How to hire a commercial lines underwriter

How to hire a commercial lines underwriter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step commercial lines underwriter hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a commercial lines underwriter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new commercial lines underwriter
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a commercial lines underwriter, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a commercial lines underwriter to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a commercial lines underwriter that fits the bill.

   This list presents commercial lines underwriter salaries for various positions.

   Type of Commercial Lines Underwriter	Description	Hourly rate
   Commercial Lines Underwriter	Insurance underwriters decide whether to provide insurance and under what terms. They evaluate insurance applications and determine coverage amounts and premiums.	$21-50
   Insurance Analyst	An insurance analyst provides analytical services to maintain an efficient workflow at insurance companies. They are typically in charge of evaluating insurance policies to identify possible risks for the policyholder and the company, validating client information, and reviewing insurance applications to ensure their accuracy... Show more	$16-42
   Underwriting Consultant	An underwriting consultant is a professional who provides underwriting guidelines to underwriters as well as coordinates revision of the underwriting manual. Underwriting consultants are required to handle complex cases and situations by using their strong knowledge of company services, product standards, and underwriting policies... Show more	$23-49

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CPCU
   • Multi-Line
   • Commercial Property
   • Loss Ratio
   • Renewal Retention
   • Risk Selection
   • Underwriting Territory
   • Risk Management
   • Workers Compensation
   • General Liability
   • Financial Statements
   • Professional Liability
   • ISO
   • Loss Control

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

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

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your commercial lines underwriter job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A commercial lines underwriter salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, commercial lines underwriters' average salary in hawaii is 50% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level commercial lines underwriters earn 58% less than senior-level commercial lines underwriters.
   • Certifications. A commercial lines underwriter with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a commercial lines underwriter's salary.

   Average commercial lines underwriter salary

   $67,892yearly

   $32.64 hourly rate

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   Entry-level commercial lines underwriter salary

   $44,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

4. Writing a commercial lines underwriter job description

   A commercial lines underwriter job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a commercial lines underwriter job description:

   Commercial lines underwriter job description example

   At EMC, you'll put your skills to good use as an important member of our team. You can count on gaining valuable experience while contributing to the company's success. EMC strives to hire and retain the best people by engaging, developing and rewarding employees.
   Essential Functions:
   Completes underwriting trainings and learning courses Shadows experienced underwriters to learn risk appetite and gain experience in developing agency relationships Under close supervision, evaluates basic accounts for risk selection and pricing purposes Analyzes information to underwrite policies Communicates with agents and provides updates on accounts Collaborates with marketing representatives to learn about providing agents with good customer experiences
   
   Education & Experience:
   Bachelor's degree, preferably in insurance or business administration, or equivalent relevant experience Insurance designations, such as CPCU preferred
   
   Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
   Basic knowledge of underwriting and risk analysis preferred Good problem-solving skills and the ability to make sound decisions Strong customer service skills Ability to work effectively with others, as well as independently Ability to maintain high standards of professional competence Good computer skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office and social media Ability to work on multiple projects while meeting deadlines Good written and verbal communication skills
   
   Our employment practices are in accord with the laws which prohibit discrimination due to race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, active military status, citizenship status, marital status or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.
   
   All of our locations are tobacco free including in company vehicles.
   
   To learn more about why you're gonna love it here, watch the video below.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find commercial lines underwriters for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your commercial lines underwriter job on Zippia to find and attract quality commercial lines underwriter candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as efinancialcareers, financialjobsweb.com, careerbank, financial job bank.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit commercial lines underwriters, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new commercial lines underwriter

   Once you've found the commercial lines underwriter candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new commercial lines underwriter. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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