Insurance Underwriters vs Medical Assistants: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Insurance Underwriters professionals earn $35,680 more per year than Medical Assistants professionals — that's 80.7% higher. At the 90th percentile, Insurance Underwriters earns $138,020 compared to $57,830 for Medical Assistants.
Salary Range Comparison
Insurance Underwriters$51,640 – $138,020
Medical Assistants$35,020 – $57,830
$35,020$138,020
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Insurance Underwriters | Medical Assistants | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $51,640 | $35,020 | +$16,620 |
| 25th Percentile | $63,070 | $37,610 | +$25,460 |
| Median (50th) | $79,880 | $44,200 | +$35,680 |
| 75th Percentile | $104,820 | $48,160 | +$56,660 |
| 90th Percentile | $138,020 | $57,830 | +$80,190 |
| Mean (Average) | $90,830 | $44,720 | +$46,110 |
Employment Numbers
Insurance Underwriters
107,820
employed nationwide
Medical Assistants
793,460
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Insurance Underwriters
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | $106,380 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $103,270 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $98,860 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $98,500 |
| Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT | $98,400 |
Best Cities for Medical Assistants
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $62,570 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $62,290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $59,910 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $58,850 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $52,040 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Insurance Underwriters or Medical Assistants?
Insurance Underwriters professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $35,680 (80.7% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Insurance Underwriters?
Insurance Underwriters salaries range from $51,640 (10th percentile) to $138,020 (90th percentile), with a median of $79,880.
What is the salary range for Medical Assistants?
Medical Assistants salaries range from $35,020 (10th percentile) to $57,830 (90th percentile), with a median of $44,200.
How many Insurance Underwriters and Medical Assistants jobs are there?
There are approximately 107,820 Insurance Underwriters positions and 793,460 Medical Assistants positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Medical Assistants to Insurance Underwriters?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Insurance Underwriters has a median salary of $79,880 while Medical Assistants earns $44,200. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS