Insurance Underwriters pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,360 a year or less, while the top 10% make $164,440 or more. The middle half of insurance underwriters in Chicago earn between $76,660 and $130,050.
- $64K10th
- $77K25th
- $100KMedian
- $130K75th
- $164K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $106,450 | $8,871 | $51.18 |
| Median | $99,840 | $8,320 | $48.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $76,660 | $6,388 | $36.86 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,050 | $10,838 | $62.52 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Insurance Underwriters pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Insurance underwriters in Chicago earn 7% more than the Illinois average ($99,120) and 14% more than the U.S. average ($93,700). At the median the gap is +23% against the U.S. median of $81,370.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $106,450 | $99,840 | $64,360 | $164,440 | 4,060 |
| Illinois | $99,120 | $89,620 | $59,730 | $161,410 | n/a |
| United States | $93,700 | $81,370 | $55,530 | $145,160 | 105,420 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Insurance Underwriters salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $106,450, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $78,589 a year, or $6,549 a month and $3,023 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $80,554 | $6,713 |
| Working in IL | $78,589 | $6,549 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for insurance underwriters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $106,450 buys what about $102,756 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Insurance Underwriters salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$106,450
- Springfield$84,920
- Peoria$83,300
Highest-paying cities for insurance underwriters
Bridgeport, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($127,970).
- Bridgeport, CT$127,970
- Boston, MA$115,600
- Denver, CO$115,260
- Seattle, WA$114,200
- Manchester, NH$112,530
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Insurance Underwriters salary in Chicago: questions
How much do insurance underwriters make an hour in Chicago?
$51.18 an hour on average, and $48.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level insurance underwriters salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,360 a year and the 25th percentile is $76,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the insurance underwriters take-home pay in Chicago?
About $78,589 a year ($6,549 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $106,450.
Do insurance underwriters earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% more than the U.S. average for this job ($93,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-2053; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.33, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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