Insurance Underwriter Salary in Boston, MA
Insurance Underwriters in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $106,170 a year — 30% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,432 take-home, or $6,536 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median insurance underwriter salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,527
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,583
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,539
- Massachusetts income tax$5,089
- Take-home pay$78,432
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Insurance Underwriter pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,230 | $35.69 | $57,559 | $4,797 |
| 25th percentile | $81,100 | $38.99 | $62,049 | $5,171 |
| Median (50th) | $106,170 | $51.04 | $78,432 | $6,536 |
| 75th percentile | $135,360 | $65.08 | $97,237 | $8,103 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,360 | $81.42 | $118,776 | $9,898 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $106,170 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median insurance underwriter's $78,432 take-home pay has the buying power of $72,444 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Insurance Underwriter jobs are about as common in Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for insurance underwriters, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #5 of 43 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee, WI | $106,570 | $79,534 | $82,047 |
| 2 | Madison, WI | $95,130 | $72,093 | $74,103 |
| 3 | Hartford, CT | $100,690 | $75,702 | $73,679 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $101,840 | $76,702 | $72,509 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $106,170 | $78,432 | $72,444 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $99,840 | $74,270 | $71,693 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $95,430 | $71,635 | $71,593 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $100,130 | $79,271 | $71,330 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 43 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a insurance underwriter make in Boston, MA?
The median insurance underwriter salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $106,170 a year, or about $51.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $81,100 and $135,360.
What is a insurance underwriter’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $106,170 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $78,432 a year ($6,536 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,089 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a insurance underwriter?
Pay here is 30% above the national median of $81,370. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $72,444 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #5 of 43 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a insurance underwriter afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median insurance underwriter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
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- Financial Risk Specialist — $132,580
- Labor Relations Specialist — $118,520
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $117,520
- Project Management Specialist — $114,990
- Financial Examiner — $105,230
- Compliance Officer — $103,940
- Loan Officer — $103,400
- Cost Estimator — $102,640
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $102,390
- Credit Analyst — $101,890
- Logistician — $101,540