Insurance Underwriters pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $158,320 or more. The middle half of insurance underwriters in Washington earn between $74,670 and $117,330.
- $66K10th
- $75K25th
- $91KMedian
- $117K75th
- $158K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $101,440 | $8,453 | $48.77 |
| Median | $90,990 | $7,582 | $43.75 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,670 | $6,222 | $35.90 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $117,330 | $9,778 | $56.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Insurance Underwriters pay in Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Insurance underwriters in Washington earn 6% less than the Washington, D.C. average ($108,350) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($93,700). At the median the gap is +12% against the U.S. median of $81,370.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $101,440 | $90,990 | $65,500 | $158,320 | 900 |
| Washington, D.C. | $108,350 | $82,070 | $64,800 | $173,060 | 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 Washington
On the average salary of $101,440, a single filer in Washington takes home about $74,539 a year, or $6,212 a month and $2,867 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $76,436 | $6,370 |
| Working in MD | $75,586 | $6,299 |
| Working in VA | $75,174 | $6,265 |
| Working in DC | $74,539 | $6,212 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for insurance underwriters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $101,440 buys what about $93,163 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Insurance Underwriters salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$91,570
- Baltimore, MD$96,940
- Charlottesville, VA$88,470
- Richmond, VA$92,670
- Harrisburg, PA$81,680
- Lancaster, PA$83,580
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 Washington: questions
How much do insurance underwriters make an hour in Washington?
$48.77 an hour on average, and $43.75 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level insurance underwriters salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the insurance underwriters take-home pay in Washington?
About $74,539 a year ($6,212 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $101,440.
Do insurance underwriters earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.43, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.43).
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