Senior Underwriter Average Salary & Hourly Rate in 2025
Senior underwriters play an important part of the insurance process as their main responsibility includes evaluating insurance applications and deciding to approve them. As of July 10, 2025, the average salary for a senior underwriter in the United States is $92,700 per year.
The salary of a senior underwriter may vary depending on key factors such as education level, experience, geographic location, skills, and demand.
In the following sections, this guide will provide an overview of artist salaries and a detailed outline of their job responsibilities, job outlook, and career trends for the coming years.
An Overview of Senior Underwriter Salaries
The average salary for a senior underwriter in 2025 is $92,700 per year. The salary of senior underwriters usually ranges between $25,205 to $40,297, with the majority earning $28,300 to $36,200 per year.
| Percentile | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10% Percentile | $76,939 |
| 25% Percentile | $84,450 |
| 50% Percentile (Median) | $92,700 |
| 75% Percentile | $98,880 |
| 90% Percentile | $104,507 |
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) also reports that salaries for senior underwriters may vary depending on their industry. For instance, senior underwriters working credit intermediation and related activities can earn up to $90,000, while those working on insurance agencies and brokerages can only typically earn $79,200.
- Credit intermediation and related activities: $90,000
- Other insurance related activities: $81,870
- Direct health and medical insurance carriers: $81,240
- Direct insurance (except life, health, and medical) carriers: $79,350
- Insurance agencies and brokerages: $79,200
Senior Underwriter Salary: Hourly, Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly Breakdown
The average senior underwriter salary can be broken down into hourly, weekly, monthly, and yearly amounts. According to Salary.com, the average rate for senior underwriters in the United States is $45 per hour or $7,725 per month.
- Average salary per hour: $45
- Average salary per week: $1,783
- Average salary per month: $7,725
- Average salary per year: $92,700
As previously noted, senior underwriters in the United States will find that their salary may vary due to key factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and education. These factors will be explored in detail below.
How Experience Impacts Senior Underwriter Salaries?
Aside from a senior underwriters' educational background, certifications, and accreditations, their level of experience also plays a vital role in increasing their salary. As shown in the list below, there are notable salary differences across various experience levels of Senior Underwriters in the United States.
Based on the Salary.com data, the difference between an entry-level senior underwriters’ salary and an expert-level Senior Underwriter is almost $1,861. This also shows a sizeable gap between the salaries of an intermediate-level senior underwriter and a senior-level senior underwriter at $89,599 and $90,840, respectively.
- Entry-Level Senior Underwriter Salary: $88,979
- Intermediate-Level Senior Underwriter Salary: $89,599
- Senior-Level Senior Underwriter Salary: $90,840
- Specialist-Level Senior Underwriter Salary: $92,700
- Expert-Level Senior Underwriter Salary: $94,984
State-by-State Breakdown of Average Salaries for Senior Underwriter
It can also be noted that each US state has different average salaries for senior underwriters due to several factors such as cost of living, industry performance, and demand.
Based on the Salary.com data, the District of Columbia offers the highest average annual salary for senior underwriters in the United States at $35,300. The next ones are California and New Jersey with $35,00 and $34,800 per year, respectively.
| State | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $85,160 |
| Alaska | $100,350 |
| Arizona | $90,330 |
| Arkansas | $83,740 |
| California | $102,250 |
| Colorado | $94,580 |
| Connecticut | $99,070 |
| Delaware | $93,880 |
| District of Columbia | $102,630 |
| Florida | $87,710 |
| Georgia | $89,410 |
| Hawaii | $96,890 |
| Idaho | $86,530 |
| Illinois | $94,490 |
| Indiana | $88,980 |
| Iowa | $88,710 |
| Kansas | $88,270 |
| Kentucky | $87,230 |
| Louisiana | $88,140 |
| Maine | $90,380 |
| Maryland | $95,580 |
| Massachusetts | $100,880 |
| Michigan | $91,290 |
| Minnesota | $94,860 |
| Mississippi | $82,670 |
| Missouri | $88,070 |
| Montana | $87,520 |
| Nebraska | $87,330 |
| Nevada | $91,740 |
| New Hampshire | $93,710 |
| New Jersey | $100,470 |
| New Mexico | $85,860 |
| New York | $98,550 |
| North Carolina | $88,090 |
| North Dakota | $91,570 |
| Ohio | $90,260 |
| Oklahoma | $85,710 |
| Oregon | $94,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $92,280 |
| Rhode Island | $96,110 |
| South Carolina | $86,860 |
| South Dakota | $84,240 |
| Tennessee | $86,630 |
| Texas | $90,420 |
| Utah | $88,770 |
| Vermont | $90,980 |
| Virginia | $93,350 |
| Washington | $100,510 |
| West Virginia | $83,480 |
| Wisconsin | $91,190 |
| Wyoming | $88,900 |
Senior Underwriter Salaries: Top Earning Cities Revealed
Salary.com data reveals that the top three paying cities for senior underwriters in the United States are San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland, all in the state of California.
