Best states for a junior underwriter

Q: What is the best state for junior underwriters?

The best state to be a junior underwriter is Maryland based on junior underwriter salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for junior underwriters?

The highest paying state for junior underwriters is Mississippi based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for junior underwriters?

The worst state for junior underwriters is Mississippi, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Janet Ruiz

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Job opportunities vary from state to state, and business and financial careers are no different. Because we know how difficult it can be to know which states are the best when it comes to junior underwriter jobs, we decided to crunch some numbers to bring you the best states for junior underwriters.Our research found that Maryland is the best state for junior underwriters, while New York and New Jersey are ranked highest in terms of median salary. Maryland has a median salary of $65,548 and New York has the highest median salary among all 50 states for junior underwriters.

To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for junior underwriters.We found that Maryland is the best state for junior underwriter jobs, whereas Mississippi is the worst.

10 best states for junior underwriters in 2025

1. Maryland
Total junior underwriter jobs: 556
Average annual salary: $65,548
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000
Location Quotient:
1.59
Junior underwriter jobs in Maryland
2. Rhode Island
Total junior underwriter jobs: 76
Average annual salary: $63,383
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Junior underwriter jobs in Rhode Island
3. Delaware
Total junior underwriter jobs: 81
Average annual salary: $63,703
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $101,000
Location Quotient:
1.17
Junior underwriter jobs in Delaware
4. New York
Total junior underwriter jobs: 760
Average annual salary: $70,019
Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $109,000
Location Quotient:
1.08
Junior underwriter jobs in New York
5. South Dakota
Total junior underwriter jobs: 67
Average annual salary: $58,727
Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Junior underwriter jobs in South Dakota
6. Maine
Total junior underwriter jobs: 79
Average annual salary: $59,479
Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000
Location Quotient:
1.08
Junior underwriter jobs in Maine
7. New Jersey
Total junior underwriter jobs: 384
Average annual salary: $66,189
Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000
Location Quotient:
0.88
Junior underwriter jobs in New Jersey
8. New Mexico
Total junior underwriter jobs: 76
Average annual salary: $65,055
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000
Location Quotient:
0.7
Junior underwriter jobs in New Mexico
9. North Carolina
Total junior underwriter jobs: 530
Average annual salary: $58,524
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $94,000
Location Quotient:
1
Junior underwriter jobs in North Carolina
10. District of Columbia
Total junior underwriter jobs: 127
Average annual salary: $60,260
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000
Location Quotient:
1.37
Junior underwriter jobs in District of Columbia

Junior underwriter jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a junior underwriter

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a junior underwriter

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Maryland	$65,548	$41,000	6,052,177	556
2	Rhode Island	$63,383	$40,000	1,059,639	76
3	Delaware	$63,703	$40,000	961,939	81
4	New York	$70,019	$44,000	19,849,399	760
5	South Dakota	$58,727	$41,000	869,666	67
6	Maine	$59,479	$39,000	1,335,907	79
7	New Jersey	$66,189	$42,000	9,005,644	384
8	New Mexico	$65,055	$40,000	2,088,070	76
9	North Carolina	$58,524	$36,000	10,273,419	530
10	District of Columbia	$60,260	$37,000	693,972	127
11	Wyoming	$52,399	$36,000	579,315	52
12	Connecticut	$58,831	$37,000	3,588,184	180
13	Arkansas	$59,981	$37,000	3,004,279	93
14	Michigan	$53,790	$34,000	9,962,311	455
15	Vermont	$55,627	$36,000	623,657	41
16	California	$58,595	$36,000	39,536,653	1,636
17	Washington	$56,914	$39,000	7,405,743	369
18	Massachusetts	$60,939	$39,000	6,859,819	336
19	Oregon	$53,846	$35,000	4,142,776	250
20	Ohio	$51,282	$32,000	11,658,609	583
21	Colorado	$51,622	$35,000	5,607,154	403
22	New Hampshire	$55,397	$36,000	1,342,795	62
23	North Dakota	$48,608	$35,000	755,393	58
24	Pennsylvania	$51,140	$32,000	12,805,537	569
25	Kansas	$47,918	$31,000	2,913,123	181
26	West Virginia	$51,523	$32,000	1,815,857	52
27	Arizona	$47,032	$29,000	7,016,270	509
28	Kentucky	$48,160	$31,000	4,454,189	195
29	Virginia	$49,309	$30,000	8,470,020	626
30	Florida	$49,510	$28,000	20,984,400	869
31	Nebraska	$48,960	$33,000	1,920,076	114
32	Illinois	$47,712	$31,000	12,802,023	746
33	Texas	$47,348	$28,000	28,304,596	1,205
34	Oklahoma	$49,187	$31,000	3,930,864	132
35	Montana	$50,250	$36,000	1,050,493	49
36	Nevada	$45,678	$28,000	2,998,039	127
37	South Carolina	$49,200	$30,000	5,024,369	175
38	Hawaii	$51,704	$40,000	1,427,538	44
39	Minnesota	$48,538	$33,000	5,576,606	295
40	Missouri	$47,214	$31,000	6,113,532	269
41	Utah	$41,098	$27,000	3,101,833	283
42	Idaho	$42,890	$29,000	1,716,943	100
43	Wisconsin	$46,023	$30,000	5,795,483	186
44	Iowa	$43,828	$29,000	3,145,711	173
45	Louisiana	$44,258	$26,000	4,684,333	127
46	Tennessee	$42,683	$26,000	6,715,984	261
47	Alabama	$38,416	$23,000	4,874,747	250
48	Georgia	$43,316	$26,000	10,429,379	487
49	Indiana	$41,608	$27,000	6,666,818	323
50	Alaska	$39,757	$31,000	739,795	34
51	Mississippi	$37,932	$23,000	2,984,100	84

