Post job

Commercial lines underwriter vs underwriter

The differences between commercial lines underwriters and underwriters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a commercial lines underwriter has an average salary of $67,892, which is higher than the $61,751 average annual salary of an underwriter.

The top three skills for a commercial lines underwriter include CPCU, multi-line and commercial property. The most important skills for an underwriter are customer service, investor guidelines, and mortgage loans.

Commercial lines underwriter vs underwriter overview

Commercial Lines UnderwriterUnderwriter
Yearly salary$67,892$61,751
Hourly rate$32.64$29.69
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs33,0478,510
Job satisfaction-3
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age4444
Years of experience--

What does a commercial lines underwriter do?

Commercial lines underwriters are professionals who are responsible for reviewing corporate insurance applications to evaluate the risk involved and to approve or disapprove applicants. These underwriters are required to analyze the business information of their clients as well as monitor their activities to change insurance policies when risk is high or substandard. They must contact outside parties to discuss and explain underwriting policies as well as quote rates. Commercial lines underwriters must also utilize underwriting guidelines so that they can determine the loss-ratio history and loss-control reports.

What does an underwriter do?

An underwriter's duties depend on the line of work or industry involved, such as mortgage companies, insurance, or lending firms. However, an Underwriter's responsibility will mainly revolve around using their extensive expertise on how a company will achieve financial gains, and assessing the possible financial risks of a client by reviewing various aspects to determine their capacity to uphold monetary obligations. Most of the time, the Underwriter's tasks will also involve evaluating a client's credit history, health, assets, overall financial history.

Commercial lines underwriter vs underwriter salary

Commercial lines underwriters and underwriters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Commercial Lines UnderwriterUnderwriter
Average salary$67,892$61,751
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $104,000Between $39,000 And $96,000
Highest paying City-Boston, MA
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-Google
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between commercial lines underwriter and underwriter education

There are a few differences between a commercial lines underwriter and an underwriter in terms of educational background:

Commercial Lines UnderwriterUnderwriter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Commercial lines underwriter vs underwriter demographics

Here are the differences between commercial lines underwriters' and underwriters' demographics:

Commercial Lines UnderwriterUnderwriter
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 43.1% Female, 56.9%Male, 38.4% Female, 61.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 5.8% White, 72.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 72.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between commercial lines underwriter and underwriter duties and responsibilities

Commercial lines underwriter example responsibilities.

  • Review individual mortgage origination/post origination documentation and perform database research.
  • Review individual mortgage origination/post origination documentation and perform database research.

Underwriter example responsibilities.

  • Attain Jr. underwriter status and AUS underwriting authority.
  • Manage AUS findings and analyze approvals and results accordingly.
  • Complete initial review of appraisals, borrower credit documents, and DU/LP findings according to Fannie Mae and investor guidelines.
  • Research and develop SBA program.
  • Work on project putting together HPR policy.
  • Resolve issues preventing final disposition of REO properties.
  • Show more

Commercial lines underwriter vs underwriter skills

Common commercial lines underwriter skills
  • CPCU, 14%
  • Multi-Line, 13%
  • Commercial Property, 8%
  • Loss Ratio, 7%
  • Renewal Retention, 4%
  • Risk Selection, 4%
Common underwriter skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Investor Guidelines, 6%
  • Mortgage Loans, 5%
  • Underwriting Guidelines, 5%
  • Financial Statements, 4%
  • FHA, 3%

Browse business and financial jobs