Insurance Underwriters Salary
Insurance Underwriters in Montana make a median of $63,140 a year, or about $30.36 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $65,093 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 27.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in Montana?
About insurance underwriters
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for insurance underwriters in Montana runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $81K. Rent runs $1,129/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level insurance underwriters (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $81K spread from bottom to top.
Insurance Underwriters salary by metro in Montana
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $81K | +28% | 40 |
| Missoula | $63K | -0% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track insurance underwriters salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a insurance underwriter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 27% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for insurance underwriters in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new insurance underwriters typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,017/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is insurance underwriter a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $63K here vs. $81K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for insurance underwriters?
Montana pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — below the national median.
How much do insurance underwriters make in Montana?
The median is $63,140 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,280, and experienced insurance underwriters can clear $130,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,179/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 27% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median insurance underwriters salary is worth about $65,093 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.