Insurance Underwriter Salary in St. Louis, MO
Insurance Underwriters in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $82,270 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,778 take-home, or $5,315 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median insurance underwriter salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,269
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,101
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,193
- Missouri income tax$2,929
- Take-home pay$63,778
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.70% state
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Insurance Underwriter pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,360 | $28.54 | $48,023 | $4,002 |
| 25th percentile | $65,080 | $31.29 | $52,350 | $4,363 |
| Median (50th) | $82,270 | $39.55 | $63,778 | $5,315 |
| 75th percentile | $99,660 | $47.91 | $75,194 | $6,266 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,360 | $61.23 | $93,268 | $7,772 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,270 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median insurance underwriter's $63,778 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,072 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for insurance underwriters, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | St. Louis, MO | $82,270 | $63,778 | $67,072 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $84,800
Frequently asked questions
How much does a insurance underwriter make in St. Louis, MO?
The median insurance underwriter salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $82,270 a year, or about $39.55 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,080 and $99,660.
What is a insurance underwriter’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $82,270 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $63,778 a year ($5,315 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,929 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a insurance underwriter?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $81,370. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,072 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #14 of 43 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a insurance underwriter afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median insurance underwriter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
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