How Much Does a Senior Underwriter Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$81,370
Senior underwriters in the U.S. earn a median of $81,370 a year, or $39.12 an hour. Half of senior underwriters earn more than $81,370 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $145,160.
Pay percentiles for senior underwriters
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $26.70 | $55,530 |
| 25th | $31.07 | $64,620 |
| 50th (median) | $39.12 | $81,370 |
| 75th | $53.07 | $110,390 |
| 90th | $69.79 | $145,160 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Insurance Underwriters (SOC 13-2053). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for senior underwriters
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $106,640 | $51.27 | +31% |
| New Hampshire | $103,940 | $49.97 | +28% |
| Nevada | $101,440 | $48.77 | +25% |
| Connecticut | $100,690 | $48.41 | +24% |
| Colorado | $100,640 | $48.38 | +24% |
| Washington | $99,400 | $47.79 | +22% |
| New York | $97,450 | $46.85 | +20% |
| Wisconsin | $97,370 | $46.81 | +20% |
| New Jersey | $96,220 | $46.26 | +18% |
| Maine | $95,510 | $45.92 | +17% |
| United States | $81,370 | $39.12 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many senior underwriters are there?
BLS counts about 105,420 senior underwriters employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Insurance Underwriters”. The most jobs are in Texas (9,980), Florida (7,300) and Georgia (7,160).
The mean (average) annual wage is $93,700, higher than the median of $81,370.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $6,781
- Biweekly
- $3,130
- Weekly
- $1,565
- Daily (8 hours)
- $313
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do senior underwriters make an hour?
The median hourly wage for senior underwriters is $39.12. The middle 50% earn between $31.07 and $53.07 an hour.
Which state pays senior underwriters the most?
Massachusetts has the highest median wage for senior underwriters at $106,640, +31% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for senior underwriters?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of senior underwriters earn less than $55,530 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.