Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,850 | $23.48 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Mean (average) | $80,470 | $38.69 |
| 90th percentile | $117,040 | $56.27 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $79,710 | $49,190 | $106,370 | 4,040 | 0.92 |
| Alaska | $87,670 | $62,200 | $132,200 | 220 | 0.33 |
| Arizona | $65,110 | $47,990 | $100,590 | 13,830 | 2.05 |
| Arkansas | $73,920 | $46,490 | $103,420 | 2,660 | 0.98 |
| California | $91,790 | $60,020 | $124,990 | 24,290 | 0.64 |
| Colorado | $77,620 | $59,550 | $123,360 | 5,680 | 0.95 |
| Connecticut | $88,330 | $63,090 | $129,740 | 3,190 | 0.9 |
| Delaware | $72,370 | $51,430 | $116,710 | ||
| District of Columbia | $101,150 | $70,240 | $144,680 | 360 | 0.24 |
| Florida | $76,920 | $47,030 | $105,150 | 28,100 | 1.36 |
| Georgia | $73,320 | $51,000 | $103,080 | ||
| Guam | $50,560 | $34,860 | $86,260 | 80 | 0.57 |
| Hawaii | $79,080 | $51,830 | $106,690 | 900 | 0.69 |
| Idaho | $77,340 | $49,940 | $117,100 | 1,320 | 0.74 |
| Illinois | $77,010 | $48,620 | $118,810 | 14,210 | 1.12 |
| Indiana | $73,560 | $48,660 | $101,270 | 4,340 | 0.65 |
| Iowa | $72,640 | $50,360 | $102,900 | 3,930 | 1.21 |
| Kansas | $77,290 | $48,980 | $112,710 | 4,570 | 1.53 |
| Kentucky | $73,840 | $52,600 | $100,400 | 3,670 | 0.88 |
| Louisiana | $65,220 | $42,160 | $102,240 | 3,340 | 0.83 |
| Maine | $78,590 | $60,180 | $104,490 | 1,650 | 1.23 |
| Maryland | $95,560 | $53,190 | $135,040 | ||
| Massachusetts | $83,740 | $58,650 | $123,260 | 5,070 | 0.67 |
| Michigan | $78,850 | $48,210 | $109,000 | 6,640 | 0.72 |
| Minnesota | $78,350 | $58,110 | $106,270 | 5,530 | 0.9 |
| Mississippi | $77,100 | $48,680 | $100,850 | ||
| Missouri | $75,840 | $48,900 | $111,070 | 6,200 | 1.01 |
| Montana | $63,860 | $46,080 | $101,390 | 1,230 | 1.15 |
| Nebraska | $75,830 | $50,170 | $102,250 | 3,160 | 1.48 |
| Nevada | $62,730 | $43,800 | $98,920 | ||
| New Hampshire | $83,890 | $59,580 | $120,430 | 880 | 0.62 |
| New Jersey | $95,690 | $61,780 | $129,720 | 9,650 | 1.08 |
| New Mexico | $67,930 | $40,620 | $101,520 | 1,280 | 0.71 |
| New York | $87,130 | $51,560 | $130,370 | 17,330 | 0.86 |
| North Carolina | $75,310 | $48,200 | $108,630 | 9,880 | 0.96 |
| North Dakota | $65,460 | $47,960 | $97,470 | 750 | 0.84 |
| Ohio | $67,990 | $47,950 | $104,870 | 13,650 | 1.18 |
| Oklahoma | $71,260 | $47,440 | $100,240 | 4,140 | 1.16 |
| Oregon | $81,640 | $56,320 | $117,380 | 2,950 | 0.72 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,290 | $46,360 | $119,980 | 13,270 | 1.05 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,970 | $31,110 | $84,740 | 2,730 | 1.39 |
| Rhode Island | $86,520 | $60,290 | $130,480 | 1,150 | 1.1 |
| South Carolina | $75,370 | $46,640 | $104,050 | 4,130 | 0.86 |
| South Dakota | $78,900 | $58,160 | $104,190 | 1,030 | 1.08 |
| Tennessee | $78,010 | $47,310 | $108,890 | 6,390 | 0.93 |
| Texas | $78,800 | $46,560 | $116,610 | 29,220 | 1 |
| Utah | $69,000 | $46,120 | $100,970 | 2,440 | 0.67 |
| Vermont | $83,970 | $62,360 | $118,500 | 280 | 0.44 |
| Virgin Islands | $60,050 | $34,280 | $115,920 | 30 | 0.5 |
| Virginia | $74,240 | $49,140 | $109,970 | 7,860 | 0.92 |
| Washington | $80,700 | $50,080 | $122,840 | 6,180 | 0.83 |
| West Virginia | $67,290 | $45,650 | $106,330 | 1,340 | 0.92 |
| Wisconsin | $78,160 | $50,570 | $103,620 | 8,760 | 1.43 |
| Wyoming | $76,400 | $48,790 | $126,440 | 180 | 0.3 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 20,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.6%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Health/Medical Claims Examiner CIP 51.0715
- Insurance CIP 52.1701
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Examine claims forms and other records to determine insurance coverage.
- Analyze information gathered by investigation and report findings and recommendations.
- Pay and process claims within designated authority level.
- Investigate, evaluate, and settle claims, applying technical knowledge and human relations skills to effect fair and prompt disposal of cases and to contribute to a reduced loss ratio.
- Verify and analyze data used in settling claims to ensure that claims are valid and that settlements are made according to company practices and procedures.
- Review police reports, medical treatment records, medical bills, or physical property damage to determine the extent of liability.
- Investigate and assess damage to property and create or review property damage estimates.
- Interview or correspond with agents and claimants to correct errors or omissions and to investigate questionable claims.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Xactware Xactimate (in demand)
- Apple Safari (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Mozilla Firefox (hot technology)
- Zoom (hot technology)
- 4n6xprt Systems StiffCalcs
- ADP software
- ARSoftware WinSMAC
- Agency Management Systems AMS 360
- AutoClaims Direct DirectLink
- Automatic Data Processing Autosource
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Negotiation, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Claims Adjuster, Claims Analyst, Claims Examiner, Claims Representative, Claims Specialist, Corporate Claims Examiner, Field Claims Adjuster, General Adjuster, Home Office Claims Specialist, Litigation Claims Representative.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators make?
The national median annual wage for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators was $78,000 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $48,850 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $117,040. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators a growing career?
BLS projects employment of claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators to change -5.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 20,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($101,150), New Jersey ($95,690), Maryland ($95,560). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.