Travels to disaster zones after hurricanes, wildfires and hailstorms to inspect damaged homes and businesses and settle large volumes of insurance claims. BLS does not publish separate figures for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators; it counts them within claims adjuster, examiner, and investigator (SOC 13-1031), whose median pay is $78,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 13-1031
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Catastrophe Adjuster in four numbers
- Median pay
- $78,000a year, or $37.50/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $49KTop 10% $117K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -5.5%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−5.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −5.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 20,900376,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025376.1K
- Projected 2035355.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 376.1K Projected 2035 355.5K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school13.1%
- Certificate2.6%
- Some college11.9%
- Associate's12%
- Bachelor's55.8%
- Doctorate4%
Highest education held by claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators Segment Value High school 13.1% Certificate 2.6% Some college 11.9% Associate's 12% Bachelor's 55.8% Doctorate 4%
Also advertised as: CAT Adjuster, Independent Catastrophe Adjuster, Storm Adjuster, Field Catastrophe Adjuster, Daily Claims Adjuster.
Pay
How much do Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators make?
Every catastrophe adjuster in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$78,000
Middle half earn $61,160 to $98,030
- 10th
- $48,850
- 25th
- $61,160
- 75th
- $98,030
- 90th
- $117,040
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,850 |
| 25th | $61,160 |
| Median | $78,000 |
| 75th | $98,030 |
| 90th | $117,040 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $78,000
- Median hourly wage
- $37.50/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $80,470
- People employed
- 324,230
Versus all US occupations
At $78,000, Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators earn 53% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $27,020 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 3% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $117,040 or more while the bottom 10% earn $48,850, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 55% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $101,150, and still leads at $92,037 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $101,150 | $92,037 | 360 |
| 2New Jersey | $95,690 | $87,946 | 9,650 |
| 3Maryland | $95,560 | $91,045 | N/A |
| 4California | $91,790 | $82,903 | 24,290 |
| 5Connecticut | $88,330 | $85,252 | 3,190 |
| 6Alaska | $87,670 | $85,650 | 220 |
| 7New York | $87,130 | $80,735 | 17,330 |
| 8Rhode Island | $86,520 | $84,591 | 1,150 |
| 9Vermont | $83,970 | $85,720 | 280 |
| 10New Hampshire | $83,890 | $80,536 | 880 |
Job outlook
Is Catastrophe Adjuster a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -5.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | −5.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators to change -5.5% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 20,600 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 20,900 openings are projected each year, 5.6% of the 376,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Catastrophe Adjuster
Catastrophe adjusters need a state adjuster license, and many hold licenses in several states, often through a designated home state license that other states recognize. A degree is not required; construction or roofing knowledge is a strong advantage.
Adjusters typically learn estimating software and complete training through independent adjusting firms, then roster with several firms to be called up when storms hit. The Institutes offer claims designations such as the Associate in Claims. Physical stamina, comfort on ladders and roofs, and a tolerance for life on the road are essential.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators.
- Bachelor's Degree55.8%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)13.1%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree12%
- Some College Courses11.9%
- Doctoral Degree4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 55.8% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 13.1% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 12% |
| Some College Courses | 11.9% |
| Doctoral Degree | 4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Catastrophe Adjuster do?
When a hurricane, tornado outbreak, hailstorm or wildfire strikes, insurers receive more claims than their staff can handle. Catastrophe adjusters deploy to the affected area, often for weeks or months, to inspect damage and settle claims. Most work as independent adjusters contracted through adjusting firms, though some insurers employ their own CAT teams.
Each day they meet policyholders, climb roofs, photograph and measure damage, write repair estimates in software such as Xactimate, apply policy terms, and recommend payment. They handle a large caseload under time pressure while dealing with people who have lost a lot. Between storms, many adjusters handle daily claims or other work.
Day-to-day tasks
- Deploy to disaster areas after major catastrophes
- Inspect, measure and photograph damaged properties
- Write repair estimates using claims estimating software
- Apply policy coverage terms to each loss
- Explain coverage and settlements to policyholders
- Manage large claim caseloads under deadlines
- Document files for insurer review and payment
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Catastrophe adjusters live on the road during deployments, staying in hotels or temporary housing in disaster areas and working long days, often seven days a week. Work involves climbing ladders and walking roofs in heat and rough conditions. Income and workload rise and fall with storm seasons.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Active Listening4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Writing3.6
- Monitoring3.4
- Active Learning3.3
- Mathematics2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.1 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 |
| Mathematics | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4
- Coordination3.3
- Negotiation3.1
- Service Orientation3.1
- Systems Analysis3.0
- Time Management3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.4 |
| Coordination | 3.3 |
| Negotiation | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Internet browser software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video conferencing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Access software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Billing and invoicing software
- Computer aided design CAD software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Catastrophe Adjuster?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ECR) built on O*NET's Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Catastrophe Adjuster |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional6.2
- Enterprising5.2
- Investigative3.5
- Social2.6
- Realistic2.4
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Catastrophe Adjuster
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Most earn $49K to $117K
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More business and financial operations careers
Median annual pay, with claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators highlighted
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Accountant$83,680
- Insurance Underwriter$81,370
- Coroner$80,730
- Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator$78,000
- Catastrophe Adjuster$78,000
- Loan Officer$76,690
- Human Resources Specialist$75,940
- Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate$67,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Advisor | $105,070 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 |
| Coroner | $80,730 |
| Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator | $78,000 |
| Catastrophe Adjuster | $78,000 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 |
| Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate | $67,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Catastrophe Adjuster appears on
Questions
Catastrophe Adjuster: frequently asked questions
How much do Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators. It counts them within claims adjuster, examiner, and investigator, whose median pay is $78,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $61,160 and $98,030, and the top 10% earn $117,040 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Catastrophe Adjuster?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 55.8% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Catastrophe Adjuster a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 5.5% over 2025–2035, a loss of 20,600 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 20,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Catastrophe Adjuster do?
When a hurricane, tornado outbreak, hailstorm or wildfire strikes, insurers receive more claims than their staff can handle. A typical task: deploy to disaster areas after major catastrophes. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Internet browser software.
Which states pay Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators the most?
The highest state medians for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators are District of Columbia ($101,150), New Jersey ($95,690), Maryland ($95,560) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Catastrophe Adjuster?
O*NET scores Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators highest on the Conventional, Enterprising and Investigative interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.