California Median
$95,320
per year
Hourly Rate
$45.83
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+17% vs US median
US median $81,370
State Rank
#11 of 49
6,580 employed here
How much does an Insurance Underwriter make in California?
An Insurance Underwriter working in California earns a median salary of $95,320 per year, or about $45.83 per hour. That is 17% above the national median of $81,370 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $65,070 while the top 10% make $162,640 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $77,370 and $124,660 a year.
Insurance Underwriter salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,070 | $31.28 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $77,370 | $37.20 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $95,320 | $45.83 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $124,660 | $59.93 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,640 | $78.19 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 11th out of 49 states and territories for Insurance Underwriter pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Insurance Underwriter salary in other states
Massachusetts $106,640New Hampshire $103,940Nevada $101,440Connecticut $100,690Colorado $100,640Washington $99,400New York $97,450Wisconsin $97,370New Jersey $96,220Maine $95,510Maryland $92,120Illinois $89,620Georgia $85,980Rhode Island $84,720South Dakota $83,130Arkansas $82,130District of Columbia $82,070Virginia $81,870Alaska $81,620Minnesota $80,700Missouri $80,040Kentucky $79,830South Carolina $79,570Ohio $79,260Oregon $79,200Pennsylvania $78,950Texas $78,890Tennessee $78,840Florida $78,720Vermont $77,990Arizona $77,740Indiana $77,440Michigan $77,380North Carolina $77,120Kansas $77,070Louisiana $76,540Iowa $75,160Nebraska $75,120North Dakota $74,130Hawaii $73,260Utah $72,730Oklahoma $66,770New Mexico $64,000Montana $63,140Idaho $62,530Wyoming $62,290Alabama $62,220Mississippi $59,250
Working as an Insurance Underwriter in California
Nationally, about 105,000 people work as Insurance Underwriters in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($95,320) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Insurance Underwriter make in California?
The median Insurance Underwriter salary in California is $95,320 per year, or about $45.83 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $65,070 at the entry level to $162,640 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Insurance Underwriters about 17% more than the national median of $81,370. California ranks 11th out of 49 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Insurance Underwriters?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $95,320 a year. About 6,580 Insurance Underwriters are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Insurance Underwriter salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.