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Best states for a mortgage underwriter
Quoted expert
Janet Ruiz
- Rank 1 - 10
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Do you want to become a mortgage underwriter at Wells Fargo, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for mortgage underwriters that you can check out, before you begin your journey. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for mortgage underwriter jobs.
Rhode Island is the best state for jobs for mortgage underwriters, and Mississippi is the worst. The most common pay in Rhode Island is $64,927, while the median pay in Mississippi is $43,009.We found that the South is best for mortgage underwriters, and the Northeast is the worst. New York, NY is the best city in the country for mortgage underwriter jobs, where as Rhode Island is the best state in the country.
10 best states for mortgage underwriters in 2026
1. Rhode Island
Total mortgage underwriter jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $64,927 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $97,000 Location Quotient: 1.47
2. South Dakota
Total mortgage underwriter jobs: 65 Average annual salary: $62,032 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $87,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
3. New York
Total mortgage underwriter jobs: 542 Average annual salary: $68,784 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $104,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
4. New Mexico
Total mortgage underwriter jobs: 62 Average annual salary: $72,889 Lowest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $112,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
5. Michigan
Total mortgage underwriter jobs: 436 Average annual salary: $59,204 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
6. Pennsylvania
Total mortgage underwriter jobs: 442 Average annual salary: $68,031 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
7. Maine
Total mortgage underwriter jobs: 59 Average annual salary: $61,648 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
8. New Jersey
Total mortgage underwriter jobs: 286 Average annual salary: $69,535 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 0.9
9. Ohio
Total mortgage underwriter jobs: 460 Average annual salary: $59,220 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
10. North Carolina
Total mortgage underwriter jobs: 425 Average annual salary: $61,323 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $96,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
Mortgage underwriter jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a mortgage underwriter
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a mortgage underwriter
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $64,927 | $43,000 | 1,059,639 | 71 |
| 2 | South Dakota | $62,032 | $44,000 | 869,666 | 65 |
| 3 | New York | $68,784 | $45,000 | 19,849,399 | 542 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $72,889 | $47,000 | 2,088,070 | 62 |
| 5 | Michigan | $59,204 | $39,000 | 9,962,311 | 436 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $68,031 | $44,000 | 12,805,537 | 442 |
| 7 | Maine | $61,648 | $42,000 | 1,335,907 | 59 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $69,535 | $45,000 | 9,005,644 | 286 |
| 9 | Ohio | $59,220 | $38,000 | 11,658,609 | 460 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $61,323 | $38,000 | 10,273,419 | 425 |
| 11 | Texas | $61,073 | $37,000 | 28,304,596 | 958 |
| 12 | Arkansas | $67,566 | $43,000 | 3,004,279 | 57 |
| 13 | Oregon | $60,099 | $40,000 | 4,142,776 | 183 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $56,043 | $39,000 | 579,315 | 45 |
| 15 | California | $66,709 | $42,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,139 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $59,395 | $38,000 | 1,815,857 | 41 |
| 17 | Arizona | $55,353 | $35,000 | 7,016,270 | 458 |
| 18 | Maryland | $63,638 | $41,000 | 6,052,177 | 209 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $56,607 | $39,000 | 5,576,606 | 277 |
| 20 | Virginia | $61,888 | $39,000 | 8,470,020 | 240 |
| 21 | Vermont | $57,277 | $38,000 | 623,657 | 30 |
| 22 | Colorado | $56,208 | $38,000 | 5,607,154 | 302 |
| 23 | Illinois | $56,479 | $37,000 | 12,802,023 | 562 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $59,140 | $39,000 | 3,588,184 | 125 |
| 25 | Iowa | $54,465 | $37,000 | 3,145,711 | 151 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $66,843 | $43,000 | 693,972 | 38 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $53,398 | $35,000 | 4,454,189 | 151 |
| 28 | Kansas | $52,621 | $35,000 | 2,913,123 | 148 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $55,563 | $36,000 | 3,930,864 | 79 |
| 30 | Missouri | $55,146 | $36,000 | 6,113,532 | 223 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $50,572 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 47 |
| 32 | Nevada | $52,001 | $33,000 | 2,998,039 | 102 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $53,696 | $36,000 | 5,795,483 | 160 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $55,910 | $37,000 | 1,342,795 | 39 |
| 35 | Massachusetts | $56,982 | $38,000 | 6,859,819 | 216 |
| 36 | Montana | $52,653 | $38,000 | 1,050,493 | 44 |
| 37 | Delaware | $51,568 | $33,000 | 961,939 | 60 |
| 38 | Florida | $52,780 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 596 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $52,818 | $33,000 | 5,024,369 | 139 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $51,450 | $39,000 | 1,427,538 | 34 |
| 41 | Washington | $51,895 | $36,000 | 7,405,743 | 290 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $49,214 | $34,000 | 1,920,076 | 92 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $48,284 | $31,000 | 6,715,984 | 187 |
| 44 | Idaho | $45,714 | $32,000 | 1,716,943 | 71 |
| 45 | Utah | $42,453 | $28,000 | 3,101,833 | 154 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $50,316 | $30,000 | 4,684,333 | 79 |
| 47 | Georgia | $49,725 | $31,000 | 10,429,379 | 345 |
| 48 | Indiana | $46,442 | $30,000 | 6,666,818 | 250 |
| 49 | Alabama | $47,698 | $30,000 | 4,874,747 | 123 |
| 50 | Alaska | $41,892 | $34,000 | 739,795 | 28 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $43,009 | $26,000 | 2,984,100 | 66 |
Highest paying states for mortgage underwriters
| Rank | State | Avg. Mortgage Underwriter Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $64,927 |
| 2 | South Dakota | $62,032 |
| 3 | New York | $68,784 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $72,889 |
| 5 | Michigan | $59,204 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $68,031 |
| 7 | Maine | $61,648 |
| 8 | New Jersey | $69,535 |
| 9 | Ohio | $59,220 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $61,323 |
| 11 | Texas | $61,073 |
| 12 | Arkansas | $67,566 |
| 13 | Oregon | $60,099 |
| 14 | Wyoming | $56,043 |
| 15 | California | $66,709 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $59,395 |
| 17 | Arizona | $55,353 |
| 18 | Maryland | $63,638 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $56,607 |
| 20 | Virginia | $61,888 |
| 21 | Vermont | $57,277 |
| 22 | Colorado | $56,208 |
| 23 | Illinois | $56,479 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $59,140 |
| 25 | Iowa | $54,465 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $66,843 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $53,398 |
| 28 | Kansas | $52,621 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $55,563 |
| 30 | Missouri | $55,146 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $50,572 |
| 32 | Nevada | $52,001 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $53,696 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $55,910 |
| 35 | Massachusetts | $56,982 |
| 36 | Montana | $52,653 |
| 37 | Delaware | $51,568 |
| 38 | Florida | $52,780 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $52,818 |
| 40 | Hawaii | $51,450 |
| 41 | Washington | $51,895 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $49,214 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $48,284 |
| 44 | Idaho | $45,714 |
| 45 | Utah | $42,453 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $50,316 |
| 47 | Georgia | $49,725 |
| 48 | Indiana | $46,442 |
| 49 | Alabama | $47,698 |
| 50 | Alaska | $41,892 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $43,009 |
Expert opinions on the best states for mortgage underwriters
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for mortgage 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.
Mortgage underwriter best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025