Insurance Underwriters Salary in Des Moines, IA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Median annual salary $81,280 +1.8% vs national
Median hourly $39.08
10th percentile $52,840
90th percentile $172,240
Employed locally 1,000
National median $79,880

Compare Insurance Underwriters salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Des Moines, IA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Insurance Underwriters
in
Des Moines, IA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $52,840
    25th
    $62,980
    50th (median)
    $81,280
    75th
    $108,440
    90th
    $172,240

    Des Moines economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.00% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $84,209 2023 • Census ACS
    Insurance Underwriters salary vs area income 97% Median Insurance Underwriters salary is 3% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Insurance Underwriters

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area $129,950
    Vermont $106,790
    Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area $106,790
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $106,380
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $103,270
    District of Columbia $100,660

    Nearby metros — Insurance Underwriters salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $106,380
    District of Columbia $100,660
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $93,240
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $89,990
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $89,630
    California $87,200

    Related occupations in Des Moines, IA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Accountants and Auditors $77,630
    Business Operations Specialists, All Other $84,070
    Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $79,090
    Management Analysts $80,260
    Human Resources Specialists $69,120
    Project Management Specialists $93,440

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Insurance Underwriters make per hour in Des Moines?

    The median hourly wage for Insurance Underwriters in Des Moines, IA is $39.08, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $85.19 or more per hour.

    Is Des Moines above or below average for Insurance Underwriters salaries?

    The median Insurance Underwriters salary in Des Moines, IA is 1.8% above the national median of $79,880. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Insurance Underwriters in Des Moines?

    Entry-level Insurance Underwriters (10th percentile) earn around $52,840 per year in Des Moines, IA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $62,980.