Career Occupational Profile for: Insurance Underwriters
Review individual applications for insurance to evaluate degree of risk involved and determine acceptance of applications.
Signficant Points
- Most large insurance companies prefer to hire people who have a college degree in business administration or finance with courses in accounting.
- Continuing education is necessary for advancement.
- Employment is expected to grow more slowly than average as the spread of underwriting software increases worker productivity.
- Job opportunities should be best for those with a background in finance and strong computer and communication skills.
Earnings
Median annual earnings of wage and salary insurance underwriters were $52,350 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $40,000 and $71,070 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,270, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $92,240. Median annual earnings of underwriters working with insurance carriers were $52,900, while underwriters’ median annual earnings in agencies, brokerages, and other insurance related activities were $51,820.
Insurance companies usually provide better-than-average benefits, including retirement plans and employer-financed group life and health insurance. Insurance companies usually pay tuition for underwriting courses that their trainees complete, and some also offer salary incentives.
Job Outlook
Although growth is expected to be more slowly than the average for all occupations, job prospects will remain good because of the continuous turnover experienced in this occupation.
Employment change. Employment of underwriters is expected to grow by 6 percent during the 2006-16 decade, which is slower than the average for all occupations. Underwriting software will continue to make workers more productive, but it does not do away with the need for human skills. As a result, employment of underwriters will increase as a growing economy and population expands the insurance needs of businesses and individuals.
Demand for underwriters also is expected to improve as insurance carriers try to restore profitability to make up for an unusually large number of underwriting losses in recent years. As the carriers’ returns on their investments have declined, insurers are placing more emphasis on underwriting to generate revenues. This renewed interest in underwriting should result in some long-term growth for underwriters.
Job prospects. Job opportunities should be best for those with experience in related insurance jobs, a background in finance, and strong computer and communication skills. In addition to openings arising from job growth, openings also will be created by the need to replace underwriters who retire or transfer to another occupation.
New and emerging fields of insurance will be the source of the most job opportunities for underwriters. Insurance carriers are always assessing new risks and offering new types of policies to meet changing circumstances. Underwriters are needed particularly in the area of product development, where they assess risks and set the premiums for new lines of insurance. One new line of insurance being offered by life insurance carriers is long-term care insurance and it may provide job opportunities for underwriters.
Employment
Insurance underwriters held about 104,000 jobs in 2006. Insurance carriers employed 65 percent of all underwriters. Most of the remaining underwriters work in insurance agencies or for organizations that offer insurance services to insurance companies and policyholders. A small number of underwriters work in agencies owned and operated by banks, mortgage companies, and real estate firms.
Most underwriters are based in the insurance company’s home office, but some, mainly in the property and casualty area, work out of regional branch offices of the insurance company. These underwriters usually have the authority to underwrite most risks and determine an appropriate rating without consulting the home office.