How to hire a property underwriter

How to hire a property underwriter, step by step

Here's a step-by-step property 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 property underwriter job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new property underwriter
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a property underwriter do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the property underwriter you need to hire. Certain property underwriter roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   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 property 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 property underwriter that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of property underwriters and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Property Underwriter	Description	Hourly rate
   Property Underwriter	Insurance underwriters decide whether to provide insurance and under what terms. They evaluate insurance applications and determine coverage amounts and premiums.	$21-53
   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
   • Underwriting Guidelines
   • Insurance Coverage
   • Insurance Laws
   • Broker Relationships
   • Commercial Property
   • Property Insurance
   • Profitable Growth
   • Insurance Products
   • Financial Analysis
   • Loss Control
   • Business Development
   • Underwriting Authority
   • Risk Selection

   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.

   More property underwriter duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, property underwriters' average salary in hawaii is 53% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level property underwriters earn 59% less than senior-level property underwriters.
   • Certifications. A property 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 property underwriter's salary.

   Average property underwriter salary

   $71,730yearly

   $34.49 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level property underwriter salary

   $45,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average property underwriter salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$92,812	$45
   2	Minnesota	$83,976	$40
   3	New York	$83,713	$40
   4	Connecticut	$83,558	$40
   5	Colorado	$81,236	$39
   6	Oregon	$81,063	$39
   7	Washington	$80,620	$39
   8	Pennsylvania	$78,178	$38
   9	Ohio	$78,172	$38
   10	California	$78,164	$38
   11	Georgia	$77,368	$37
   12	Indiana	$76,849	$37
   13	North Carolina	$73,811	$35
   14	Arizona	$70,948	$34
   15	Missouri	$69,647	$33
   16	Kansas	$67,260	$32
   17	Illinois	$66,704	$32
   18	Florida	$66,401	$32
   19	Oklahoma	$63,680	$31
   20	Iowa	$63,393	$30

   Average property underwriter salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Chubb	$98,444	$47.33	214
   2	Berkshire Hathaway	$94,714	$45.54	12
   3	Axis	$90,715	$43.61	4
   4	Zurich	$86,155	$41.42	5
   5	James River Ins	$86,104	$41.40	5
   6	Partner Reinsurance Co US	$84,848	$40.79	1
   7	Swiss Reinsurance America Corporation	$84,820	$40.78	7
   8	The Hartford	$82,786	$39.80	129
   9	Gallagher	$81,637	$39.25
   10	Allianz of America, Inc.	$81,626	$39.24
   11	Meadowbrook Insurance Agency	$81,403	$39.14
   12	Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Human Resources & Compensation Consulting Practice (formerly Companalysis)	$81,192	$39.03	9
   13	Everest Holdings LLC	$81,192	$39.03	6
   14	The Jacobson Group	$81,158	$39.02	1
   15	Arch Capital Group	$81,125	$39.00	11
   16	The Jonus Group	$80,444	$38.67	13
   17	Crum & Forster	$80,227	$38.57	18
   18	Gen Re	$80,225	$38.57
   19	QBE Insurance Group	$78,124	$37.56	8
   20	Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance	$77,999	$37.50	62

4. Writing a property underwriter job description

   A good property underwriter job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a property underwriter job description:

   Property underwriter job description example

   You are a driven and motivated problem solver ready to pursue meaningful work. You strive to make an impact every day & not only at work, but in your personal life and community too. If that sounds like you, then you've landed in the right place.
   
   Were in the business of helping people achieve amazing things by protecting the things that matter most. And you can help us when you join our team of underwriters. They're at the center of everything we do and by joining us, you'll be on a team known throughout the industry for providing our customers with just the right amount of coverage they need to pursue their unique interests.
   
   Your underwriting career here means collaboration, inclusivity, innovative thinking and so much more. Here, doing things the way they've always been done isn't a part of the job. Here, you'll be putting your creative insights to work with other underwriters and leaders, having a seat at the table with key decision makers. And you'll have any number of opportunities for your career to grow in whatever direction you choose.
   
   The Hartford continues to expand its Large Property business unit, focusing on a broad range of occupancies, including manufacturing, municipalities, schools, healthcare, financial services, real estate and more. The Large Property Underwriter will be a primary relationship manager and point of contact for multiple agents/brokers within an assigned territory.
   
   The position will work as part of a growing team of Large Property underwriters to provide specialized underwriting, insurance coverage and risk management services supporting the continued profitable growth of the dedicated practice. Working in a team environment, this position will collaborate to complete new and renewal business production underwriting, service accounts, identify key property agents/brokers, implement sales and marketing activities and demonstrate a strong customer focus and thorough understanding of The Hartford Large Property units appetite and strategy.
   We'll Be a Good Match if You Have:
   A customer-first mindset, putting our customers at the center of everything you do.A passion for making decisions through both analyzing data and employing critical thinking skills.A team spirit and desire to work collaboratively.A financial mindset to help make the best decisions.Ability to own our work and following through on commitments.Ability to decipher and execute within a fluid and changing business environment.An understanding of how to build relationships and trust among diverse groups.The ability to advance their careers into technical OR leadership positions.
   
   Qualifications:
   Bachelors Degree strongly preferred, or equivalent combination of education, training and experience7+ years of Mono-line Commercial Property underwriting and marketing experience preferred as well as strong relationships with Brokers in the region.Demonstrated success in developing and maintaining solid relationships with all internal and external business partners Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills An ability to think analytically about business problems, make recommendations and propose solutions.High energy self-starter, who is resilient and has an entrepreneurial spirit Demonstration of solid time, organizational, and desk management skills Goal-oriented and delivers outcomes Ability to challenge the status quo and compete to win Superior technical knowledge and sound decision-making and analytical skills.
   
   ***This position may be filled at a different level, depending on experience***
   
   Compensation
   The listed annualized base pay range is primarily based on analysis of similar positions in the external market. Actual base pay could vary and may be above or below the listed range based on factors including but not limited to performance, proficiency and demonstration of competencies required for the role. The base pay is just one component of The Hartford's total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include short-term or annual bonuses, long-term incentives, and on-the-spot recognition. The annualized base pay range for this role is:
   
   $89,600 - $181,080
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Females/Minorities/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity or Expression/Religion/Age
   
   About Us | Culture & Employee Insights | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Benefits
   
   Executive Underwriter - UW07CD
   ---
   
   Skills:

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find property underwriters for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any property underwriters they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level property underwriters with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting property underwriters requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to 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 property underwriter

   Once you have selected a candidate for the property underwriter position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new property underwriter. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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