Insurance Underwriter salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Insurance Underwriters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $79,830 a year ($38.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,490 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $81,370. Pay here is 4% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $77,120. There are 0.18 insurance underwriters per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.26). The average (mean) salary is $92,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for insurance underwriters in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,000 | $24.52 |
| 25th percentile | $60,380 | $29.03 |
| Median | $79,830 | $38.38 |
| 75th percentile | $103,640 | $49.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,490 | $71.87 |
| Average (mean) | $92,020 | $44.24 |
Half of insurance underwriters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,652.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,326.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,070.38 |
| Weekly | $1,535.19 |
| Hourly | $38.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $79,830 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Insurance Underwriter salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $80,080 | 1,140 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $79,210 | 520 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $77,980 | 470 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $75,930 | 150 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $75,840 | 140 |
| Burlington, NC | $58,790 | 40 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $58,110 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for insurance underwriters
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $106,640 |
| New Hampshire | $103,940 |
| Nevada | $101,440 |
| Connecticut | $100,690 |
| Colorado | $100,640 |
| Washington | $99,400 |
| New York | $97,450 |
| Wisconsin | $97,370 |
| New Jersey | $96,220 |
| Maine | $95,510 |
See Insurance Underwriter pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,090 | $40.91 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $63,300 | $30.43 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $102,140 | $49.11 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $83,650 | $40.22 |
| Loan Officer | $64,130 | $30.83 |
| Budget Analyst | $82,350 | $39.59 |
| Tax Preparer | $57,090 | $27.45 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $65,050 | $31.27 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $109,770 | $52.78 |
| Credit Analyst | $77,750 | $37.38 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $95,460 | $45.89 |
| Project Management Specialist | $104,870 | $50.42 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $93,110 | $44.76 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $81,100 | $38.99 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2053. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a insurance underwriter make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for insurance underwriters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $79,830 a year, or $38.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid insurance underwriters make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of insurance underwriters in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $149,490 a year. The top 25% earn $103,640 or more.
What is the starting pay for insurance underwriters in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,000 a year, and a quarter of insurance underwriters earn $60,380 or less.
How many insurance underwriters work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 60 insurance underwriters are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.