Insurance Underwriters Salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Insurance Underwriters in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN make a median of $98,860 a year, or about $47.53 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $161K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $95,434 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 28.5% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $99K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
About insurance underwriters
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level insurance underwriters (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K.Top earners bring in $161K or more - a $100K spread from bottom to top.
Insurance Underwriters pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $107K | +34% | 240 |
| District of Columbia | $101K | +26% | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $100K | +25% | 3,440 |
| Maine | $97K | +21% | 610 |
| New Hampshire | $96K | +20% | 320 |
| Connecticut | $95K | +20% | 2,670 |
| Washington | $95K | +19% | 2,000 |
| New Jersey | $94K | +17% | 3,170 |
| Maryland | $89K | +11% | 1,100 |
| Nevada | $87K | +9% | 520 |
| California | $87K | +9% | 7,300 |
| Illinois | $85K | +6% | 8,480 |
| New York | $84K | +5% | 7,530 |
| South Dakota | $83K | +4% | 240 |
| Kansas | $82K | +3% | 1,290 |
Track insurance underwriters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do insurance underwriters make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $98,860 a year - that works out to about $47.53 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,490, and experienced insurance underwriters can clear $160,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,087/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 29.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a insurance underwriters salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median insurance underwriters salary is worth about $95,434 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do insurance underwriters get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.