Insurance claims and policy processing clerks salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,560 | $18.06 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $49,230 | $23.67 |
| Mean (average) | $52,920 | $25.44 |
| 90th percentile | $73,590 | $35.38 |
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
Insurance claims and policy processing clerks pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 51 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $38,140 | $34,610 | $58,820 | 2,110 | 0.72 |
| Alaska | $48,740 | $34,270 | $59,870 | 40 | 0.09 |
| Arizona | $50,530 | $40,270 | $60,820 | 8,350 | 1.87 |
| Arkansas | $45,220 | $38,430 | $59,690 | 1,500 | 0.83 |
| California | $56,800 | $40,280 | $77,280 | 23,470 | 0.94 |
| Colorado | $58,660 | $45,780 | $74,730 | 1,380 | 0.35 |
| Connecticut | $59,760 | $47,450 | $79,670 | 2,430 | 1.04 |
| Delaware | $49,990 | $40,180 | $63,280 | 720 | 1.07 |
| Florida | $47,130 | $37,440 | $70,370 | 15,920 | 1.16 |
| Georgia | $46,590 | $37,850 | $70,200 | 6,370 | 0.95 |
| Hawaii | $47,420 | $39,150 | $61,840 | 380 | 0.44 |
| Idaho | $47,200 | $36,380 | $65,980 | 580 | 0.49 |
| Illinois | $48,440 | $38,520 | $65,580 | 9,060 | 1.08 |
| Indiana | $49,240 | $38,190 | $74,450 | 5,190 | 1.18 |
| Iowa | $46,430 | $38,270 | $59,530 | 2,820 | 1.31 |
| Kansas | $47,960 | $39,240 | $62,490 | 800 | 0.41 |
| Kentucky | $48,330 | $40,830 | $70,220 | 3,030 | 1.1 |
| Louisiana | $46,800 | $33,280 | $61,300 | 1,740 | 0.65 |
| Maine | $58,890 | $42,470 | $80,850 | 1,710 | 1.94 |
| Maryland | $47,070 | $31,200 | $76,760 | 1,200 | 0.32 |
| Massachusetts | $52,910 | $44,390 | $72,180 | 4,820 | 0.96 |
| Michigan | $47,860 | $29,710 | $65,900 | 6,410 | 1.06 |
| Minnesota | $58,030 | $48,110 | $72,090 | 3,580 | 0.88 |
| Mississippi | $43,840 | $30,740 | $70,120 | 1,540 | 0.96 |
| Missouri | $46,010 | $30,590 | $67,010 | 4,510 | 1.11 |
| Montana | $50,890 | $39,520 | $72,580 | 360 | 0.5 |
| Nebraska | $48,490 | $38,850 | $62,390 | 2,520 | 1.78 |
| Nevada | $48,300 | $40,420 | $62,390 | 2,880 | 1.35 |
| New Hampshire | $60,650 | $43,810 | $83,140 | 820 | 0.87 |
| New Jersey | $59,810 | $47,070 | $77,130 | 5,000 | 0.85 |
| New Mexico | $41,700 | $36,440 | $59,150 | 920 | 0.77 |
| New York | $57,790 | $44,980 | $76,870 | 8,120 | 0.61 |
| North Carolina | $48,130 | $38,560 | $72,700 | 6,570 | 0.96 |
| North Dakota | $48,390 | $39,290 | $66,410 | 550 | 0.93 |
| Ohio | $48,380 | $39,720 | $63,390 | 11,160 | 1.46 |
| Oklahoma | $48,650 | $36,030 | $66,140 | 1,530 | 0.65 |
| Oregon | $50,890 | $39,600 | $65,790 | 2,640 | 0.97 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,420 | $37,920 | $71,200 | 7,020 | 0.84 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,910 | $25,700 | $41,500 | 1,920 | 1.49 |
| Rhode Island | Data unavailable | 710 | 1.02 | ||
| South Carolina | $44,650 | $37,380 | $61,450 | 4,110 | 1.3 |
| South Dakota | $45,610 | $34,410 | $54,900 | 1,020 | 1.62 |
| Tennessee | $45,720 | $33,220 | $63,730 | 5,470 | 1.21 |
| Texas | $49,880 | $36,460 | $78,010 | 24,470 | 1.26 |
| Utah | $47,120 | $33,860 | $70,070 | 1,880 | 0.79 |
| Vermont | $49,260 | $45,310 | $61,370 | 390 | 0.92 |
| Virginia | $46,430 | $28,420 | $62,000 | 5,950 | 1.05 |
| Washington | $60,220 | $44,290 | $82,500 | 3,730 | 0.76 |
| West Virginia | $44,740 | $34,840 | $59,980 | 1,330 | 1.38 |
| Wisconsin | $49,170 | $37,960 | $64,170 | 5,140 | 1.27 |
| Wyoming | $46,870 | $34,620 | $57,440 | 170 | 0.44 |
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 insurance claims and policy processing clerks
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 17,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.4%.
- 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 insurance claims and policy processing clerks
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may 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
- General Office Occupations and Clerical Services CIP 52.0408
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Prepare insurance claim forms or related documents, and review them for completeness.
- Calculate amount of claim.
- Post or attach information to claim file.
- Transmit claims for payment or further investigation.
- Contact insured or other involved persons to obtain missing information.
- Review insurance policy to determine coverage.
- Process and record new insurance policies and claims.
- Organize or work with detailed office or warehouse records, using computers to enter, access, search or retrieve data.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Account management software
- Alpha Software Alpha Five
- Automated information system software
- Billing software
- Claim processing system software
- Database software
- GroupMe
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- IBM Check Processing Control System CPSC
Transferable skills for career changers: Time Management, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Claims Adjudicator, Claims Analyst, Claims Clerk, Claims Customer Service Representative (Claims CSR), Claims Processor, Claims Representative (Claims Rep), Claims Technician (Claims Tech), Insurance Analyst, Policy Analyst, Underwriting Assistant.
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 insurance claims and policy processing clerks make?
The national median annual wage for insurance claims and policy processing clerks was $49,230 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,560 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $73,590. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do insurance claims and policy processing clerks need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is insurance claims and policy processing clerks a growing career?
BLS projects employment of insurance claims and policy processing clerks to change -1.9% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 17,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay insurance claims and policy processing clerks the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New Hampshire ($60,650), Washington ($60,220), New Jersey ($59,810). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.