Commercial Underwriter Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Commercial Underwriter in the United States is $62,777 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,621
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $55,770 to $69,500
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $49,390

Key Factors That Influence Commercial Underwriter Salaries

A Commercial 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 Commercial Underwriter Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Commercial 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): $62,283
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $73,384
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $95,404
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $120,717
  • Expert (over 8 years): $135,129
Levels Salary
Commercia... Level Commercial Underwriter$62,283
Underwrit... Level Commercial Underwriter$73,384
Underwrit... Level Commercial Underwriter$95,404
Life Unde... Level Commercial Underwriter$120,717
Life Unde... Level Commercial Underwriter$135,129

Top Paying Cities for Commercial 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: $79,181
  • San Francisco: $78,314
  • Oakland: $76,664

What Skills Can Increase a Commercial Underwriter's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Pricing (Mentioned in 2.09% Job Postings): Pricing is a process of fixing the value that a manufacturer will receive in the exchange of services and goods.
  • Knowledge of Underwriting (Mentioned in 1.28% 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6%
Pricing 2.09%
Knowledge of Underwriting 1.28%

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 Commercial Underwriter's salary.

  • Accuracy and Attention to Detail: Can increase your salary by up to 38%.
  • Managing Multiple Priorities: Can increase your salary by up to 38%.
  • Office Support Tools: Can increase your salary by up to 38%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Accuracy and Attention to Detail $86,633
38%
Managing Multiple Priorities $86,633
38%
Office Support Tools $86,633
38%

Commercial Underwriter Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Commercial Underwriter roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 50% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Commercial Underwriter positions in Insurance or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Commercial Underwriter as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Commercial Underwriter

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$81,611$39.030%
Healthcare$75,333$36.020%

How Education impacts a Commercial Underwriter's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Commercial Underwriters enter the field with a Associate'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 a Commercial Underwriter with a Associate's Degree is between $53,116 and $56,472).

Commercial Underwriter Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Commercial Underwriter
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 19.5%
High School 19.5%
Associates 9.1%
Bachelors 64.9%
Masters 6.5%
Doctorate 0.0%

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

Understanding how a Commercial 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
$55,770
Average $62,777/year
$69,500
$4,647
Average $5,231/month
$5,792
$1,072
Average $1,207/week
$1,337
$27
Average $30/hour
$33
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $69,500 $5,792 $1,337 $33
Average $62,777 $5,231 $1,207 $30
25th Percentile $55,770 $4,647 $1,072 $27

Most common benefits for Commercial Underwriter

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

Common company salaries for Commercial Underwriter

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

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FAQ about Commercial Underwriter

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

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Commercial Underwriter roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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