| Top Paying Cities | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $116,920 |
| San Francisco, CA | $115,770 |
| Oakland, CA | $113,200 |
| New York, NY | $107,430 |
| Queens Village, NY | $106,730 |
| Paramus, NJ | $105,990 |
Explore Senior Underwriter Benefits and Perks Beyond Salary
In addition to their pay, senior underwriters receive a range of benefits and rewards. According to data from Salary.com, the total compensation for senior underwriters includes benefits such as Social Security and 401(k)/403(b) plans.
- Social Security
- 401K/403B plans
- Disability insurance
- Healthcare
- Pension plan
- Time Off (PTO)
Senior Underwriter Job Description: Roles and Responsibilities
Senior underwriters are mainly responsible for properly evaluating insurance applications and making decisions on whether they will be approved or denied. They’re also the main link between an insurance company and the insurance sales agent as well.
The job description for a Senior Underwriter is as follows:
- Analyze the information provided in the insurance claim
- Identify the risks involved when insuring clients
- Monitor applications depending on set criteria
- Review recommendations from underwriting software
- Contact the needed personnel to acquire needed information
- Determine the right amounts of premium and coverage
When and How to Ask for a Raise as a Senior Underwriter?
The job of a senior underwriter usually requires a bachelor’s degree to be attained. Usually, those with a degree in business, finance, economics, or mathematics are most likely to have a job as a senior underwriter.
That said, you can still boost your credibility through upskilling and learning some valuable skills for a higher senior underwriter salary. Here is a step-by-step guide to follow to ask for a raise as a Senior Underwriter:
- Finish the training needed: Knowing the basics can not only make the job of a senior underwriter easier, but it can also help net you a bigger salary in the long run. This can be done significantly, especially since most Senior Underwriters start as interns with already a couple of days or months of experience under their belt.
- Acquire the needed licenses and certifications: Having licenses and certificates like the Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF) designation, the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation, and the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) certification can help senior underwriters negotiate a higher salary.
- Ask for a formal meeting: Prepare a meeting with your managers and employers beforehand to set a more formal and serious tone for the conversation.
- Make a clear and confident presentation: Discuss what you bring to the company and make sure to highlight milestones you’ve achieved during your tenure with the company. Be clear about your intentions and maintain a positive mindset.
Why Does a Senior Underwriter Make So Much?
The average senior underwriter can receive a good baseline salary since it deals with managing a client’s insurance policy and deciding whether the company will honor it or not. They also provide as the middleman between the insurance company and the insurance agents.
This means that being a senior underwriter requires great analytical skills on top of stellar decision-making skills to boot. The U.S. BLS has outlined these specific skills that a senior underwriter should ideally have:
- Analytic skills
- Decision-making skills
- Detail-oriented
- Math skills
However, Salary.com’s Real-Time Job Posting Salary Data Solution has also pointed out that Senior Underwriters with certain skills can earn more money. Senior underwriters with health insurance and auditing skills can earn 7.60% and 6.56% more, respectively.
Other high compensation skills include the following:
- Health Insurance: +7.60%
- Auditing: +6.56%
- Actuarial Function: +6.36%
- Customer Satisfaction: +5.78%
- Life Insurance: +5.56%
- Financial Statements: +5.34%
The Future of Senior Underwriter: Job Outlook and Career Trends
Based on reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job title outlook for senior underwriters sees a –4 job outlook for the years 2023 to 2033. This is mainly due to the political nature that surrounds the United States and the insurance industry in general.
