Occupation · SOC 13-2053
Insurance Underwriters
Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.
Median wage
$79,880
$51,640–$138,020
Projected growth
-2.6%
Declining
Annual openings
-330
per year
Employed (US)
107,820
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
107 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningWritingCritical ThinkingReading ComprehensionSpeakingJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingActive Learning
Knowledge areas
English LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceMathematicsSales and Marketing
Technology & tools
Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareObject or component oriented development softwareData base user interface and query softwareFinancial analysis softwareDocument management software
Representative tasks
Examine documents to determine degree of risk from factors such as applicant health, financial standDecline excessive risks.Write to field representatives, medical personnel, or others to obtain further information, quote raAnswer agents' questions about insurance coverage.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Application documents and supporting records — review and organize under direct supervision to identify key risk factors such as applicant health, financial standing, and property condition.Standard risk assessment checklists — apply following established protocols to flag submissions that may exceed acceptable underwriting thresholds.Basic data entry and document management software — use to log applicant information and maintain accurate case files within the company's ERP system.Company underwriting guidelines and rate manuals — consult under direction to determine preliminary policy eligibility for straightforward, low-complexity submissions.Written correspondence templates — complete with guidance to request missing information from field representatives or medical personnel on routine applications.Spreadsheet software — use to perform basic calculations supporting premium estimates and risk scoring under close supervisor review.Policy and endorsement reference materials — locate and reference under supervision when identifying standard modifications for substandard risks.Company records and database query tools — search with assistance to identify existing coverage amounts on individual risks before processing new submissions.Underwriting decisions on simple, low-risk applications — document and submit for approval, following step-by-step departmental procedures.Active listening and reading comprehension skills — apply when attending team reviews of declined or modified applications to build foundational judgment.
developing
Applicant documents including financial statements, inspection reports, and medical records — evaluate independently to assess degree of risk across moderately complex personal and commercial lines.Excessive or unacceptable risks — identify and decline with clear written justification aligned with company underwriting policy and regulatory requirements.Professional correspondence — compose to field representatives, brokers, and medical personnel to request additional information, explain underwriting decisions, or quote rates on routine accounts.Potential loss scenarios from catastrophe exposure or concentration of risk — analyze using financial analysis software and internal loss models to inform coverage recommendations.Company policy records and database systems — query to determine total insurance in force on a single risk or group of related risks and flag concentration concerns for supervisory review.Policy rating adjustments and applicable endorsements — select and apply when risk is substandard, using current reference materials to ensure accurate and profitable risk distribution.Reinsurance eligibility criteria — assess and initiate reinsurance authorization on high-value or high-risk policies following established departmental thresholds.Spreadsheet and office suite software — use proficiently to model risk scenarios, prepare underwriting summaries, and support actuarial and management reporting.Underwriting rationale — communicate clearly in written reports and verbal discussions with agents and brokers, demonstrating sound judgment and service orientation.Emerging regulatory changes and product updates — monitor through active learning practices and integrate into day-to-day underwriting decisions with limited supervisory guidance.
proficient
Complex, high-value, or multi-line submissions — evaluate autonomously, synthesizing financial, medical, property, and catastrophe exposure data to render well-supported underwriting decisions.Non-routine or borderline risk applications — resolve using advanced critical thinking and inductive reasoning, crafting tailored coverage structures, endorsements, and rating adjustments that balance profitability and competitiveness.Comprehensive written underwriting analyses — produce for management, reinsurers, and external partners, articulating risk rationale, pricing rationale, and policy conditions with precision and clarity.Reinsurance arrangements — structure and authorize independently for high-exposure risks, coordinating with reinsurance markets and internal actuarial teams to protect company solvency.Portfolio concentration and catastrophe accumulation risks — assess across a book of business, leveraging information retrieval tools and financial analysis software to recommend corrective action.Underwriting policy exceptions — evaluate and approve or deny using sound judgment and established authority levels, documenting decisions to withstand regulatory and audit scrutiny.Cross-functional communication — lead discussions with agents, brokers, claims professionals, and legal counsel to resolve coverage disputes and negotiate complex account terms.Substandard risk pricing — develop and apply sophisticated rating methodologies ensuring safe and profitable distribution of risk across diverse product lines and market segments.Regulatory compliance requirements — interpret and integrate into underwriting workflows, ensuring all decisions and communications meet state, federal, and company standards.Mentorship of junior underwriters — provide on complex case reviews, sharing technical knowledge of risk evaluation, correspondence, and decision documentation to accelerate team capability.
advanced
Underwriting appetite and risk tolerance strategy — define at the organizational level, setting guidelines that govern acceptable risk selection across all product lines and market segments.Departmental underwriting policies and authority matrices — design, approve, and communicate to ensure consistent, profitable, and compliant decision-making across the full underwriting team.Enterprise-wide catastrophe and concentration exposure frameworks — lead the development of, integrating actuarial, reinsurance, and market intelligence to protect long-term organizational financial health.Reinsurance program strategy — negotiate and establish at the executive level, structuring treaties and facultative arrangements that optimize risk transfer, capacity, and cost for the organization.Underwriting performance metrics and portfolio results — monitor and report to senior leadership and board stakeholders, using ERP and financial analysis platforms to drive data-informed strategic adjustments.Organizational talent pipeline — build by creating structured training programs, career pathways, and coaching systems that elevate underwriting competency from emerging to proficient levels across the department.Emerging market risks and industry trends — anticipate and translate into new product development, revised underwriting guidelines, and competitive positioning strategies for the organization.Regulatory and legislative developments — represent the organization before regulators and industry bodies, shaping policy positions and ensuring enterprise-wide compliance with evolving insurance laws.Cross-functional leadership alignment — facilitate between underwriting, claims, actuarial, sales, and technology departments to drive integrated solutions for complex systemic risk and operational challenges.Organizational risk culture and ethical standards — champion through visible leadership, reinforcing values of cautiousness, integrity, and accountability that define the enterprise's approach to underwriting excellence.
Also known as
38 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Surety UnderwriterCasualty UnderwriterUnderwriting ExecutivePersonal Lines UnderwriterInland Marine UnderwriterBond UnderwriterWholesale UnderwriterField UnderwriterCredit UnderwriterCommercial UnderwriterInsurance WriterUnderwriting ConsultantManagement Liability UnderwriterInsurance UnderwriterAccount Manager UnderwriterUnderwriting Service RepresentativeUnderwriterDirect Endorsement Underwriter (DE Underwriter)Commercial Credit UnderwriterAutomobile and Property UnderwriterAccount UnderwriterStop Loss UnderwriterUnderwriting AnalystMarine UnderwriterGroup Underwriting ConsultantProfessional Liability UnderwriterInsurance AnalystUnderwriting SpecialistLife UnderwriterProduction UnderwriterMiddle Market UnderwriterUnderwriting AssociateHealth UnderwriterCommercial Insurance UnderwriterProperty UnderwriterExcess Casualty UnderwriterUnderwriting Account RepresentativeCommercial Lines Underwriter