Insurance Underwriters pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,160 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,120 or more. The middle half of insurance underwriters in Columbia earn between $59,590 and $76,320.
- $46K10th
- $60K25th
- $64KMedian
- $76K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,240 | $5,687 | $32.81 |
| Median | $63,540 | $5,295 | $30.55 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,590 | $4,966 | $28.65 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,320 | $6,360 | $36.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Insurance Underwriters pay in Columbia vs. Missouri and the U.S.
Insurance underwriters in Columbia earn 19% less than the Missouri average ($84,070) and 27% less than the U.S. average ($93,700). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $81,370.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $68,240 | $63,540 | $46,160 | $97,120 | 270 |
| Missouri | $84,070 | $80,040 | $56,720 | $124,250 | 2,130 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $68,240, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $54,567 a year, or $4,547 a month and $2,099 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Is Columbia a good place for insurance underwriters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.4), so the average $68,240 buys what about $76,299 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($47,260). A typical home costs $323,951, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Insurance Underwriters salary in other Missouri cities
Columbia ranks 4th of 4 Missouri metro areas for this job; Kansas City pays the most ($99,150).
- Kansas City$99,150
- St. Louis$87,960
- Jefferson City$77,250
- Columbia$68,240
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 Columbia: questions
How much do insurance underwriters make an hour in Columbia?
$32.81 an hour on average, and $30.55 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level insurance underwriters salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,160 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the insurance underwriters take-home pay in Columbia?
About $54,567 a year ($4,547 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,240. The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Do insurance underwriters earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% less 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 Columbia, MO (17860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 (2026 rules). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.72, this job is 3.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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