Merchant Underwriter Salary in the United States

How much does a Merchant Underwriter make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Merchant Underwriter in the United States is $60,733 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, a Merchant Underwriter's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $81,547
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,605 to $71,628
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $49,026
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View as table View as graph 25% $54,605 10% $49,026 90% $81,547 75% $71,628 $60,733 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Merchant Underwriter Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $71,628 $5,969 $1,377 $34
Average $60,733 $5,061 $1,168 $29
25th Percentile $54,605 $4,550 $1,050 $26
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Key Factors That Influence Merchant Underwriter Salaries

A Merchant Underwriter'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 Merchant Underwriter Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Merchant Underwriter'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $59,031
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $59,456
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $59,882
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $61,414
  • Expert (over 8 years): $67,309
Levels Salary
Entry Level Merchant Underwriter$59,031
Intermediate Level Merchant Underwriter$59,456
Senior Level Merchant Underwriter$59,882
Specialist Level Merchant Underwriter$61,414
Expert Level Merchant Underwriter$67,309
$59,031 0 yr
$59,456 < 2 yrs
$59,882 2-4 yrs
$61,414 5-8 yrs
$67,309 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Merchant Underwriter Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Merchant Underwriters. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $67,244.
  • California: $66,988.
  • Massachusetts: $66,096.

Top Paying Cities for Merchant Underwriters

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: $76,603
  • San Francisco: $75,849
  • Oakland: $74,167

What Skills Can Increase a Merchant Underwriter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 19.13% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Business Process Outsourcing (Mentioned in 1.43% Job Postings): Business process outsourcing (BPO) is the delegation of one or more IT-intensive business processes to an external provider that, in turn, owns, administrates and manages the selected processes based on defined and measurable performance metrics.
  • Telemarketing (Mentioned in 1.05% Job Postings): Telemarketing (sometimes known as inside sales, or telesales in the UK and Ireland) is a method of direct marketing in which a salesperson solicits prospective customers to buy products or services, either over the phone or through a subsequent face to face or Web conferencing appointment scheduled during the call. Telemarketing can also include recorded sales pitches programmed to be played over the phone via automatic dialing. Telemarketing is defined as contacting, qualifying, and canvassing prospective customers using telecommunications devices such as telephone, fax, and internet. It does not include direct mail marketing.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 19.13%
Business Process Outsourcing 1.43%
Telemarketing 1.05%
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 Merchant Underwriter's salary.
  • Microsoft Office: Can increase your salary by up to 30%.
  • PowerPoint: Can increase your salary by up to 30%.
  • Troubleshooting: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Microsoft Office
$78,953
30%
PowerPoint
$78,953
30%
Troubleshooting
$74,702
23%
Administrative Support
$74,702
23%
Listening
$74,702
23%
Communicates Effectively
$63,162
4%
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How Education impacts a Merchant Underwriter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Merchant Underwriters enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Merchant Underwriter with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $58,481 and $63,748).

Merchant Underwriter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Merchant Underwriter
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 17.6%
High School 17.6%
Associates 23.5%
Bachelors 52.9%
Masters 5.9%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Merchant Underwriter Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Merchant Underwriter'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Merchant Underwriter

Salaries for a Merchant Underwriter can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $52,333 in 2023 to around $52,253 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Merchant Underwriter salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Merchant Underwriter Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$52,333
2024
$52,617
2025
$52,253
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $52,333
2024 $52,617
2025 $52,253
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Merchant Underwriter

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Merchant Underwriter

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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