Mortgage Underwriter Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Mortgage Underwriter in the United States is $75,061 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $92,504
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $65,705 to $84,191
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $57,186
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View as table View as graph 25% $65,705 10% $57,186 90% $92,504 75% $84,191 $75,061 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Mortgage Underwriter Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $84,191 $7,016 $1,619 $40
Average $75,061 $6,255 $1,443 $36
25th Percentile $65,705 $5,475 $1,264 $32
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Key Factors That Influence Mortgage Underwriter Salaries

A Mortgage 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 Mortgage Underwriter Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Mortgage 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): $66,210
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $74,390
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $96,318
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $113,915
  • Expert (over 8 years): $112,720
Levels Salary
Mortgage ... Level Mortgage Underwriter$66,210
Mortgage ... Level Mortgage Underwriter$74,390
Mortgage ... Level Mortgage Underwriter$96,318
Mortgage ... Level Mortgage Underwriter$113,915
Mortgage ... Level Mortgage Underwriter$112,720
$66,210 0 yr
$74,390 < 2 yrs
$96,318 2-4 yrs
$113,915 5-8 yrs
$112,720 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Mortgage 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: $94,675
  • San Francisco: $93,638
  • Oakland: $91,665

What Skills Can Increase a Mortgage Underwriter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.98% 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 1.71% 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 1.12% 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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.98%
Tax Return 1.71%
Financial Services 1.12%
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's salary.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Wholesale: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consulting
$84,069
12%
Insight
$82,567
10%
Wholesale
$79,565
6%
Regulatory Compliance
$79,565
6%
Planning
$79,565
6%
Presentation
$79,565
6%
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Mortgage Underwriter Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Mortgage Underwriter roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Mortgage Underwriter positions in Insurance or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Mortgage Underwriter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Mortgage Underwriter

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$112,592$54.050%
Business Services$90,074$43.020%

How Education impacts a Mortgage Underwriter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Mortgage 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 Mortgage Underwriter with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $68,462 and $73,866).

Mortgage Underwriter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Mortgage Underwriter
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 32.9%
Associates 15.7%
Bachelors 42.9%
Masters 7.1%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Mortgage Underwriter Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Mortgage 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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Mortgage Underwriter

Salaries for a Mortgage Underwriter can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $71,688 in 2023 to around $71,212 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Mortgage Underwriter salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Mortgage Underwriter Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$71,688
2024
$71,493
2025
$71,212
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $71,688
2024 $71,493
2025 $71,212
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Mortgage Underwriter

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

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

Find Your Next Mortgage Underwriter Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Mortgage Underwriter job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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.)

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