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What is a property underwriter and how to become one
How do insurance companies decide how much coverage to offer someone for their property and how high their premiums should be? No, the formula isn't decided by a magic spell. A client's property insurance premiums and deductibles are calculated and determined by a property underwriter.
The property underwriter uses their analytical skills to accurately assess the value of someone's property so that the insurance company does not lose money or offer inadequate coverage. A normal day at the office for a property underwriter might include managing loans, assessing applications for coverage, and sharing information with other members of the insurance team.
Most property underwriters hold at least a bachelor's degree in business. That extensive knowledge of current market values and insurance coverage has to come from somewhere, after all. Surprisingly, the best state for property underwriters is Illinois, even though Hartford, Connecticut, is the city known as the "insurance capital of the world."
What's a day at work look like for a property underwriter?
Robert Hoyt, Ph.D.
Department Head and Dudley L. Moore Jr. Chair of Insurance, University of Georgia
Avg. Salary $71,730
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate -4%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.37%
Asian 5.72%
Black or African American 9.69%
Hispanic or Latino 9.88%
Unknown 2.49%
White 71.85%
Genderfemale 52.89%
male 47.11%
Age - 43American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 43Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
Property underwriter career paths
Key steps to become a property underwriter
Explore property underwriter education requirements
Start to develop specific property underwriter skills
Skills Percentages CPCU 11.03% Underwriting Guidelines 10.34% Insurance Coverage 7.44% Insurance Laws 6.44% Broker Relationships 5.97% Complete relevant property underwriter training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New property underwriters learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a property underwriter based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real property underwriter resumes.Research property underwriter duties and responsibilities
- Review individual mortgage origination/post origination documentation and perform database research.
- Review individual mortgage origination/post origination documentation and perform database research.
Prepare your property underwriter resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your property underwriter resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a property underwriter resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable property underwriter resume templates
Build a professional property underwriter resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your property underwriter resume.
Apply for property underwriter jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a property underwriter job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first property underwriter job
Are you a property underwriter?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average property underwriter salary
The average property underwriter salary in the United States is $71,730 per year or $34 per hour. Property underwriter salaries range between $45,000 and $111,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do property underwriters rate their job?
Property underwriter reviews
Remote work, banking hours and benefits
High pressure, Toxic work environment when rates increase & people become defensive & scared of layoffs
Remote work opportunity
High pressure environment, constant scrutiny of job performance
I was fortunate to start via an underwriting training program with a large insurance company. These are difficult to get into now and companies aren't as committed to training. The training offered me a great overview of the industry & various product lines. This offered me flexibility as I learned new products and specialty programs. I enjoy a 9-5 role, great benefits, good bonuses and travel. You also meet many people with variety of education and professional backgrounds and interests and make great long term friendships. The industry welcomes and needs people with many talents. I've enjoyed working remote and with small teams in the office.
Industry goes through high & low pricing cycles with, making lots of money or struggling to make budget. This puts direct pressure on underwriters to produce new business in a crowded space promoting the same basic products. I see younger underwriters now with business degrees, advanced degrees & industry certifications promoted quickly with little experience. Underwriting/computer systems are often dated and inefficient. We spend too much time sitting and looking at double monitors with lots of eye strain.
Updated January 8, 2025
