Insurance underwriters
SOC Code: 13-2053
Insurance underwriters carries a 45% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $79,880 and -2.6% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 127,000 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 45% AI exposure, Insurance underwriters sits 8 points above the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 79% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Where Insurance underwriters sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Insurance underwriters has ai exposure of 45%. Distribution: 1 occupations at 0-10%; 43 occupations at 10-20%; 184 occupations at 20-30%; 332 occupations at 30-40%; 158 occupations at 40-50%; 64 occupations at 50-60%; 29 occupations at 60-70%; 15 occupations at 70-80%; 5 occupations at 80-90%; 1 occupations at 90-100%.
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Insurance underwriters vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Insurance underwriters is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Insurance underwriters (SOC 13-2053) carries an AI exposure score of 45%, placing it in the High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 127,000 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a -2.6% change through 2034 - a decline that often compounds with high AI exposure to create displacement headwinds. Median annual compensation stands at $79,880, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Bachelor's degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Insurance underwriters. Public companies with meaningful exposure to this occupation, such as Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and Price T Rowe Group Inc, inherit a share of the same automation risk through their industry classification. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Examine documents to determine degree of risk from factors such as applicant health, financial standing and value, and condition of property.
- 2. Decline excessive risks.
- 3. Write to field representatives, medical personnel, or others to obtain further information, quote rates, or explain company underwriting policies.
- 4. Evaluate possibility of losses due to catastrophe or excessive insurance.
- 5. Review company records to determine amount of insurance in force on single risk or group of closely related risks.
- 6. Decrease value of policy when risk is substandard and specify applicable endorsements or apply rating to ensure safe, profitable distribution of risks, using reference materials.
- 7. Authorize reinsurance of policy when risk is high.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Active Learning
- Complex Problem Solving
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
Knowledge Areas
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Sales and Marketing
- Administrative
- Economics and Accounting
- Law and Government
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
- Psychology
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Insurance underwriters?
Insurance underwriters has an AI exposure score of 45%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Insurance underwriters?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Insurance underwriters is projected to decline by 2.6% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 127,000 workers.
What skills are needed for Insurance underwriters?
Key skills for Insurance underwriters include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, and others. Typical entry-level education is Bachelor's degree.
How much do Insurance underwriters earn?
The median annual wage for Insurance underwriters is $79,880, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Insurance underwriters?
The typical entry-level education for Insurance underwriters is Bachelor's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Moderate-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Insurance underwriters?
Public companies with significant Insurance underwriters workforce shares include Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Price T Rowe Group Inc, Popular, Inc., among others. These employers are mapped by industry classification (SIC/NAICS) to BLS occupation-industry employment distributions. See the full employer rankings for AI displacement risk grades.
Employers with High AI Exposure in This Occupation Group
Public companies whose industry occupation mix includes a significant share of Insurance underwriters roles.
| Company | AI Grade | Risk Score |
|---|---|---|
| Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. | D | 50.5% |
| Price T Rowe Group Inc | D | 50.5% |
| Popular, Inc. | D | 50.5% |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc | D | 50.5% |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co | D | 50.5% |
| Bank Of America Corp /De/ | D | 50.5% |
| Hsbc Holdings PLC | D | 50.5% |
| Unitedhealth Group Inc | D | 50.5% |
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 7 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
Related Occupations
Career Guides
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).