Insurance Underwriters pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $149,490 or more. The middle half of insurance underwriters in Durham earn between $60,380 and $103,640.
- $51K10th
- $60K25th
- $80KMedian
- $104K75th
- $149K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $92,020 | $7,668 | $44.24 |
| Median | $79,830 | $6,652 | $38.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,380 | $5,032 | $29.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $103,640 | $8,637 | $49.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Insurance Underwriters pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Insurance underwriters in Durham earn 10% more than the North Carolina average ($83,920) and about the same as the U.S. average ($93,700). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $81,370.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $92,020 | $79,830 | $51,000 | $149,490 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $83,920 | $77,120 | $48,560 | $129,980 | 3,460 |
| United States | $93,700 | $81,370 | $55,530 | $145,160 | 105,420 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Insurance Underwriters salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $92,020, a single filer in Durham takes home about $70,403 a year, or $5,867 a month and $2,708 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for insurance underwriters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $92,020 buys what about $94,310 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Insurance Underwriters salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 1st of 7 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Durham$92,020
- Charlotte$88,510
- Raleigh$84,810
- Winston-Salem$82,180
- Greensboro$79,090
- Goldsboro$79,000
- Burlington$65,630
Highest-paying cities for insurance underwriters
Bridgeport, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($127,970).
- Bridgeport, CT$127,970
- Boston, MA$115,600
- Denver, CO$115,260
- Seattle, WA$114,200
- Manchester, NH$112,530
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Insurance Underwriters salary in Durham: questions
How much do insurance underwriters make an hour in Durham?
$44.24 an hour on average, and $38.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level insurance underwriters salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the insurance underwriters take-home pay in Durham?
About $70,403 a year ($5,867 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $92,020.
Do insurance underwriters earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($93,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-2053; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.26, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.26).
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