Insurance Underwriter Salary in Madison, WI
Insurance Underwriters in the Madison, WI metro area earn a median $95,130 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $72,093 take-home, or $6,008 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median insurance underwriter salary in Madison, WI. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,099
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,898
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,379
- Wisconsin income tax$3,661
- Take-home pay$72,093
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.30% state
Insurance Underwriter pay by experience in Madison, WI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,920 | $30.25 | $50,749 | $4,229 |
| 25th percentile | $76,550 | $36.80 | $60,006 | $5,001 |
| Median (50th) | $95,130 | $45.74 | $72,093 | $6,008 |
| 75th percentile | $111,630 | $53.67 | $82,826 | $6,902 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,870 | $63.88 | $96,421 | $8,035 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Wisconsin resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $95,130 buys in Madison, WI
Prices in Madison, WI are 2.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 0% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median insurance underwriter's $72,093 take-home pay has the buying power of $74,103 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Madison, WI has 1.7× 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
Madison, WI ranks #2 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 →
Insurance Underwriter salaries elsewhere in Wisconsin
- Milwaukee, WI — $106,570
Frequently asked questions
How much does a insurance underwriter make in Madison, WI?
The median insurance underwriter salary in the Madison, WI metro area is $95,130 a year, or about $45.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,550 and $111,630.
What is a insurance underwriter’s take-home pay in Madison, WI?
On the median $95,130 salary, a single filer living in Wisconsin takes home about $72,093 a year ($6,008 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,661 in Wisconsin taxes in 2026.
Is Madison, WI a good place to work as a insurance underwriter?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $81,370. Local prices are 2.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $74,103 would in a typical U.S. city. Madison, WI ranks #2 of 43 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a insurance underwriter afford rent in Madison, WI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Madison, WI is $1,377 a month ($1,600 for two bedrooms) — 23% of a median insurance underwriter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Madison, WI
- Personal Financial Advisor — $126,000
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $103,750
- Project Management Specialist — $98,990
- Management Analyst — $97,170
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $81,200
- Accountant and Auditor — $81,130
- Compliance Officer — $80,440
- Logistician — $79,910
- Loan Officer — $78,840
- Training and Development Specialist — $77,500
- Human Resources Specialist — $76,660
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $76,230