Post job

Underwriting technician vs life underwriter

The differences between underwriting technicians and life underwriters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a life underwriter has an average salary of $78,633, which is higher than the $44,704 average annual salary of an underwriting technician.

The top three skills for an underwriting technician include cancellations, insurance policies and data entry. The most important skills for a life underwriter are underwriting decisions, risk selection, and health insurance.

Underwriting technician vs life underwriter overview

Underwriting TechnicianLife Underwriter
Yearly salary$44,704$78,633
Hourly rate$21.49$37.80
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs8,61516,767
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age4444
Years of experience--

What does an underwriting technician do?

Underwriting technicians may also be known as underwriters or underwriting assistants. They determine which customers qualify for various insurance policies or loans. Their duties include finding information, writing quote letters, checking customer eligibility, and arranging loans. They are expected to carry out background checks and credit history checks for clients seeking insurance. They diligently analyze applications of clients based on certain criteria.

What does a life underwriter do?

A life underwriter is a person who helps give the insurer a detailed outlook on their health and presents them with a premium. An underwriter works for an insurance company and examines an insurer's eligibility for certain benefits. They then evaluate the application depending on their capacity to pay and their current health status. Also, they need to inform them about the advantages and disadvantages of having life insurance.

Underwriting technician vs life underwriter salary

Underwriting technicians and life underwriters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Underwriting TechnicianLife Underwriter
Average salary$44,704$78,633
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $69,000Between $53,000 And $116,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between underwriting technician and life underwriter education

There are a few differences between an underwriting technician and a life underwriter in terms of educational background:

Underwriting TechnicianLife Underwriter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Underwriting technician vs life underwriter demographics

Here are the differences between underwriting technicians' and life underwriters' demographics:

Underwriting TechnicianLife Underwriter
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 25.2% Female, 74.8%Male, 41.7% Female, 58.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.9% Unknown, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 73.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 8.8% Unknown, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 73.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between underwriting technician and life underwriter duties and responsibilities

Underwriting technician example responsibilities.

  • Generate business leads by promoting AIG's products and servicing.
  • Assist underwriters in expediting new business, processing endorsements and/or modifying existing policies while achieving broker relationships.
  • Work directly with independent agents and BCBS marketing department to analyze information and make eligibility decisions with strict timelines.
  • Order and code clues and MVRs for renewing umbrella policies.
  • Train staff members on the MMS system.
  • Evaluate new and renewal submissions as delegated by underwriters for prescribe criteria and clearance into AS400 invoicing system.

Life underwriter example responsibilities.

  • Review individual mortgage origination/post origination documentation and perform database research.
  • Review individual mortgage origination/post origination documentation and perform database research.

Underwriting technician vs life underwriter skills

Common underwriting technician skills
  • Cancellations, 17%
  • Insurance Policies, 10%
  • Data Entry, 9%
  • Underwriting Guidelines, 7%
  • Underwriting Analysis, 6%
  • Worksheets, 4%
Common life underwriter skills
  • Underwriting Decisions, 9%
  • Risk Selection, 8%
  • Health Insurance, 8%
  • Medical History, 6%
  • Strong Analytical, 6%
  • EKG, 5%

Browse business and financial jobs