Underwriter earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level underwriter earnings begin at:

$58.60 per hour

$121,880 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level underwriter earnings begin at:

$45.79 per hour

$95,250 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level underwriter earnings begin at:

$34.22 per hour

$71,180 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level underwriter earnings begin at:

$26.93 per hour

$56,000 per year

10th percentile

Starting level underwriter earnings begin at:

$22.30 per hour

$46,390 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Underwriter salary by state

State Name Average Salary
New Hampshire $80,530
District of Columbia $80,410
New Jersey $79,930
California $78,750
New York $78,420
Connecticut $77,346
Pennsylvania $77,300
Indiana $77,190
Massachusetts $76,760
Maryland $76,450
Washington $76,110
South Dakota $74,810
Kansas $74,630
Georgia $73,910
North Carolina $71,570
Montana $71,290
Oregon $71,220
Colorado $71,180
Illinois $70,566
Idaho $68,710
Ohio $68,190
Rhode Island $68,040
Kentucky $67,276
Iowa $66,682
Michigan $65,450
Maine $65,040
Tennessee $64,860
Missouri $64,660
Hawaii $64,530
Delaware $64,350
Virginia $64,260
Minnesota $63,820
Florida $63,790
Wisconsin $63,490
Arizona $62,762
Alaska $61,840
Nevada $61,780
Texas $61,240
Mississippi $60,960
Nebraska $59,960
North Dakota $59,860
Alabama $59,650
Wyoming $58,630
Vermont $58,420
Louisiana $56,920
Utah $55,760
Oklahoma $55,450
New Mexico $54,430
West Virginia $52,890
South Carolina $50,010
Arkansas $47,030
Puerto Rico $37,730
Guam $36,650

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 Colorado. On average, they make less than energy auditors but more than mail superintendents.

Career Median Salary
Energy auditor salary $75K
Real estate appraiser salary $69K
Police officer salary $75K
Underwriter salary $71K
Urban planner salary $75K
Fire inspector salary $73K
Court reporter salary $70K
Mail superintendent salary $71K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)