Insurance Underwriters pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $101,440 or more. The middle half of insurance underwriters in Knoxville earn between $57,880 and $80,920.
- $38K10th
- $58K25th
- $74KMedian
- $81K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,690 | $6,141 | $35.43 |
| Median | $73,880 | $6,157 | $35.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,880 | $4,823 | $27.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,920 | $6,743 | $38.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Insurance Underwriters pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Insurance underwriters in Knoxville earn 11% less than the Tennessee average ($82,570) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($93,700). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $81,370.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $73,690 | $73,880 | $38,310 | $101,440 | 150 |
| Tennessee | $82,570 | $78,840 | $50,200 | $123,150 | 1,250 |
| 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 Knoxville
On the average salary of $73,690, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $60,671 a year, or $5,056 a month and $2,333 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for insurance underwriters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $73,690 buys what about $79,605 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Insurance Underwriters salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 4th of 4 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Chattanooga pays the most ($98,350).
- Chattanooga$98,350
- Nashville$83,870
- Memphis$80,960
- Knoxville$73,690
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Insurance Underwriters salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do insurance underwriters make an hour in Knoxville?
$35.43 an hour on average, and $35.52 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level insurance underwriters salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the insurance underwriters take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $60,671 a year ($5,056 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,690. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do insurance underwriters earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% 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 Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.5%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.52, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.52).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.