire options
- High client and candidate satisfaction ratings
Limitations:
- Less executive search capability
- Carrier-side depth is thinner than Jacobson or Capstone
7. Smith Hanley Associates
Type: Insurance analytics, actuarial, and data science recruiting Headquarters: Southport, CT Best for: Insurance carriers and insurtechs hiring data scientists, predictive modelers, and analytics leaders
Smith Hanley Associates has recruited quantitative and analytics professionals since 1980, and insurance is its largest vertical. It places actuaries, predictive modelers, data scientists, pricing analysts, and analytics leaders at carriers, reinsurers, and insurtechs, and its consultants typically have quantitative backgrounds themselves. The firm is a strong fit for carriers building modern pricing and claims analytics teams who need candidates fluent in both insurance and machine learning.
Strengths:
- Deep insurance analytics and data science network
- Recruiters with quantitative backgrounds
- Covers insurtechs as well as traditional carriers
Limitations:
- Narrow focus on quantitative roles
- Not a source for underwriting, claims, or agency staff
8. Pryor Personnel Agency
Type: Insurance recruiting boutique Headquarters: Hicksville, NY Best for: New York metro carriers, brokers, and agencies hiring underwriting, claims, and account management staff
Pryor Personnel Agency has specialized in insurance recruiting in the New York metropolitan area since 1970, placing underwriters, claims professionals, account managers, producers, and operations staff with carriers, brokers, wholesalers, and agencies. Its long tenure in the New York insurance community gives it relationships that national firms rarely match locally, and it handles both permanent and temporary placements.
Strengths:
- Deep New York metro insurance network
- Decades of relationships with brokers and carriers
- Permanent and temporary placements
Limitations:
- Primarily regional coverage
- Small team with limited executive search capacity
9. Insurance Resourcing
Type: Insurance recruiting boutique Headquarters: Woodinville, WA Best for: Pacific Northwest and West Coast insurance agencies and carriers hiring account managers, underwriters, and claims staff
Insurance Resourcing recruits exclusively for the insurance industry in the Pacific Northwest and broader West, placing commercial and personal lines account managers, underwriters, claims adjusters, producers, and management roles with agencies, brokers, carriers, and MGAs. Its founder came from the insurance industry, and the firm is known for candid market advice on compensation and remote work expectations in the region.
Strengths:
- Strong Pacific Northwest insurance network
- Industry-experienced recruiters
- Practical compensation guidance for regional employers
Limitations:
- Regional focus
- Limited actuarial and executive search coverage
10. Korn Ferry Insurance Practice
Type: Global executive search firm with a dedicated insurance practice Headquarters: Los Angeles, CA Best for: C-suite and board searches at carriers, reinsurers, and large brokers
Korn Ferry is the largest executive search firm in the world, and its insurance practice runs CEO, CFO, chief underwriting officer, chief claims officer, and board searches for carriers, reinsurers, brokers, and insurtechs globally. It pairs search with leadership assessment and succession planning, which matters for insurers facing a wave of executive retirements. For top-of-house roles where the candidate pool is global and confidentiality is critical, it and its peers in our executive search firms ranking are the appropriate choice.
Strengths:
- Global reach for C-suite insurance searches
- Integrated assessment and succession planning
- Deep relationships with carrier and reinsurer boards
Limitations:
- Not a source for professional or mid-level insurance roles
- Retained fees and minimums suit only senior searches
Which insurance recruiting model fits which role?
Insurance hiring splits cleanly by role type. Actuarial roles belong with DW Simpson, Ezra Penland, or Smith Hanley, because the candidate pool is small, credentialed, and already known to those firms. Underwriting, claims, and risk roles are best served by insurance-only contingency firms such as Capstone, Questpro, and Jacobson's professional recruiting practice, usually at 20-25% of first-year salary. Agency support and account management roles turn over frequently and suit temporary and temp-to-hire staffing from Insurance Relief, Jacobson, or regional boutiques. Executive roles go to Jacobson's search practice or a global firm like Korn Ferry at retained fees of 30-35%.
Volume changes the math. Carriers and large brokers that hire dozens of underwriters and claims professionals a year pay agency fees that could fund a dedicated sourcing team several times over. Our cost-per-hire benchmarks and AI agent versus recruiting agency comparison show where the break-even sits.
How Noon fits alongside insurance recruiters
Most insurance talent is passive: experienced underwriters and adjusters are employed and not reading job boards, which is why specialist recruiters earn their fees. Noon runs autonomous sourcing agents that continuously find and screen candidates across the open web against your actual hiring bar, evaluating lines of business, credentials, and career trajectory, then run personalized email and SMS outreach so your recruiters only spend time with interested, qualified candidates. It is one flat plan with unlimited roles and seats (see pricing). Carriers that hire continuously use Noon as the always-on channel for professional roles and engage a search firm for executive and actuarial leadership; our AI recruiting guide explains how to combine the two.
FAQ
What is an insurance recruiting firm? An insurance recruiting firm specializes in placing professionals at carriers, brokers, agencies, MGAs, and reinsurers, covering underwriting, claims, actuarial, risk, sales, operations, and executive roles. Specialist firms understand lines of business and credentials such as CPCU, FCAS, and FSA that generalist recruiters often miss.
How much do insurance recruiters charge? Contingency fees for professional roles typically run 20-25% of first-year base salary. Retained executive searches cost 30-35%. Temporary and interim staffing is billed hourly with a markup on the worker's pay rate, and temp-to-hire conversions usually carry a reduced fee.
Which firm is best for actuarial recruiting? DW Simpson is the largest actuarial recruiting firm and publishes the profession's most-cited salary survey. Ezra Penland is the other major actuarial specialist, and Smith Hanley Associates covers actuarial and insurance data science roles. Many carriers engage two of the three.
Can insurance recruiting firms provide temporary adjusters after a catastrophe? Yes. The Jacobson Group, Questpro, and Insurance Relief all maintain temporary and project staffing practices that supply licensed adjusters, underwriters, and processors during catastrophe events, system conversions, and backlogs.
How long does it take to fill an underwriting or claims role? With a specialist recruiter, experienced underwriting and claims roles typically fill in six to ten weeks. Specialty lines, complex claims, and leadership roles take longer. The industry-wide shortage documented in Jacobson's labor market studies means timelines stretch without proactive sourcing.
