Insurance Underwriter salary in Iowa
Insurance Underwriters in Iowa earn a median of $75,160 a year ($36.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,080 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $81,370. Iowa ranks 38th of 49 states for insurance underwriters pay. There are 0.95 insurance underwriters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $83,220, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for insurance underwriters in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,800 | $24.91 |
| 25th percentile | $63,730 | $30.64 |
| Median | $75,160 | $36.14 |
| 75th percentile | $97,390 | $46.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $128,080 | $61.58 |
| Average (mean) | $83,220 | $40.01 |
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 | $6,263.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,131.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,890.77 |
| Weekly | $1,445.38 |
| Hourly | $36.14 |
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 Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $80,070 | 80 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $79,230 | 790 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $77,440 | 100 |
| Dubuque, IA | $74,390 | 50 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $74,130 | 100 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $70,160 | 760 |
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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,440 | $37.23 |
| Loan Officer | $83,670 | $40.23 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $92,370 | $44.41 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $92,310 | $44.38 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $79,390 | $38.17 |
| Financial Examiner | $80,370 | $38.64 |
| Tax Preparer | $53,660 | $25.80 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $80,160 | $38.54 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $105,680 | $50.81 |
| Credit Analyst | $76,760 | $36.90 |
| Credit Counselor | $48,130 | $23.14 |
| Budget Analyst | $86,550 | $41.61 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $66,860 | $32.14 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $80,470 | $38.69 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for insurance underwriters in Iowa is $75,160 a year, or $36.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,800 for the lowest-paid 10% to $128,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid insurance underwriters make in Iowa?
The top 10% of insurance underwriters in Iowa earn at least $128,080 a year. The top 25% earn $97,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for insurance underwriters in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,800 a year, and a quarter of insurance underwriters earn $63,730 or less.
How many insurance underwriters work in Iowa?
About 1,490 insurance underwriters are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.