Your occupation is a factor in life insurance underwriting because certain jobs carry higher mortality risk than others. Carriers evaluate occupations based on physical danger, environmental hazards, stress levels, and overall mortality statistics for that profession. Most white-collar and standard occupations have no impact on premiums, while high-risk occupations may result in a flat extra premium charge, table rating, or exclusion.
Occupations that commonly affect life insurance rates include commercial fishing, logging, mining, construction at heights, military combat roles, law enforcement, firefighting, offshore oil drilling, and professional aviation. For these occupations, carriers may add a flat extra charge (an additional amount per $1,000 of coverage) or assign a table rating that increases the standard premium by 25% to 250%. Some carriers may decline coverage for the most hazardous occupations.
Many occupations fall into a gray area where the impact depends on the specific duties and the carrier's guidelines. For example, a police officer assigned to a desk role may receive different treatment than one in a SWAT unit. A construction worker who operates heavy equipment on the ground may be treated differently than one who works on high-rise steel. Detailed information about your specific duties helps the underwriter make a more accurate assessment.
Because carrier guidelines for occupational risk vary significantly, the choice of carrier can dramatically affect both approval and premium. An occupation that receives a table rating from one carrier might be covered at standard rates by another carrier that specializes in that industry. A licensed agent in our network can match your occupation with carriers that have the most favorable guidelines for your specific job duties.