Insurance Underwriters Salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Insurance Underwriters in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA make a median of $94,210 a year, or about $45.3 an hour. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $173K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 115.61), so that salary is closer to $81,489 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,604/month — about 60.9% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $94K get you in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
About insurance underwriters
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Entry-level insurance underwriters (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $94K.Top earners bring in $173K or more - a $97K 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do insurance underwriters make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median is $94,210 a year - that works out to about $45.3 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,200, and experienced insurance underwriters can clear $172,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $94K enough to live in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,814/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,604/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 62% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb - housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a insurance underwriters salary go in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has a Regional Price Parity of 115.61 (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 $81,489 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.