Insurance Underwriters
Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.
Also called: Account Underwriter · Automobile and Property Underwriter · Commercial Lines Underwriter · Health Underwriter · Life Underwriter · Personal Lines Underwriter
Median pay (national)
$79,880
$51,640–$138,020 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
107,820
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-2.6%
~8,200 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for insurance underwriters shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $138,020 versus $51,640 at the bottom 10% — 2.7x. The median of $79,880 leaves roughly 73% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -2.6% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 8,200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 52 states with released data, Vermont pays the most for this role (median $106,790, +34% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $39,210 — a 172% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Examine documents to determine degree of risk from factors such as applicant health, financial standing and value, and condition of property.
- Decline excessive risks.
- Write to field representatives, medical personnel, or others to obtain further information, quote rates, or explain company underwriting policies.
- Evaluate possibility of losses due to catastrophe or excessive insurance.
- Review company records to determine amount of insurance in force on single risk or group of closely related risks.
- Decrease value of policy when risk is substandard and specify applicable endorsements or apply rating to ensure safe, profitable distribution of risks, using reference materials.
- Authorize reinsurance of policy when risk is high.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- C++
- Microsoft Windows
- Anodas Software Limited Phoenix
- Consilience Software Maven Insurance Automation Suite
- CSC nbAccelerator
- Database software
- Delphi Technology
- Fair Isaac Enterprise Decision Management for Insurance
- Fannie Mae Desktop Underwriter
- Fiserv Advanced Underwriting
- IBM FileNet Content Manager
- LabOne NET
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Sales and Marketing
- Administrative
- Economics and Accounting
- Law and Government
- Computers and Electronics