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Best states for an underwriter
Quoted expert
Janet Ruiz
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like underwriters are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for underwriters aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for underwriters. We found that New York is the best state in the nation for underwriters, and people in Dartmouth earn the most in the field.
New York is the best state for jobs for underwriters, and Arkansas is the worst. The most common pay in New York is $81,909, while the median pay in Arkansas is $46,189.New York is the best state, and Dartmouth is the city with the highest pay for underwriters.
10 best states for underwriters in 2025
1. New York
Total underwriter jobs: 546 Average annual salary: $81,909 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
2. Michigan
Total underwriter jobs: 386 Average annual salary: $64,894 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.38
3. Connecticut
Total underwriter jobs: 133 Average annual salary: $73,479 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 1.11
4. Pennsylvania
Total underwriter jobs: 398 Average annual salary: $72,796 Lowest 10 percent earn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
5. California
Total underwriter jobs: 1,103 Average annual salary: $74,814 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
6. Delaware
Total underwriter jobs: 51 Average annual salary: $67,163 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $111,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
7. Illinois
Total underwriter jobs: 525 Average annual salary: $64,607 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $103,000 Location Quotient: 1.22
8. Arizona
Total underwriter jobs: 423 Average annual salary: $62,240 Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 2
9. North Carolina
Total underwriter jobs: 393 Average annual salary: $63,652 Lowest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
10. Colorado
Total underwriter jobs: 276 Average annual salary: $65,377 Lowest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $102,000 Location Quotient: 1.28
Underwriter jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be an underwriter
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for an underwriter
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $81,909 | $50,000 | 19,849,399 | 546 |
| 2 | Michigan | $64,894 | $39,000 | 9,962,311 | 386 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $73,479 | $45,000 | 3,588,184 | 133 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $72,796 | $44,000 | 12,805,537 | 398 |
| 5 | California | $74,814 | $45,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,103 |
| 6 | Delaware | $67,163 | $40,000 | 961,939 | 51 |
| 7 | Illinois | $64,607 | $40,000 | 12,802,023 | 525 |
| 8 | Arizona | $62,240 | $37,000 | 7,016,270 | 423 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $63,652 | $38,000 | 10,273,419 | 393 |
| 10 | Colorado | $65,377 | $41,000 | 5,607,154 | 276 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $82,615 | $51,000 | 6,859,819 | 210 |
| 12 | Texas | $62,629 | $37,000 | 28,304,596 | 881 |
| 13 | Ohio | $62,099 | $38,000 | 11,658,609 | 409 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $68,562 | $41,000 | 9,005,644 | 265 |
| 15 | Washington | $66,506 | $43,000 | 7,405,743 | 263 |
| 16 | Kansas | $58,738 | $36,000 | 2,913,123 | 137 |
| 17 | Oregon | $62,747 | $39,000 | 4,142,776 | 170 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $58,845 | $36,000 | 1,059,639 | 53 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $65,394 | $40,000 | 1,342,795 | 35 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $57,428 | $37,000 | 755,393 | 40 |
| 21 | Nevada | $57,206 | $35,000 | 2,998,039 | 91 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $71,996 | $43,000 | 693,972 | 36 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $60,024 | $37,000 | 5,795,483 | 143 |
| 24 | Maine | $55,826 | $34,000 | 1,335,907 | 59 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $53,329 | $34,000 | 869,666 | 54 |
| 26 | Virginia | $63,683 | $38,000 | 8,470,020 | 204 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $57,440 | $36,000 | 5,576,606 | 220 |
| 28 | Maryland | $61,777 | $37,000 | 6,052,177 | 179 |
| 29 | Utah | $52,141 | $33,000 | 3,101,833 | 153 |
| 30 | Georgia | $57,066 | $34,000 | 10,429,379 | 306 |
| 31 | Indiana | $54,332 | $33,000 | 6,666,818 | 221 |
| 32 | Missouri | $55,992 | $35,000 | 6,113,532 | 186 |
| 33 | Vermont | $54,219 | $33,000 | 623,657 | 28 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $48,943 | $31,000 | 579,315 | 42 |
| 35 | Iowa | $52,053 | $32,000 | 3,145,711 | 129 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $52,802 | $32,000 | 1,815,857 | 35 |
| 37 | Idaho | $50,974 | $33,000 | 1,716,943 | 63 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $50,854 | $31,000 | 4,454,189 | 132 |
| 39 | Florida | $52,728 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 515 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $52,799 | $32,000 | 2,088,070 | 52 |
| 41 | Montana | $51,360 | $34,000 | 1,050,493 | 38 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $46,260 | $35,000 | 1,427,538 | 32 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $52,556 | $32,000 | 3,930,864 | 65 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $48,965 | $31,000 | 1,920,076 | 74 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $49,535 | $30,000 | 6,715,984 | 155 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $46,207 | $27,000 | 5,024,369 | 128 |
| 47 | Alaska | $41,826 | $30,000 | 739,795 | 25 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $45,366 | $27,000 | 2,984,100 | 55 |
| 49 | Alabama | $45,601 | $27,000 | 4,874,747 | 100 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $45,680 | $27,000 | 4,684,333 | 69 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $46,189 | $28,000 | 3,004,279 | 50 |
Highest paying states for underwriters
| Rank | State | Avg. Underwriter Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $81,909 |
| 2 | Michigan | $64,894 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $73,479 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $72,796 |
| 5 | California | $74,814 |
| 6 | Delaware | $67,163 |
| 7 | Illinois | $64,607 |
| 8 | Arizona | $62,240 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $63,652 |
| 10 | Colorado | $65,377 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $82,615 |
| 12 | Texas | $62,629 |
| 13 | Ohio | $62,099 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $68,562 |
| 15 | Washington | $66,506 |
| 16 | Kansas | $58,738 |
| 17 | Oregon | $62,747 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $58,845 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $65,394 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $57,428 |
| 21 | Nevada | $57,206 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $71,996 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $60,024 |
| 24 | Maine | $55,826 |
| 25 | South Dakota | $53,329 |
| 26 | Virginia | $63,683 |
| 27 | Minnesota | $57,440 |
| 28 | Maryland | $61,777 |
| 29 | Utah | $52,141 |
| 30 | Georgia | $57,066 |
| 31 | Indiana | $54,332 |
| 32 | Missouri | $55,992 |
| 33 | Vermont | $54,219 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $48,943 |
| 35 | Iowa | $52,053 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $52,802 |
| 37 | Idaho | $50,974 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $50,854 |
| 39 | Florida | $52,728 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $52,799 |
| 41 | Montana | $51,360 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $46,260 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $52,556 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $48,965 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $49,535 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $46,207 |
| 47 | Alaska | $41,826 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $45,366 |
| 49 | Alabama | $45,601 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $45,680 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $46,189 |
Expert opinions on the best states for underwriters
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for 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.
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Updated January 8, 2025