Underwriting Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does an Underwriting Specialist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Underwriting Specialist in the United States is $91,713 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

However, an Underwriting Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,805
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $83,725 to $98,043
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $76,452
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View as table View as graph 25% $83,725 10% $76,452 90% $103,805 75% $98,043 $91,713 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Underwriting Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $98,043 $8,170 $1,885 $47
Average $91,713 $7,643 $1,764 $44
25th Percentile $83,725 $6,977 $1,610 $40
Check out Underwriting Specialist Job Openings in the United States
Underwriting Support Specialist II

AF Group - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Underwriting Specialist Salaries

An Underwriting Specialist'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 Underwriting Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Underwriting Specialist'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): $59,573
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $70,191
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $91,248
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $106,606
  • Expert (over 8 years): $113,465
Levels Salary
Underwrit... Level Underwriting Specialist$59,573
Underwrit... Level Underwriting Specialist$70,191
Underwrit... Level Underwriting Specialist$91,248
Underwrit... Level Underwriting Specialist$106,606
Property ... Level Underwriting Specialist$113,465
$59,573 0 yr
$70,191 < 2 yrs
$91,248 2-4 yrs
$106,606 5-8 yrs
$113,465 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Underwriting Specialists

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: $115,678
  • San Francisco: $114,412
  • Oakland: $112,000

What Skills Can Increase an Underwriting Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.67% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Knowledge of Underwriting (Mentioned in 1.45% Job Postings): Underwriting simply means that your lender verifies your income, assets, debt and property details in order to issue final approval for your loan.
  • Financial Analysis (Mentioned in 1.1% Job Postings): Financial statement analysis (or financial analysis) is the process of reviewing and analyzing a company's financial statements to make better economic decisions to earn income in future. These statements include the income statement, balance sheet, statement of cash flows, notes to accounts and a statement of changes in equity (if applicable). Financial statement analysis is a method or process involving specific techniques for evaluating risks, performance, financial health, and future prospects of an organization. It is used by a variety of stakeholders, such as credit and equity investors, the government, the public, and decision-makers within the organization. These stakeholders have different interests and apply a variety of different techniques to meet their needs. For example, equity investors are interested in the long-term earnings power of the organization and perhaps the sustainability and growth of dividend payments. Creditors want to ensure the interest and principal is paid on the organizations debt securities (e.g., bonds) when due.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.67%
Knowledge of Underwriting 1.45%
Financial Analysis 1.1%
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 an Underwriting Specialist's salary.
  • Loan Review: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Negotiating: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Due Diligence: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Loan Review
$103,636
13%
Negotiating
$101,802
11%
Due Diligence
$96,299
5%
Pricing
$95,382
4%
Leadership
$95,382
4%
Brokerage
$95,382
4%
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Underwriting Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Underwriting Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Underwriting Specialist positions in Business Services or Insurance typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Underwriting Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Underwriting Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$110,056$53.020%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit$100,885$49.010%

How Education impacts an Underwriting Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Underwriting Specialists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Underwriting Specialist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $90,929 and $98,289).

Underwriting Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Underwriting Specialist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 15.5%
Associates 5.9%
Bachelors 59.0%
Masters 18.2%
Doctorate 1.0%
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Underwriting Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Underwriting Specialist'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

Salary Trends for Underwriting Specialist

Salaries for an Underwriting Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $97,113 in 2023 to around $90,996 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Underwriting Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Underwriting Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$97,113
2024
$93,995
2025
$90,996
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $97,113
2024 $93,995
2025 $90,996
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Underwriting Specialist

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

Here are companies hiring for Underwriting Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Underwriting Specialist Job

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

United States
  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full Bene... more

    13 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    15 Days Ago

  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    16 Days Ago

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    18 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    18 Days Ago

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FAQ about Underwriting Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Underwriting Specialist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Underwriting Specialist 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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