Underwriter Salary

Created by Henry Steele

By Henry Steele - January 8, 2018
Reading Time: 11 minutes
Reading Time: 11 minutes

The following article discusses the career path of Underwriter. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Underwriters.

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Job Duties

Underwriters work either for an insurance company or for a bank that supplies people with mortgages and loans. They analyze the risk of the prospective client in terms of them repaying their loan or making a claim on their insurance. They also ensure all the data they have received is correct and accurate.

The main role of the underwriter is to make sure that the quality of the products offered to clients is as high as possible, and completely fit for purpose. They must follow numerous rules and regulations to achieve this, starting with the company’s own guidelines and ending with federal laws. They must, therefore, have an in-depth understanding of the industry as a whole, so that they can develop and offer products that are right for everybody.

Other job duties of underwriters include:

  • Analyzing data, business, loss experience, claim history, and the outcome of decisions in relation to liability
  • Submitting, underwriting, pending, or approving coverage premiums and amounts, presenting those findings to managers
  • Ensuring that current policies are up to date and comply with relevant rules and guidelines.
  • Being responsible for certain geographical areas, finding new businesses and clients based on prospective profitability

Where We Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 104,100 insurance underwriters in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals were:

  • Direct insurance (except life, health, and medical) carriers: 47%
  • Insurance agencies and brokerages: 19%
  • Other insurance related activities: 6%
  • Direct health and medical insurance carriers: 5%
  • Credit intermediation and related activities: 4%

How to Become

Underwriters usually work in the office and they often work unsociable hours, as insurance companies have extended opening hours. They must be trained to understand specific federal rules and regulations, as well as undergo internal training to have a full understanding of policies and procedures. It is generally expected that underwriters also have an in-depth understanding of FHMLC and FNMA guidelines and programs.

Education Requirements

A bachelor’s degree is usually required for an underwriter, although the major for this degree is less important. It is preferred that candidates have completed finance, business, mathematics, and economics courses. Usually, new underwriters will start as a trainee, being mentored by senior underwriters. They will manage basic applications so that they can gain an understanding of what the common risk factors are. Sometimes, their company will offer further in-house training on underwriting concepts. As they become more experienced, they will start to work independently, handling complex applications.

Usually, further certification is expected for underwriters, but this is delivered in-house. They take part in courses that ensure their knowledge on insurance policies is up to date, and there is also a focus on state and federal laws and regulations, as well as new technology. In order for someone to advance to the position of senior underwriter or underwriter manager, certifications are expected.

One of the most common certifcations is the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), offered by the American Institute for Property and Casualty Underwriters. The Institute also offers training for entry level underwriters. Other designations relevant to insurance specialties also exist, such as the Associate in Personal Insurance (API) and the Associate in Commercial Underwriting (AU). It usually takes between one and two years to achieve these certificates.

The Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) designation is offered through the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. This focuses on basic insurance concepts. The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) certification, meanwhile, is offered by the American College of Financial Services. This is available for those with at least three years’ professional experience.

Traits & Qualities

The most effective underwriters have the following traits to some degree or other:

  • Strong analytical skills
  • Excellent decision making skills
  • Very detail oriented
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Excellent mathematical skills
  • Good communication skills, both verbal and written

Minimum Education

Bachelor’s Degree

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Underwriter was $70,387. This number is estimated from over 1,766,224 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $36.66 and monthly of $5,866.

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$17,000

$161,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Underwriter salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, DC had the largest quoted salary of $91,609 while Nevada had the smallest quoted salary of $26,745.

AlaskaIdahoMississippiRhode Island
AlabamaIllinoisNorth CarolinaSouth Carolina
ArizonaIndianaNebraskaSouth Dakota
CaliforniaKansasNew HampshireTennessee
ColoradoKentuckyNew JerseyTexas
ConnecticutLouisianaNew MexicoUtah
DCMassachusettsNevadaVirginia
DelawareMarylandNew YorkWashington
FloridaMaineOhioWisconsin
GeorgiaMichiganOklahomaWest Virginia
HawaiiMinnesotaOregon
IowaMissouriPennsylvania
Alaska$28,588Rank: 45th
The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Alaska USA FCU.

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$14,000

$51,000

Salary Distribution
Alabama$64,024Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The Alliance, Regions Bank, Wells Fargo, and Diedre Moire.

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$14,000

$170,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona$73,766Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Liberty Mutual, Contemporary Staffing Solutions, Gould Staffing, and NextStep Recruiting.

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$19,000

$164,000

Salary Distribution
California$81,343Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Management Recruiters of Sacramento, Liberty Mutual, Quest Strategic Advisors, and Absolute Opportunities.

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$27,000

$163,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado$71,464Rank: 16th
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accounting Career Network, Guaranty Bank and Trust Company, Bradley Consulting Group, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$23,000

$145,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut$74,341Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Contract Staffing Recruiters, The Hanover Insurance Group, The Hartford Financial Services, and Cigna.

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$18,000

$170,000

Salary Distribution
DC$91,609Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Contemporary Staffing Solutions, CyberCoders, The Hanover Insurance Group, and Robert Half Finance & Accounting.

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$39,000

$165,000

Salary Distribution
Delaware$63,478Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Aerotek.

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$14,000

$157,000

Salary Distribution
Florida$58,912Rank: 35th
The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CE Insurance Services, Inc., The CSI Companies, Freedom Mortgage Corporation, and COMMUNITY BANK.

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$14,000

$163,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia$74,405Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CHASE Professionals, FFC Mgt, General Placement Service, and Genesis Resources.

