Prevailing Wage for Insurance Underwriters
Prevailing wage for Insurance Underwriters is set by the DOL across four experience levels, and the floor shifts considerably depending on where the worksite sits. Whether your offer is for a Commercial Lines Underwriter, a Personal Lines Underwriter, or an Account Underwriter role, the location-specific wage floor is what your employer must certify on the LCA.
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Entry-level underwriters with limited experience, typically recent graduates or those new to independent risk assessment. Work is closely supervised, assignments are routine, and the role involves applying standard underwriting guidelines rather than exercising independent judgment on complex accounts.
Qualified underwriters with moderate experience who handle a defined book of business with some independence. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Insurance Underwriters, reflecting roles that require applied knowledge of risk evaluation but remain within established guidelines.
Experienced underwriters who exercise significant independent judgment, manage complex or specialty lines, and may mentor junior staff. These professionals typically own a substantial portfolio and make consequential risk decisions with minimal supervisory oversight on day-to-day cases.
Fully competent senior underwriters operating at the top of the occupation, often leading a practice area, setting underwriting guidelines, or managing key accounts. These roles require comprehensive mastery of the occupation and typically involve cross-functional or strategic responsibilities.
Prevailing Wage for Insurance Underwriters by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Insurance Underwriters and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Distinguish commercial lines titles before accepting
Commercial Lines Underwriter and Personal Lines Underwriter roles sometimes get filed under adjacent SOC codes for financial analysts or claims adjusters. Confirm your offer letter and the LCA both reference SOC 13-2053 so the correct prevailing wage floor applies to your sponsored position.
Factor out bonus when comparing to the floor
Many insurance carriers structure compensation with a significant annual performance bonus tied to loss ratios or book profitability. DOL prevailing wage compliance counts only guaranteed base salary, so verify your base alone clears the certified wage level before evaluating the total package.
Watch the wage gap between coastal and inland markets
The prevailing wage spread between top-paying metros like Denver and Seattle versus lower-cost areas like Scranton can be substantial across all four levels. If your employer operates a remote or hybrid model, confirm which worksite city appears on the LCA, since that location controls the floor.
Find carriers with Insurance Underwriter sponsorship history on Migrate Mate
Large insurance carriers and specialty lines firms vary significantly in how often they sponsor underwriters. Migrate Mate shows each employer's historical visa sponsorship counts, letting you identify which companies have actually sponsored Insurance Underwriter roles rather than relying on unverified employer claims.
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Find Jobs for Insurance UnderwritersPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 13-2053.00 alongside Insurance Underwriters, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Account Underwriter Prevailing Wage
Account Underwriter Prevailing Wage
Account Underwriter positions fall under SOC 13-2053.00 (Insurance Underwriters). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Automobile and Property Underwriter Prevailing Wage
Automobile and Property Underwriter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Automobile and Property Underwriter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-2053.00 (Insurance Underwriters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Commercial Lines Underwriter Prevailing Wage
Commercial Lines Underwriter Prevailing Wage
Commercial Lines Underwriter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-2053.00 (Insurance Underwriters). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Health Underwriter Prevailing Wage
Health Underwriter Prevailing Wage
Health Underwriter positions fall under SOC 13-2053.00 (Insurance Underwriters). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Life Underwriter Prevailing Wage
Life Underwriter Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Life Underwriter for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-2053.00 (Insurance Underwriters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Personal Lines Underwriter Prevailing Wage
Personal Lines Underwriter Prevailing Wage
Personal Lines Underwriter is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-2053.00 (Insurance Underwriters). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Underwriter Prevailing Wage
Underwriter Prevailing Wage
Underwriter positions fall under SOC 13-2053.00 (Insurance Underwriters). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Underwriting Consultant Prevailing Wage
Underwriting Consultant Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Underwriting Consultant for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-2053.00 (Insurance Underwriters). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Insurance Underwriters?
DOL bases prevailing wages for Insurance Underwriters on Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan areas. For each area, DOL calculates four wage levels anchored to the local wage distribution for SOC 13-2053. Employers must certify on the LCA that their offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level positions with close supervision and routine assignments. Level 2 applies to qualified underwriters working with moderate independence, and it is the level employers most commonly certify for Insurance Underwriters. Level 3 reflects experienced professionals exercising significant judgment, and Level 4 applies to fully competent senior practitioners. OFLC assigns the level based on job duties, supervision, and complexity described in the LCA, not job title alone.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same underwriting role differ so much by city?
DOL conducts regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys that capture actual wages paid in each metro. Markets with dense concentrations of large insurance carriers, reinsurers, and specialty lines firms push local wages higher. Because the LCA must list the actual worksite address, the prevailing wage for that specific metro controls compliance, regardless of where the employer is headquartered or where you primarily work from.
What happens if my job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with an offered wage below the applicable prevailing wage for that worksite and level. USCIS will reject an H-1B petition or PERM application where the wage attestation is deficient. If the offer is below the floor, the employer must either increase the base salary to the required level or reclassify the position, since the prevailing wage is a legal minimum for sponsored roles, not a negotiating benchmark.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Insurance Underwriters in a specific U.S. location?
The OFLC Wage Search tool lets you look up the current four-level prevailing wage for SOC 13-2053 in any metropolitan area covered by DOL surveys. Enter the occupation code and select your worksite metro to see the certified wage floor for each level. To identify employers who have historically sponsored Insurance Underwriters and filter open roles by location, Migrate Mate shows company-level sponsorship history so you can target active sponsors.
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