Insurance Underwriter Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Insurance Underwriters in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $77,740 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,785 take-home, or $5,149 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median insurance underwriter salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,273
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,820
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,127
- Arizona income tax$1,735
- Take-home pay$61,785
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.50% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Insurance Underwriter pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,770 | $28.25 | $48,141 | $4,012 |
| 25th percentile | $62,630 | $30.11 | $51,146 | $4,262 |
| Median (50th) | $77,740 | $37.38 | $61,785 | $5,149 |
| 75th percentile | $101,390 | $48.75 | $77,832 | $6,486 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,450 | $61.27 | $95,401 | $7,950 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,740 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median insurance underwriter's $61,785 take-home pay has the buying power of $59,802 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Phoenix, AZ has 1.9× the national concentration of insurance underwriter jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for insurance underwriters, adjusted for cost of living
Phoenix, AZ ranks #6 of 6 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $99,840 | $74,270 | $71,693 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $95,430 | $71,635 | $71,593 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $98,410 | $73,295 | $65,115 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $84,580 | $65,735 | $64,098 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $79,590 | $64,822 | $62,879 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $77,740 | $61,785 | $59,802 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 6 metros →
About the job: insurance underwriters
Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.8% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a insurance underwriter make in Phoenix, AZ?
The median insurance underwriter salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $77,740 a year, or about $37.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,630 and $101,390.
What is a insurance underwriter’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $77,740 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $61,785 a year ($5,149 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,735 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a insurance underwriter?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $81,370. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $59,802 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #6 of 6 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a insurance underwriter afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median insurance underwriter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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