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$20,000

$163,000

Salary Distribution
Hawaii$71,579Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders and ALTRES Office.

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$22,000

$148,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa$73,255Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Criterion Executive Search, Diedre Moire, The James Allen Companies, and TheBestIRS, Insurance Recruiting Specialists.

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$21,000

$156,000

Salary Distribution
Idaho$62,273Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders.

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$22,000

$122,000

Salary Distribution
Illinois$73,714Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like All About People, Godfrey Personnel, Inc., QuestPro, and Phillips Staffing Solutions.

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$20,000

$161,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana$48,134Rank: 42nd
The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like All About People, CyberCoders, Diedre Moire, and The Hanover Insurance Group.

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$14,000

$109,000

Salary Distribution
Kansas$49,359Rank: 40th
The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Liberty Mutual, Farmers Insurance Group, and Mountain, Ltd.

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$14,000

$135,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky$49,026Rank: 41st
The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Clearleaf Finance.

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$14,000

$103,000

Salary Distribution
Louisiana$61,991Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders.

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$17,000

$135,000

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts$74,784Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Davis & Associates, Martin Grant Assoc Inc, The Hanover Insurance Group, and CyberCoders.

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$21,000

$161,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland$70,796Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Aerotek, CyberCoders, General Placement Service, and Questor Consultants, Inc..

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$22,000

$146,000

Salary Distribution
Maine$78,396Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Disability RMS.

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$14,000

$217,000

Salary Distribution
Michigan$67,192Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like All About People, CyberCoders, The Hanover Insurance Group, and EanTech Consulting Inc.

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$23,000

$133,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota$67,436Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like SNI Companies, Select QC, CyberCoders, and The Hanover Insurance Group.

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$24,000

$132,000

Salary Distribution
Missouri$69,629Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Diedre Moire, CyberCoders, Aerotek, and Citi.

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$14,000

$183,000

Salary Distribution
Mississippi$55,155Rank: 37th
The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Mutual of Omaha and NewHire.

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$14,000

$128,000

Salary Distribution
North Carolina$64,418Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Lear Group, Diedre Moire, and NextStep Recruiting.

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$18,000

$137,000

Salary Distribution
Nebraska$29,433Rank: 44th
The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Cornerstone, TheBestIRS, Insurance Recruiting Specialists, Mutual of Omaha, and Remedy Intelligent Staffing.

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$7.75

$24.20

Salary Distribution
New Hampshire$75,591Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders and Liberty Mutual.

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$20,000

$166,000

Salary Distribution
New Jersey$74,920Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Penn Personnel Consultants, Inc., Contemporary Staffing Solutions, The Hanover Insurance Group, and Liberty Mutual.

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$20,000

$164,000

Salary Distribution
New Mexico$77,265Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders.

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$21,000

$169,000

Salary Distribution
Nevada$26,745Rank: 46th
The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Citi, Wells Fargo, DISYS, and National Debt Relief.

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$7.25

$33.00

Salary Distribution
New York$75,939Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Hollinger Insurance Jobs, QuestPro, Liberty Mutual, and Greater New York Insurance Companies.

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$15,000

$182,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio$65,391Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like HRH Group Services, CyberCoders, All About People, and Hollinger Insurance Jobs.

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$16,000

$146,000

Salary Distribution
Oklahoma$57,418Rank: 36th
The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Symmetry Financial Group, Robert Half Finance & Accounting, ADFITECH, and CompSource Mutual Insurance Company.

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$17,000

$120,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon$64,773Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, Wells Fargo, The Standard Insurance, and Liberty Mutual.

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$17,000

$141,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania$68,501Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Questor Consultants, Inc., QuestPro, CSS, and The Hanover Insurance Group.

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$14,000

$167,000

Salary Distribution
Rhode Island$70,484Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders and Shannon Motors.

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$26,000

$136,000

Salary Distribution
South Carolina$54,278Rank: 38th
The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Symmetry Financial Group, CyberCoders, Symmetry Financial, and General Placement Service.

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$16,000

$115,000

Salary Distribution
South Dakota$51,879Rank: 39th
The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TheBestIRS, Insurance Recruiting Specialists.

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$24,000

$90,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee$66,024Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders, General Placement Service, Hortencia Warner Insurnace Agency LLC, and Hortencia Warner Ins Agency LLC.

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$17,000

$148,000

Salary Distribution
Texas$68,495Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like SFG, CyberCoders, AppleOne, and Contemporary Staffing Solutions.

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$17,000

$154,000

Salary Distribution
Utah$69,188Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Robert Half Finance & Accounting, Accounting Career Network, CyberCoders, and Fig.

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$21,000

$145,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia$71,186Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Contemporary Staffing Solutions, NextStep Recruiting, Questor Consultants, Inc., and TheBestIRS, Insurance Recruiting Specialists.

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$22,000

$147,000

Salary Distribution
Washington$78,266Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CyberCoders and Liberty Mutual.

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$26,000

$157,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin$61,454Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Health Benefits Company, Criterion Executive Search, Diedre Moire, and CyberCoders.

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$18,000

$130,000

Salary Distribution
West Virginia$45,984Rank: 43rd
The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like BrickStreet Mutual Insurance.

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$14,000

$104,000

Salary Distribution

Top 20 National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Underwriter. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary

Learn More

Related Careers

Career NameAverage Salary

Henry Steele
Managing Editor
Henry is Managing Editor of BusinessStudent.com. He is a seasoned business professional who regularly consults with local business's throughout Southern California. Henry pursued his undergrad in Business and Economics at the University of San Diego and gained valuable life changing experience through a unique internship upon graduation.

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