Insurance Underwriters
Machines can already do 44% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 68%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Insurance Underwriters in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 44% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 6% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2029, and 68% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 105,420 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $81,370 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 72% for contact with people.
- Also called: Account Underwriter, Automobile and Property Underwriter, Commercial Lines Underwriter, Health Underwriter.
- Competency here means how well the best AI model, tool or robot available can do a task, scored out of 100: today using the best available now, and for later years the 311 prediction of what AI and robots will be able to do.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examine documents to determine degree of risk from factors such as applicant health, financial standing and value, and condition of property | 42% | 42% to 65% | |
| Write to field representatives, medical personnel, or others to obtain further information, quote rates, or explain company underwriting policies | 21% | 40% to 68% | |
| 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 | 16% | 25% to 50% | |
| Review company records to determine amount of insurance in force on single risk or group of closely related risks | 8% | 70% to 95% | |
| Evaluate possibility of losses due to catastrophe or excessive insurance | 7% | 60% to 90% | |
| Decline excessive risks | 5% | 85% to 87% | |
| Authorize reinsurance of policy when risk is high | 3% | 25% to 50% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills insurance underwriters use most, most used first.
Human value: what makes people in this job hard to replace
How much insurance underwriters rely on each one, from 0 to 10. 311 estimates, low confidence.
- Go-to problem solver6/10
- Trust and reliability8/10
- Know-how about the organisation2/10
- Network and relationships5/10
- Mentoring and developing others2/10
- Culture and morale4/10
- Initiative beyond the role3/10
- Calm in a crisis4/10
- Bridge between teams1/10
- Reputation and influence6/10
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Gambling Dealers58% of tasks by 2035 · US median $34,320
- Ophthalmic Medical Technicians52% of tasks by 2035 · US median $45,570
- Parking Attendants66% of tasks by 2035 · US median $35,150
- Cashiers65% of tasks by 2035 · US median $32,880
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Insurance Underwriters?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2029. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of insurance underwriters?
Machines can do 44% of the tasks of insurance underwriters today and 68% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 13-2053.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring, forecast and human value: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit (human value scores are 311 estimates, low confidence); after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Insurance Underwriters: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/insurance-underwriters/