Insurance Underwriters pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $125,590 or more. The middle half of insurance underwriters in Columbia earn between $59,740 and $99,370.
- $51K10th
- $60K25th
- $75KMedian
- $99K75th
- $126K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,770 | $6,898 | $39.79 |
| Median | $75,290 | $6,274 | $36.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,740 | $4,978 | $28.72 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $99,370 | $8,281 | $47.77 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Insurance Underwriters pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Insurance underwriters in Columbia earn 6% less than the South Carolina average ($87,610) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($93,700). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $81,370.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $82,770 | $75,290 | $51,020 | $125,590 | 300 |
| South Carolina | $87,610 | $79,570 | $51,020 | $134,950 | 910 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $82,770, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $63,886 a year, or $5,324 a month and $2,457 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 Columbia a good place for insurance underwriters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $82,770 buys what about $88,371 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Insurance Underwriters salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 3rd of 3 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($88,160).
- Charleston$88,160
- Greenville$87,390
- Columbia$82,770
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 Columbia: questions
How much do insurance underwriters make an hour in Columbia?
$39.79 an hour on average, and $36.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level insurance underwriters salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,740, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the insurance underwriters take-home pay in Columbia?
About $63,886 a year ($5,324 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,770.
Do insurance underwriters earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 1.13, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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