How much does an Underwriter make in the United States?
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The average Underwriter salary in the United States is $119,617 as of August 01, 2026. The range for our most popular Underwriter positions (listed below) typically falls between $54,840 and $184,394. Keep in mind that salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including position, education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Underwriter's Annual Base Salary
| Job Title | Salary | Hourly Rate | Location | Date Updated |
| Underwriter III | $101,700 | $48.89 | United States | August 01, 2026 |
| Underwriter I | $66,891 | $32.16 | United States | August 01, 2026 |
| Underwriter II | $79,137 | $38.05 | United States | August 01, 2026 |
| Underwriter IV | $124,005 | $59.62 | United States | August 01, 2026 |
| Mortgage Underwriter I | $63,209 | $30.39 | United States | August 01, 2026 |
| Mortgage Underwriter II | $78,225 | $37.61 | United States | August 01, 2026 |
| Mortgage Underwriter III | $92,878 | $44.65 | United States | August 01, 2026 |
| Underwriter I - Life | $62,492 | $30.04 | United States | August 01, 2026 |
| Underwriter III - Life | $100,954 | $48.54 | United States | August 01, 2026 |
| Underwriter V | $159,180 | $76.53 | United States | August 01, 2026 |
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Responsible for reviewing and analyzing risk characteristics on insurance applications, renewals, and change requests. Utilizes underwriting guidelines, rules, and standards to accept, reject, or mitigate risk for applications. Calculates renewal rates, and determines appropriate premiums, limits, and coverages. Ensures compliance with all industry and governmental regulations. May coordinate with field agents to collect or clarify information or decisions. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a 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. View Underwriter III SalaryAlternate Job Titles:Insurance Underwriter III, Underwriter IIICategory : Insurance
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Responsible for reviewing and analyzing risk characteristics on insurance applications, renewals, and change requests. Utilizes underwriting guidelines, rules, and standards to accept, reject, or mitigate risk for applications. Calculates renewal rates, and determines appropriate premiums, limits, and coverages. Ensures compliance with all industry and governmental regulations. May coordinate with field agents to collect or clarify information or decisions. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. View Underwriter I SalaryAlternate Job Titles:Insurance Underwriter I, Underwriter ICategory : Insurance
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Responsible for reviewing and analyzing risk characteristics on insurance applications, renewals, and change requests. Utilizes underwriting guidelines, rules, and standards to accept, reject, or mitigate risk for applications. Calculates renewal rates, and determines appropriate premiums, limits, and coverages. Ensures compliance with all industry and governmental regulations. May coordinate with field agents to collect or clarify information or decisions. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a 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. View Underwriter II SalaryAlternate Job Titles:Insurance Underwriter II, Underwriter IICategory : Insurance
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Responsible for reviewing and analyzing risk characteristics on insurance applications, renewals, and change requests. Utilizes underwriting guidelines, rules, and standards to accept, reject, or mitigate risk for applications. Calculates renewal rates, and determines appropriate premiums, limits, and coverages. Ensures compliance with all industry and governmental regulations. May coordinate with field agents to collect or clarify information or decisions. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a 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. View Underwriter IV SalaryAlternate 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. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. View Mortgage Underwriter I SalaryAlternate 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. 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. View Mortgage Underwriter II SalaryAlternate 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 generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience. View Mortgage Underwriter III SalaryAlternate Job Titles:Senior Mortgage Underwriter, Mortgage Underwriter III
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Responsible for reviewing and analyzing life insurance applications. Evaluates an applicant's medical history, physical condition, occupational hazards, and other information to accept, modify, or decline an application. Utilizes underwriting guidelines, rules, and standards to accept, reject, or mitigate risk for applications. Calculates rates and premiums from approved decrement tables. Ensures compliance with all industry and governmental regulations. Requires a bachelor's degree. May require Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) certification. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience. View Underwriter I - Life SalaryAlternate Job Titles:Entry Underwriter (Life), Life Insurance Underwriter I, Underwriter (Life) I, Underwriter I - Life
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Responsible for reviewing and analyzing life insurance applications. Evaluates an applicant's medical history, physical condition, occupational hazards, and other information to accept, modify, or decline an application. Utilizes underwriting guidelines, rules, and standards to accept, reject, or mitigate risk for applications. Calculates rates and premiums from approved decrement tables. Ensures compliance with all industry and governmental regulations. Requires a bachelor's degree. May require Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) certification. Typically reports to a 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. View Underwriter III - Life SalaryAlternate Job Titles:Life Insurance Underwriter III, Senior Underwriter (Life), Underwriter (Life) III, Underwriter III - LifeCategory : Insurance
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Responsible for reviewing and analyzing risk characteristics on insurance applications, renewals, and change requests. Utilizes underwriting guidelines, rules, and standards to accept, reject, or mitigate risk for applications. Calculates renewal rates, and determines appropriate premiums, limits, and coverages. Ensures compliance with all industry and governmental regulations. May coordinate with field agents to collect or clarify information or decisions. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Works autonomously. Goals are generally communicated in "solution" or project goal terms. May provide a leadership role for the work group through knowledge in the area of specialization. Works on advanced, complex technical projects or business issues requiring state of the art technical or industry knowledge. Typically requires 10+ years of related experience. View Underwriter V SalaryAlternate Job Titles:Insurance Underwriter V, Underwriter VCategory : Insurance