Insurance Underwriters pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,350 a year or less, while the top 10% make $103,750 or more. The middle half of insurance underwriters in Memphis earn between $59,360 and $97,780.
- $59K10th
- $59K25th
- $80KMedian
- $98K75th
- $104K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,960 | $6,747 | $38.92 |
| Median | $80,160 | $6,680 | $38.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,360 | $4,947 | $28.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,780 | $8,148 | $47.01 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Insurance Underwriters pay in Memphis vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Insurance underwriters in Memphis earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($82,570) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($93,700). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $81,370.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $80,960 | $80,160 | $59,350 | $103,750 | 130 |
| 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 Memphis
On the average salary of $80,960, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $65,785 a year, or $5,482 a month and $2,530 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $65,785 | $5,482 |
| Working in MS | $63,279 | $5,273 |
| Working in AR | $63,277 | $5,273 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for insurance underwriters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $80,960 buys what about $87,829 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Insurance Underwriters salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 3rd 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
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Insurance Underwriters salary in Memphis: questions
How much do insurance underwriters make an hour in Memphis?
$38.93 an hour on average, and $38.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level insurance underwriters salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,350 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the insurance underwriters take-home pay in Memphis?
About $65,785 a year ($5,482 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,960. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do insurance underwriters earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.3%.
- 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 0.30, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.30).
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