Insurance Underwriter Salary in Seattle, WA
Insurance Underwriters in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $100,130 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $79,271 take-home, or $6,606 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median insurance underwriter salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,199
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,208
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,452
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$79,271
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Insurance Underwriter pay by experience in Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,660 | $31.09 | $54,134 | $4,511 |
| 25th percentile | $79,910 | $38.42 | $65,047 | $5,421 |
| Median (50th) | $100,130 | $48.14 | $79,271 | $6,606 |
| 75th percentile | $133,260 | $64.07 | $102,349 | $8,529 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,760 | $79.21 | $123,879 | $10,323 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,130 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median insurance underwriter's $79,271 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,330 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for insurance underwriters, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #8 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 Seattle, WA?
The median insurance underwriter salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $100,130 a year, or about $48.14 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $79,910 and $133,260.
What is a insurance underwriter’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $100,130 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $79,271 a year ($6,606 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a insurance underwriter?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $81,370. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,330 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #8 of 43 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a insurance underwriter afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median insurance underwriter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Seattle, WA
- Financial Risk Specialist — $134,330
- Project Management Specialist — $130,380
- Management Analyst — $126,340
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $124,790
- Labor Relations Specialist — $119,200
- Personal Financial Advisor — $114,540
- Logistician — $108,920
- Budget Analyst — $104,090
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $102,170
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $101,920
- Accountant and Auditor — $99,370
- Property Appraiser and Assessor — $98,020