Underwriter earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level underwriter earnings begin at:

$45.87 per hour

$95,410 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level underwriter earnings begin at:

$35.56 per hour

$73,970 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level underwriter earnings begin at:

$25.43 per hour

$52,890 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level underwriter earnings begin at:

$19.01 per hour

$39,550 per year

10th percentile

Starting level underwriter earnings begin at:

$15.74 per hour

$32,740 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 West Virginia. On average, they make less than energy auditors but more than funeral directors.

Career Median Salary
Energy auditor salary $66K
Social worker salary $73K
Real estate agent salary $64K
Insurance appraiser salary $64K
Recruiter salary $58K
Underwriter salary $53K
Urban planner salary $52K
Interior designer salary $44K
Insurance sales agent salary $38K
Funeral director salary $48K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)