How much does a insurance underwriter make?
Answer: A typical insurance underwriter in the United States makes $81,370 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 105,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Insurance underwriter pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $55,530 | $81,370 | $145,160 | about 105,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $106,640 | about 3,000 |
| Connecticut | $100,690 | about 2,000 |
| Colorado | $100,640 | about 2,000 |
| Washington | $99,400 | about 2,000 |
| New York | $97,450 | about 7,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, since underwriters may advance to senior or manager roles, and with certifications that help them advance. The employer’s industry, the kind of insurance they specialize in, and where they work also matter.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a insurance underwriter do?
Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.
What's a typical day like?
They review insurance applications and computer risk recommendations at a desk. For tricky cases, they may check medical records or credit information, then decide whether to offer coverage and set the premium.
How to get this job
Most U.S. firms prefer a bachelor’s degree; business, finance, economics, or math studies help. New hires train with a senior underwriter for up to a year, and certificates can help them advance.
Usually a bachelor's degree (preparation level 4 of 5)
Good for people who like keeping things organized and leading and selling.
Did you know?
For common car insurance, underwriters often rely on software recommendations—so a computer may make the first risk check!
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Business and Financial Operations jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/Business-and-Financial/Insurance-underwriters.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-2053.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2022/may/oes132053.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY