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The differences between personal lines underwriters and commercial lines underwriters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a personal lines underwriter has an average salary of $69,706, which is higher than the $67,892 average annual salary of a commercial lines underwriter.
The top three skills for a personal lines underwriter include insurance policies, underwriting decisions and loss ratio. The most important skills for a commercial lines underwriter are CPCU, multi-line, and commercial property.
| Personal Lines Underwriter | Commercial Lines Underwriter | |
| Yearly salary | $69,706 | $67,892 |
| Hourly rate | $33.51 | $32.64 |
| Growth rate | -4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 19,754 | 33,047 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A personal lines underwriter works at insurance companies to ensure that clients are eligible to receive insurance services. Their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing insurance applications, verifying client information, studying financial histories and occupational risks, and conducting interviews. They may also perform clerical support tasks such as preparing and processing documents, handling calls and correspondence, and updating databases. Moreover, a personal lines underwriter typically works in a team setting, which requires an active communication line for a smooth and efficient workflow.
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.
Personal lines underwriters and commercial lines underwriters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Personal Lines Underwriter | Commercial Lines Underwriter | |
| Average salary | $69,706 | $67,892 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $111,000 | Between $44,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | - |
| Highest paying state | New York | - |
| Best paying company | Capital Group | - |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | - |
There are a few differences between a personal lines underwriter and a commercial lines underwriter in terms of educational background:
| Personal Lines Underwriter | Commercial Lines Underwriter | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between personal lines underwriters' and commercial lines underwriters' demographics:
| Personal Lines Underwriter | Commercial Lines Underwriter | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% | Male, 43.1% Female, 56.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 5.7% White, 72.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |