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Hourly Wage for Mortgage Underwriter III Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Mortgage Underwriter III?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Mortgage Underwriter III in the United States is $46, which translates to an annual salary of about $94,955.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $53 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $42 to $49 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $39 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Mortgage Underwriter III Salaries

A Mortgage Underwriter III's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Mortgage Underwriter III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Mortgage Underwriter III's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Mortgage Underwriter I (0-2 years): $65,281
  • Mortgage Underwriter II (2-4 years): $73,336
  • Mortgage Underwriter III (4-7 years): $94,955
  • Mortgage Underwriter IV (7+ years): $112,309
  • Mortgage Underwriting Manager (7+ years): $111,119
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Mortgage Underwriter I0-2 years$65,281
Mortgage Underwriter II2-4 years$73,336
Mortgage Underwriter III4-7 years$94,955
Mortgage Underwriter IV7+ years$112,309
Mortgage Underwriting Manager7+ years$111,119

Top Paying Cities for Mortgage Underwriter III

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $119,767
  • San Francisco: $118,455
  • Oakland: $115,959

What Skills Can Increase a Mortgage Underwriter III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.63% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Tax Return (Mentioned in 1.67% Job Postings): Calculating an entity’s income earned with the amount of tax payable to the government, organizations, or potential taxpayers.
  • Financial Services (Mentioned in 1.03% Job Postings): A services provided by the finance industry, which encompasses a broad range of businesses that manage money. These services involve banking, brokerage, mortgages, credit cards, payment services, real estate, investment funds, taxes and accounting.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.63%
Tax Return 1.67%
Financial Services 1.03%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Mortgage Underwriter III's salary.

  • Analytical Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Team Management: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Analytical Skills $109,198
15%
Team Management $107,299
13%
Insight $105,400
11%

Mortgage Underwriter III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Mortgage Underwriter III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $104,324. While startup companies pay approximate $88,052.

Mortgage Underwriter III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $88,052
Growth Stage 51~500 $93,201
Established 501~5000 $100,670
Enterprise 5000+ $104,324

Mortgage Underwriter III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Mortgage Underwriter III roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Financial Services, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Mortgage Underwriter positions in Insurance typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Mortgage Underwriter III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Mortgage Underwriter III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$113,946$55.020%

How Education impacts an Mortgage Underwriter III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Mortgage Underwriter III enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Mortgage Underwriter III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $84,765 and $90,770.

Mortgage Underwriter III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Mortgage Underwriter III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.1%
High School 32.3%
Associates 16.2%
Bachelors 41.5%
Masters 6.9%
Doctorate 0.0%

Mortgage Underwriter III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Mortgage Underwriter III's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$87,200
Average $94,955/year
$102,860
$7,267
Average $7,913/month
$8,572
$1,677
Average $1,826/week
$1,978
$42
Average $46/hour
$49
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $102,860 $8,572 $1,978 $49
Average $94,955 $7,913 $1,826 $46
25th Percentile $87,200 $7,267 $1,677 $42

Most common benefits for Mortgage Underwriter III

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Mortgage Underwriter III

Here are companies hiring for Mortgage Underwriter III and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Mortgage Underwriter III

1. What are the responsibilities of Mortgage Underwriter III?

Evaluates the risk of mortgage loan applications against the firm's objectives and borrowing guidelines using analysis and assessment of creditworthiness criteria. Reviews the applicant's financial status, documents, data, and property appraisal. Calculates LTV ratio (loan to value) to define the loan program eligibility, down payment, interest rate, repayment terms, and allowed loan amounts. Makes approval, rejection, or modification decisions based on underwriting guidelines and established approval limits. Complies with all federal regulations, state laws, and internal policies related to mortgage lending. Escalates non-conforming loans that require approval review using an exception process. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Mortgage Underwriter III

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.

2.)

Tax Return: Calculating an entity’s income earned with the amount of tax payable to the government, organizations, or potential taxpayers.

3.)

Financial Services: A services provided by the finance industry, which encompasses a broad range of businesses that manage money. These services involve banking, brokerage, mortgages, credit cards, payment services, real estate, investment funds, taxes and accounting.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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