The average salary for a underwriter in District of Columbia is around $82,070 per year.
Avg Salary
Underwriters earn an average yearly salary of $82,070.
Wages typically start from $64,800 and go up to $173,060.
19% above national average Updated in 2025
Underwriter earnings by seniority
Top-level underwriter earnings begin at:
$83.20 per hour
$173,060 per year
Senior-level underwriter earnings begin at:
$62.98 per hour
$131,000 per year
Mid-level underwriter earnings begin at:
$39.46 per hour
$82,070 per year
Junior-level underwriter earnings begin at:
$37.64 per hour
$78,290 per year
Starting level underwriter earnings begin at:
$31.16 per hour
$64,800 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Underwriter salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $99,400 |
| New York | $97,450 |
| Wisconsin | $97,370 |
| New Jersey | $96,220 |
| Maine | $95,510 |
| California | $95,320 |
| Maryland | $92,120 |
| Illinois | $89,620 |
| Georgia | $85,980 |
| Rhode Island | $84,720 |
| South Dakota | $83,130 |
| Arkansas | $82,130 |
| District of Columbia | $82,070 |
| Virginia | $81,870 |
| Alaska | $81,620 |
| Minnesota | $80,700 |
| Missouri | $80,040 |
| Kentucky | $79,830 |
| South Carolina | $79,570 |
| Ohio | $79,260 |
| Oregon | $79,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $78,950 |
| Texas | $78,890 |
| Tennessee | $78,840 |
| Florida | $78,720 |
| Vermont | $77,990 |
| Arizona | $77,740 |
| Indiana | $77,440 |
| Michigan | $77,380 |
| North Carolina | $77,120 |
| Kansas | $77,070 |
| Louisiana | $76,540 |
| Iowa | $75,160 |
| Nebraska | $75,120 |
| North Dakota | $74,130 |
| Hawaii | $73,260 |
| Utah | $72,730 |
| Oklahoma | $66,770 |
| Delaware | $64,350 |
| New Mexico | $64,000 |
| Montana | $63,140 |
| Idaho | $62,530 |
| Wyoming | $62,290 |
| Alabama | $62,220 |
| Mississippi | $59,250 |
| West Virginia | $52,890 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,730 |
| Guam | $36,650 |
| Massachusetts | $106,640 |
| New Hampshire | $103,940 |
| Nevada | $101,440 |
| Connecticut | $100,690 |
| Colorado | $100,640 |
How much does a Underwriter earn?
Those new to this field will typically start out towards the lower end of the underwriter salary scale and may move up in salary with experience. In addition, continuing education is required for advancement.
According to CollegeGrad.com, the median annual wages in 2014 for insurance underwriters in the top industries are:
Direct health and medical insurance carriers - $64,290/yr
Other insurance related activities - $64,160/yr
Direct insurance (except life, health, and medical) carriers - $63,700/yr
Management of companies and enterprises - $62,130/yr
Insurance agencies and brokerages - $61,680/yr
How do underwriter salaries compare to similar careers?
Underwriters earn about the same as related careers in District of Columbia. On average, they make less than urban planners but more than social workers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Urban planner salary | $137K |
| Insurance sales agent salary | $85K |
| Energy auditor salary | $108K |
| Recruiter salary | $111K |
| Arbitrator salary | $110K |
| Underwriter salary | $82K |
| Printing worker salary | $117K |
| Sign language interpreter salary | $110K |
| Interior designer salary | $98K |
| Social worker salary | $96K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)