Surety Underwriter Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Surety Underwriter in the United States is $69,159 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $79,792
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $63,721 to $74,725
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $58,770

Key Factors That Influence Surety Underwriter Salaries

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

Top Paying Cities for Surety 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: $87,230
  • San Francisco: $86,275
  • Oakland: $84,457

What Skills Can Increase a Surety Underwriter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Initiative (Mentioned in 4.02% Job Postings): Taking decisive action and initiating plans independently to address problems, improve professional life, and achieve goals.
  • JavaScript (Mentioned in 2.77% Job Postings): Using JavaScript in the development and maintenance of Web-based application systems.
  • Illustrator (Mentioned in 1.84% Job Postings): Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editor and design program developed and marketed by Adobe Inc. Originally designed for the Apple Macintosh, development of Adobe Illustrator began in 1985. Along with Creative Cloud, Illustrator CC was released.
Skills Demand Percentage
Initiative 4.02%
JavaScript 2.77%
Illustrator 1.84%

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 Surety Underwriter's salary.

  • Agile: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Influencing: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • User Research: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Agile $80,916
17%
Influencing $78,841
14%
User Research $77,458
12%

Surety Underwriter Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Surety Underwriter roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 32% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Surety Underwriter positions in Retail & Wholesale or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Surety Underwriter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Surety Underwriter

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$82,991$40.020%
Biotechnology$79,533$38.015%
Chemicals$77,458$37.012%
Energy & Utilities$76,075$37.010%
Financial Services$74,692$36.08%

How Education impacts a Surety Underwriter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Surety 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 Surety Underwriter with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $64,565 and $68,750).

Surety Underwriter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Surety Underwriter
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 12.3%
Associates 20.7%
Bachelors 59.4%
Masters 6.5%
Doctorate 0.2%

Surety Underwriter Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Surety 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 September 01, 2026
$63,721
Average $69,159/year
$74,725
$5,310
Average $5,763/month
$6,227
$1,225
Average $1,330/week
$1,437
$31
Average $33/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $74,725 $6,227 $1,437 $36
Average $69,159 $5,763 $1,330 $33
25th Percentile $63,721 $5,310 $1,225 $31

Most common benefits for Surety Underwriter

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

Common company salaries for Surety Underwriter

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

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FAQ about Surety Underwriter

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Surety Underwriter?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Surety Underwriter roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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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