Insurance Underwriter Salary in Washington, DC
Insurance Underwriters in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $90,990 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $68,076 take-home, or $5,673 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median insurance underwriter salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,188
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,641
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,319
- District of Columbia income tax$4,766
- Take-home pay$68,076
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Insurance Underwriter pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,500 | $31.49 | $51,998 | $4,333 |
| 25th percentile | $74,670 | $35.90 | $57,953 | $4,829 |
| Median (50th) | $90,990 | $43.75 | $68,076 | $5,673 |
| 75th percentile | $117,330 | $56.41 | $84,367 | $7,031 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,320 | $76.12 | $108,989 | $9,082 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $90,990 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median insurance underwriter's $68,076 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,521 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 less concentrated in Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.43), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for insurance underwriters, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #33 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 |
| 33 | Washington, DC | $90,990 | $68,076 | $62,521 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median insurance underwriter salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $90,990 a year, or about $43.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $74,670 and $117,330.
What is a insurance underwriter’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $90,990 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $68,076 a year ($5,673 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,766 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a insurance underwriter?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $81,370. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,521 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #33 of 43 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a insurance underwriter afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median insurance underwriter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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