Insurance Underwriter salary in Washington
Insurance Underwriters in Washington earn a median of $99,400 a year ($47.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,740 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,730 for the top 10%. That is 22% higher than the national median of $81,370. Washington ranks 6th of 49 states for insurance underwriters pay. There are 0.49 insurance underwriters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $108,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for insurance underwriters in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,130 | $30.83 |
| 25th percentile | $78,680 | $37.83 |
| Median | $99,400 | $47.79 |
| 75th percentile | $127,550 | $61.32 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,730 | $79.20 |
| Average (mean) | $108,920 | $52.37 |
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 | $8,283.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,141.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,823.08 |
| Weekly | $1,911.54 |
| Hourly | $47.79 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $100,130 | 1,210 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $83,630 | 230 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $79,080 | 340 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $96,550 | $46.42 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $107,210 | $51.54 |
| Loan Officer | $80,120 | $38.52 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $114,050 | $54.83 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $80,930 | $38.91 |
| Budget Analyst | $96,640 | $46.46 |
| Tax Preparer | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| Credit Analyst | $91,160 | $43.83 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $83,710 | $40.25 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $123,150 | $59.21 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $72,850 | $35.03 |
| Credit Counselor | $62,360 | $29.98 |
| Financial Examiner | $113,700 | $54.66 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $100,360 | $48.25 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for insurance underwriters in Washington is $99,400 a year, or $47.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $164,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid insurance underwriters make in Washington?
The top 10% of insurance underwriters in Washington earn at least $164,730 a year. The top 25% earn $127,550 or more.
What is the starting pay for insurance underwriters in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,130 a year, and a quarter of insurance underwriters earn $78,680 or less.
How many insurance underwriters work in Washington?
About 1,740 insurance underwriters are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.