12202 – Insurance underwriters
Lead statement
Insurance underwriters review and evaluate insurance applications to determine insurance risks, insurance premiums and extent of insurance coverage according to company policies.
Main duties
- Review individual and group applications for automobile, fire, health, liability, life, property, marine, aircraft and other insurance
- Evaluate new and renewal applications to determine insurance risks, insurance premiums, extent of insurance coverage and other conditions of the insurance contract using medical reports, rate tables and other documents and reference materials; adjust premiums, coverage or risk itself to make acceptance of new and renewal applications possible
- Approve sale of insurance policies and ensure compliance with government regulations
- Provide recommendations on individual or group insurance plan designs
- Provide underwriting advice and answer inquiries from clients and from insurance agents, consultants and other company personnel
- Prepare underwriting reports and update insurance forms when necessary.
Employment requirements
- Completion of secondary school and some general insurance experience ora bachelor's degree, college diploma or some post-secondary education is required.
- Several years of on-the-job training and completion of insurance industry underwriting courses and training programs are required.
Example job titles
accident and sickness underwriter - insurance · assistant underwriter - insurance · automobile underwriter - insurance · boiler and machinery underwriter - insurance · casualty underwriter - insurance · commercial underwriter - insurance · farm underwriter - insurance · fire underwriter - insurance · group underwriter · group underwriter - insurance · home office underwriter - insurance · head office underwriter - insurance · insurance underwriter · underwriter - insurance · junior underwriter - insurance · public liability underwriter - insurance · marine underwriter - insurance · package underwriter - insurance · property underwriter · property underwriter - insurance · reinsurance underwriter - insurance · senior underwriter - insurance · marine and aircraft underwriter - insurance · surety underwriter - insurance · casualty insurance products analyst-designer · insurance rating analyst · automobile and home insurance consultant · personal lines underwriter · life underwriter · liability underwriter
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $25.00 | $34.62 | $51.28 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $20.00 | $28.85 | $44.23 |
| Nova Scotia | $17.66 | $28.59 | $64.10 |
| New Brunswick | $22.50 | $29.21 | $44.23 |
| Quebec | $29.19 | $35.71 | $49.52 |
| Ontario | $24.73 | $33.65 | $48.35 |
| Manitoba | $23.08 | $31.25 | $48.08 |
| Saskatchewan | $25.96 | $30.77 | $41.67 |
| Alberta | $29.00 | $38.46 | $70.67 |
| British Columbia | $26.92 | $34.07 | $62.50 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.