Claims Adjuster
Investigate insurance claims and decide how much should be paid.
- $78,000
- 3–12 months
Business & Office career
Insurance Underwriter
Also called: Underwriter · Commercial Underwriter · Life Underwriter · Property and Casualty Underwriter
What insurance underwriters do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does an insurance underwriter do?
Insurance underwriters review insurance applications, evaluate the risk, and decide whether to approve coverage and at what premium. The median pay is $81,370 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Moderate on-the-job training, and employment is projected to grow -3.8% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$81,370$39.12/hour · May 2025
- Job growth-3.8%2025–35, a projected decline
- Openings per year6,800Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationBachelor's degreeBLS classification
- Time to trainModerate on-the-job trainingTypical program length
- U.S. jobs125,600Employment, 2025
What insurance underwriters do
Insurance underwriters decide who gets insured and at what price. They review applications, inspection reports, medical records or loss histories, use software and guidelines to assess risk, set premiums and terms, and work with agents and brokers.
Most have a bachelor’s degree and moderate on-the-job training. BLS projects decline as automated underwriting grows, but complex commercial risks still need people.
Typical duties
- Review applications
- Assess risk
- Set premiums and terms
- Approve or decline coverage
- Work with agents and brokers
- Review loss histories
- Follow underwriting guidelines
Work environment and schedule
Underwriters work in insurance company offices, and many work remotely.
Schedule: Full-time business hours.
A day in the life
- Review new submissions.
- Analyze a restaurant’s loss history.
- Call a broker about terms.
- Review an inspection report.
See a full day in the life of an insurance underwriter →
Insurance Underwriter salary
Half of insurance underwriters earned more than $81,370 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $55,530 for the lowest 10% to $145,160 for the top 10%.
Full insurance underwriter pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become an insurance underwriter
- Earn a bachelor’s
- Join a trainee program
- Underwrite small accounts
- Earn the AU or CPCU
- Advance
A bachelor’s degree in business, finance or a related field is typical.
Step-by-step guide to becoming an insurance underwriter →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Risk assessment
- Underwriting guidelines
- Pricing
- Financial analysis
- Insurance products
People skills
- Judgment
- Communication
- Attention to detail
- Decisiveness
All insurance underwriter skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Analytical work
- Good pay
- Remote options
- Clear career ladder
Cons
- Declining employment
- Quotas
- Automation
- Pressure from brokers
Certifications and licenses
- CPCU: Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter.
- AU: Associate in Commercial Underwriting.
- FALU: Life underwriting fellowship.
- CLU: Chartered Life Underwriter.
Career path
- Underwriting Trainee: Learn.
- Underwriter: Own a book.
- Senior Underwriter: Complex risks.
- Underwriting Manager: Lead teams.
Learn the job before day one
Our Insurance Underwriter training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as underwrite a small business policy and read a loss run report, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: Insurance Underwriter vs. Claims Adjuster · Insurance Underwriter vs. Actuary · Insurance Underwriter vs. Credit Analyst · Insurance Underwriter vs. Insurance Agent
Insurance Underwriter FAQ
Is underwriting being automated?
Simple policies are increasingly automated; complex ones still need people.
Is the CPCU valuable?
Yes, it’s highly respected.
Can underwriters work remotely?
Many do.
How much does an insurance underwriter make?
The median annual wage for insurance underwriters was $81,370 ($39.12 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $55,530 and the highest 10% earned more than $145,160.
How long does it take to become an insurance underwriter?
Most people need about Moderate on-the-job training of training. A bachelor’s degree in business, finance or a related field is typical.
Do you need a degree to be an insurance underwriter?
Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.
More insurance underwriter questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 13-2053 (Insurance underwriters).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Insurance underwriters (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.