Insurance Underwriter salary in California
Insurance Underwriters in California earn a median of $95,320 a year ($45.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,580 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $162,640 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $81,370. California ranks 11th of 49 states for insurance underwriters pay. There are 0.36 insurance underwriters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $102,850, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for insurance underwriters in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,070 | $31.28 |
| 25th percentile | $77,370 | $37.20 |
| Median | $95,320 | $45.83 |
| 75th percentile | $124,660 | $59.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,640 | $78.19 |
| Average (mean) | $102,850 | $49.45 |
Half of insurance underwriters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,943.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,971.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,666.15 |
| Weekly | $1,833.08 |
| Hourly | $45.83 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Insurance Underwriter salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $98,210 | 520 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $97,870 | 2,090 |
| Fresno, CA | $95,880 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $95,830 | n/a |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $91,340 | 660 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,520 | 1,350 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $83,240 | 100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $79,590 | 240 |
Highest-paying states for insurance underwriters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $106,640 |
| New Hampshire | $103,940 |
| Nevada | $101,440 |
| Connecticut | $100,690 |
| Colorado | $100,640 |
| Washington | $99,400 |
| New York | $97,450 |
| Wisconsin | $97,370 |
| New Jersey | $96,220 |
| Maine | $95,510 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $97,050 | $46.66 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $109,110 | $52.46 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $130,330 | $62.66 |
| Loan Officer | $81,770 | $39.31 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $80,810 | $38.85 |
| Tax Preparer | $70,030 | $33.67 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $74,110 | $35.63 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $88,900 | $42.74 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $129,110 | $62.07 |
| Credit Analyst | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| Financial Examiner | $106,000 | $50.96 |
| Budget Analyst | $99,520 | $47.84 |
| Credit Counselor | $67,120 | $32.27 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $87,570 | $42.10 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2053. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a insurance underwriter make in California?
The median salary for insurance underwriters in California is $95,320 a year, or $45.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $162,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid insurance underwriters make in California?
The top 10% of insurance underwriters in California earn at least $162,640 a year. The top 25% earn $124,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for insurance underwriters in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,070 a year, and a quarter of insurance underwriters earn $77,370 or less.
How many insurance underwriters work in California?
About 6,580 insurance underwriters are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.