What is the average Underwriter salary for Des Moines, IA?
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As of June 01, 2026, the average Underwriter salary in Des Moines, IA is $94,748. The chart below represents localized salaries for some of our most popular Underwriter job titles in Des Moines, IA. Salaries can vary greatly depending on numerous factors, including position, location, years of experience, and level of education. Salary.com’s team of Certified Compensation Professionals analyzed survey data collected from thousands of HR departments at companies of all sizes and industries to compile a range of salaries for various Underwriter job titles in Des Moines, IA. Apply your personal criteria to one of the job titles below to get your personalized salary estimate.
Underwriter Salaries in Des Moines, IA
| Job Title | Salary | Hourly Rate | Location | Date Updated |
| Underwriter I | $63,746 | $30.65 | Des Moines, IA | June 01, 2026 |
| Underwriter II | $76,026 | $36.55 | Des Moines, IA | June 01, 2026 |
| Underwriter III | $98,478 | $47.35 | Des Moines, IA | June 01, 2026 |
| Underwriter IV | $117,962 | $56.71 | Des Moines, IA | June 01, 2026 |
| Mortgage Underwriter II | $76,362 | $36.71 | Des Moines, IA | June 01, 2026 |
| Mortgage Underwriter I | $61,738 | $29.68 | Des Moines, IA | June 01, 2026 |
| Mortgage Underwriter III | $90,720 | $43.62 | Des Moines, IA | June 01, 2026 |
| Underwriter (Life) III | $100,293 | $48.22 | Des Moines, IA | June 01, 2026 |
| Underwriter (Life) I | $58,708 | $28.23 | Des Moines, IA | June 01, 2026 |
| Health Underwriter | $70,711 | $34.00 | Des Moines, IA | June 01, 2026 |
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Reviews and analyzes risk characteristics on insurance applications, renewals, and change requests. Utilizes underwriting guidelines, rules, standards, and levels of authority to accept, reject, or mitigate risk for applications and determine appropriate premiums, limits, and coverages. Calculates renewal rates. Ensures that underwriting activities comply with all industry and governmental regulations. May coordinate with field agents to collect or clarify information or decisions. Typically requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Underwriter I Salaries in Des Moines, IAAlternate Job Titles:Insurance Underwriter I, Underwriter ICategory : Insurance
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Reviews and analyzes risk characteristics on insurance applications, renewals, and change requests. Utilizes underwriting guidelines, rules, standards, and levels of authority to accept, reject, or mitigate risk for applications and determine appropriate premiums, limits, and coverages. Calculates renewal rates. Ensures that underwriting activities comply with all industry and governmental regulations. May coordinate with field agents to collect or clarify information or decisions. Typically requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience. Underwriter II Salaries in Des Moines, IAAlternate Job Titles:Insurance Underwriter II, Underwriter IICategory : Insurance
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Reviews and analyzes risk characteristics on insurance applications, renewals, and change requests. Utilizes underwriting guidelines, rules, standards, and levels of authority to accept, reject, or mitigate risk for applications and determine appropriate premiums, limits, and coverages. Calculates renewal rates. Ensures that underwriting activities comply with all industry and governmental regulations. May coordinate with field agents to collect or clarify information or decisions. Typically requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience. Underwriter III Salaries in Des Moines, IAAlternate Job Titles:Insurance Underwriter III, Underwriter IIICategory : Insurance
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Reviews and analyzes risk characteristics on insurance applications, renewals, and change requests. Utilizes underwriting guidelines, rules, standards, and levels of authority to accept, reject, or mitigate risk for applications and determine appropriate premiums, limits, and coverages. Calculates renewal rates. Ensures that underwriting activities comply with all industry and governmental regulations. May coordinate with field agents to collect or clarify information or decisions. Typically requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Work is highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience. Underwriter IV Salaries in Des Moines, IAAlternate Job Titles:Insurance Underwriter IV, Underwriter IVCategory : Insurance
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Evaluates the risk of mortgage loan applications against the firm's objectives and borrowing guidelines using analysis and assessment of creditworthiness criteria. Reviews the applicant's financial status, documents, data, and property appraisal. Calculates LTV ratio (loan to value) to define the loan program eligibility, down payment, interest rate, repayment terms, and allowed loan amounts. Makes approval, rejection, or modification decisions based on underwriting guidelines and established approval limits. Complies with all federal regulations, state laws, and internal policies related to mortgage lending. Escalates non-conforming loans that require approval review using an exception process. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience. Mortgage Underwriter II Salaries in Des Moines, IAAlternate Job Titles:Intermediate Mortgage Underwriter, Mortgage Underwriter II
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Evaluates the risk of mortgage loan applications against the firm's objectives and borrowing guidelines using analysis and assessment of creditworthiness criteria. Reviews the applicant's financial status, documents, data, and property appraisal. Calculates LTV ratio (loan to value) to define the loan program eligibility, down payment, interest rate, repayment terms, and allowed loan amounts. Makes approval, rejection, or modification decisions based on underwriting guidelines and established approval limits. Complies with all federal regulations, state laws, and internal policies related to mortgage lending. Escalates non-conforming loans that require approval review using an exception process. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Mortgage Underwriter I Salaries in Des Moines, IAAlternate Job Titles:Entry Mortgage Underwriter, Mortgage Underwriter I
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Evaluates the risk of mortgage loan applications against the firm's objectives and borrowing guidelines using analysis and assessment of creditworthiness criteria. Reviews the applicant's financial status, documents, data, and property appraisal. Calculates LTV ratio (loan to value) to define the loan program eligibility, down payment, interest rate, repayment terms, and allowed loan amounts. Makes approval, rejection, or modification decisions based on underwriting guidelines and established approval limits. Complies with all federal regulations, state laws, and internal policies related to mortgage lending. Escalates non-conforming loans that require approval review using an exception process. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience. Mortgage Underwriter III Salaries in Des Moines, IAAlternate Job Titles:Senior Mortgage Underwriter, Mortgage Underwriter III
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Reviews medical, occupational, financial, and legal information to select or reject individual or group life insurance applications. Calculates rates and premiums from approved decrement tables. Approves or denies applications on own discretion. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Typically requires 4 to 7 years of related experience. Underwriter (Life) III Salaries in Des Moines, IAAlternate Job Titles:Life Insurance Underwriter III, Senior Underwriter (Life), Underwriter (Life) IIICategory : Insurance
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Reviews medical, occupational, financial, and legal information to select or reject individual or group life insurance applications. Calculates rates and premiums from approved decrement tables. May have contact with the field force for information on which to base decisions. May require a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. Underwriter (Life) I Salaries in Des Moines, IAAlternate Job Titles:Entry Underwriter (Life), Life Insurance Underwriter I, Underwriter (Life) I
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Reviews applications for coverage, gathers data, and assesses risk related to qualifying a candidate for health insurance. Calculates and recommends pricing. Performs group and/or individual underwriting. May require a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Gains exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Typically requires 2 to 4 years of related experience. Health Underwriter Salaries in Des Moines, IAAlternate Job Titles:Health Insurance Underwriter, Medical Underwriter, Health Underwriter