Highest paying states for junior underwriters

Rank	State	Avg. Junior Underwriter Salary
1	Maryland	$65,548
2	Rhode Island	$63,383
3	Delaware	$63,703
4	New York	$70,019
5	South Dakota	$58,727
6	Maine	$59,479
7	New Jersey	$66,189
8	New Mexico	$65,055
9	North Carolina	$58,524
10	District of Columbia	$60,260
11	Wyoming	$52,399
12	Connecticut	$58,831
13	Arkansas	$59,981
14	Michigan	$53,790
15	Vermont	$55,627
16	California	$58,595
17	Washington	$56,914
18	Massachusetts	$60,939
19	Oregon	$53,846
20	Ohio	$51,282
21	Colorado	$51,622
22	New Hampshire	$55,397
23	North Dakota	$48,608
24	Pennsylvania	$51,140
25	Kansas	$47,918
26	West Virginia	$51,523
27	Arizona	$47,032
28	Kentucky	$48,160
29	Virginia	$49,309
30	Florida	$49,510
31	Nebraska	$48,960
32	Illinois	$47,712
33	Texas	$47,348
34	Oklahoma	$49,187
35	Montana	$50,250
36	Nevada	$45,678
37	South Carolina	$49,200
38	Hawaii	$51,704
39	Minnesota	$48,538
40	Missouri	$47,214
41	Utah	$41,098
42	Idaho	$42,890
43	Wisconsin	$46,023
44	Iowa	$43,828
45	Louisiana	$44,258
46	Tennessee	$42,683
47	Alabama	$38,416
48	Georgia	$43,316
49	Indiana	$41,608
50	Alaska	$39,757
51	Mississippi	$37,932

Expert opinions on the best states for junior underwriters

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for junior underwriters to find work opportunities?
Janet Ruiz
Director – Strategic Communication, Insurance Information Institute
Underwriting jobs may be found at corporate home offices, specialized field offices, or regional offices of insurance companies. Insurance broker agencies also have underwriting positions. Commercial Business and Specialty, Auto and Homeowners insurance all use underwriters.

Junior underwriter best states FAQs

What is the best state for junior underwriters?

What is the highest paying state for junior underwriters?

What is the worst state for junior underwriters?

Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.

Search for junior underwriter jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse business and financial jobs

Total junior underwriter jobs:	556
Average annual salary:	$65,548
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$41,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$104,000
Location Quotient:	1.59

Best states for a junior underwriter

10 best states for junior underwriters in 2025

1. Maryland

2. Rhode Island

3. Delaware

4. New York

5. South Dakota

6. Maine

7. New Jersey

8. New Mexico

9. North Carolina

10. District of Columbia