Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Insurance underwriters evaluate information to decide whether to approve insurance applications and under what terms. This role combines analytical thinking, problem solving, and communication, making it a good fit for people who enjoy working with data, details, and decisions that carry real financial impact. Nationally, there are 127,000 insurance underwriters, with a median annual salary of $79,880, indicating that many professionals in this field earn solid mid‑career incomes. The career makes steady use of skills such as critical and analytical thinking, mathematics, writing and reading, customer service, and computer and information technology. Underwriters are also expected to be detail oriented and adaptable while managing projects and working with others through speaking and listening. With projected employment growth of -2.6% and 8,000 annual openings, the field is experiencing some contraction but still offers ongoing hiring needs. For people who like structured analysis and decision making, it can be a stable, skills-focused career to explore.
Insurance underwriters earn a national median annual salary of $79,880, placing the occupation in a solid earnings range for many professionals. Salaries vary by location, with several states and metro areas offering higher median pay. Among the top states by opportunity score, Massachusetts shows a median salary of $106,640, while New York and California offer $97,450 and $95,320 respectively. Colorado and Washington also exceed the national median, with $100,640 and $99,400. At the metro level, Boston-Cambridge-Newton stands out with a median salary of $106,170, and New York-Newark-Jersey City comes in at $98,410. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria also provide higher-than-national medians at $97,870 and $90,990. These figures suggest that earnings potential can be especially strong in certain states and metros, particularly in parts of Massachusetts, New York, and California.
Insurance underwriters currently account for 127,000 jobs nationally. The projected employment growth rate is -2.6%, indicating a modest decline in total positions over the projection period. Even with this contraction, the occupation still has an estimated 8,000 annual openings. These openings reflect ongoing needs, such as position turnover and movement within the workforce, which can create opportunities for new entrants and experienced professionals. The combination of negative growth and continuing annual openings means that job seekers may face a more competitive environment in some areas, but hiring is expected to continue. For students, career changers, or professionals considering this path, it can be helpful to focus on developing the key skill set for underwriters—problem solving, analytical thinking, mathematics, writing and reading, customer service, and technology—since these are central to the role across different employers and locations.
Location choices can significantly shape the experience of insurance underwriters, especially in terms of compensation and concentration of jobs. Among states with the highest CareerGPS opportunity scores, California, Massachusetts, and New York combine relatively high median salaries with notable employment levels. California has a median salary of $95,320 and employment of 6,580, while New York offers $97,450 with 6,900 employed. Massachusetts, with 2,890 employed, reports a median salary of $106,640, the highest among these top states. Colorado and Washington also provide six‑figure or near‑six‑figure medians, at $100,640 and $99,400, respectively. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City stands out with an opportunity score of 77.27, median salary of $98,410, and employment of 6,740. Boston-Cambridge-Newton offers a median of $106,170 and 2,080 employed, while Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont provide large or mid-sized employment levels with competitive pay. These differences allow underwriters to weigh salary, job concentration, and opportunity scores across regions.
The typical education for insurance underwriters is a bachelor’s degree, reflecting the analytical and professional demands of the role. This educational foundation supports several core skill areas that are especially important for success in this career. Underwriters rely heavily on problem solving and decision making, along with critical and analytical thinking, to evaluate information and make sound judgments. Mathematics is a key component, as are strong writing and reading abilities. Because the role often involves interacting with clients or colleagues, customer service plus effective speaking and listening are valuable. The occupation also calls for comfort with computers and information technology, as well as being detail oriented and adaptable to changing information or requirements. Project management skills help underwriters organize work, manage timelines, and coordinate tasks. For students and career changers, focusing education and training on these skills can align well with the expectations for this profession.
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