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.
Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators earn a median of $78,000 per year ($37.50/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 5.1% through 2034, with about 21,100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
SOC 13-1031Business and Financial OperationsLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $78,000
- Projected growth
- -5.1%
- Openings a year
- 21,100
- Typical education
- High school
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Claims Adjuster, Claims Analyst, Claims Examiner, Claims Representative, Claims Specialist, Corporate Claims Examiner.
How much do Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators make?
10th percentile$48,850
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$61,160
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$78,000
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$98,030
Upper quartile
90th percentile$117,040
Top-paid tenth
| 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 63% of the 923 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.
Which states pay Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $101,150 | $92,037 | 360 |
| New Jersey | $95,690 | $87,946 | 9,650 |
| Maryland | $95,560 | $91,045 | N/A |
| California | $91,790 | $82,903 | 24,290 |
| Connecticut | $88,330 | $85,252 | 3,190 |
| Alaska | $87,670 | $85,650 | 220 |
| New York | $87,130 | $80,735 | 17,330 |
| Rhode Island | $86,520 | $84,591 | 1,150 |
| Vermont | $83,970 | $85,720 | 280 |
| New Hampshire | $83,890 | $80,536 | 880 |
Is Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator a growing career?
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators-5.1%
All US occupations3.1%
-5.1% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Declining
BLS projects employment of Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators to change -5.1% over 2024–2034, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.1%. That is 18,200 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 21,100 openings are projected each year, 5.9% of the 356,100 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, decline.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Technology is expected to automate some of the tasks that these workers currently perform. For example, computer software can evaluate photographs of damaged property and calculate an estimated claim amount. In addition, data processing speed and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities will continue to increase, which will improve efficiency and make workers more productive.
The number of natural disasters, such as floods and fires, influences demand for claims adjusters in property and casualty insurance. Future increases in the number of natural disasters could result in some demand for claims adjusters in the field.
How to become a Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator
Whether you need a licence depends on which of three kinds of adjuster you are and which state you live in, and the answer is genuinely uneven. The NAIC's State Licensing Handbook records 40 states licensing public adjusters, 33 licensing independent adjusters and only 15 requiring company or staff adjusters to be licensed, and BLS notes that in some states an adjuster employed by an insurance company does not have to be licensed personally because they work under the company's licence. Because several states license no adjusters at all, the industry runs on a designated home state mechanism: you qualify in a state you do not live in, as though you were a resident there.
The credential path, step by step
- Work out which of the three adjuster types you will be
Public adjusters contract directly with the insured and represent them in settling first-party claims for loss or damage to their own property. Independent adjusters are self-employed or work for an independent firm and may adjust claims on behalf of many insurers. Staff or company adjusters are salaried employees of one insurer or its affiliates and do not adjust for anyone else. The licence you need, if any, follows that classification.
- Check whether your own state licenses that type at all, and whether you are exempt
Most states recognise exemptions, and they are broad. The commonly recognised ones include attorneys admitted in the state acting in their professional capacity; people employed solely to obtain facts surrounding a claim or to give technical assistance to a licensed independent adjuster; individuals employed to investigate suspected fraudulent claims who do not adjust losses or determine claim payments; people performing only executive, administrative, managerial or clerical duties who do not investigate, negotiate or settle claims; individuals adjusting only life, accident, health, annuity or disability claims; and employees adjusting claims under a self-insured arrangement on behalf of their own employer.
- If your state does not license adjusters, designate a home state
A state whose law permits it will let a non-resident designate that state as their home state and will require them to qualify as if they were a resident: examination, fingerprinting where required, and continuing education. Texas offers a designated home state all-lines adjuster licence but only to residents of states that do not offer a resident adjuster licence; applicants must have completed a TDI-approved course or training programme in adjusting losses within the last 12 months, pass the exam before applying, complete fingerprints, and apply within one year of passing or retake the exam.
- Satisfy whichever qualification method your licensing state uses
States determine that an applicant has the necessary knowledge through one or more of: pre-licensure coursework; a specified amount of experience relevant to the kind of adjusting to be done, such as property and casualty, workers' compensation or life and health; a licence examination; a relevant professional designation such as the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) or Associate in Claims (AIC); or prior similar licensure in another state. States introducing a new adjuster regime commonly waive the initial exam for applicants with appropriate credentials and experience.
- Expect a fitness and character review, not just an exam
State insurance regulators typically consider criminal history, administrative actions taken by other state insurance regulators, and civil judgments bearing on character or fiscal integrity. NAIC encourages states to fingerprint public and independent adjusters, and to fingerprint any non-resident permitted to designate that state as a home state.
- Keep the licence and understand that it may not travel
NAIC's Public Adjuster Licensing Model Act (#228) and Independent Adjuster Licensing Guideline (#1224) both provide that the home state should require 24 hours of continuing education every two years, of which 3 hours must cover ethics, and recommend that other states accept home state compliance reciprocally. A few states will not grant a non-resident licence on the strength of a home state exam and require the applicant to sit their own examination as well.
- How long the training takes
There is no degree requirement and no fixed programme. BLS records a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for claims adjusters, examiners and investigators, with entry-level workers handling small claims under an experienced worker's supervision and moving to larger, more complex claims as they learn. Some positions prefer a bachelor's degree or insurance-related work experience, and some insurers prefer investigators trained as law enforcement officers or private investigators for their interviewing skills. Auto damage appraisers typically have a postsecondary nondegree award or auto body repair experience plus several months of on-the-job training. Where a state requires pre-licensing coursework it is measured in hours.
- Continuing education
Set by each state
Set by each licensing state rather than nationally. BLS records that some states requiring licensing also require a set number of continuing education credits per year to renew, and that adjusters can satisfy them by attending classes or workshops, writing for claims publications, or giving lectures and presentations. NAIC's model act and guideline both set 24 hours every two years including 3 hours of ethics as the home state standard, and recommend reciprocal acceptance between states.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
This is a case where "varies by state" understates it, because states differ on whether the occupation is licensed at all. Some have few requirements; others require pre-licensing education, a passing score on a licensing examination, or both, and public adjusters may face separate or additional requirements. In some states a claims adjuster employed by an insurance company need not become licensed personally because they can work under the company licence. NAIC encourages states to prohibit simultaneous licensure as both an independent adjuster and a public adjuster, so in many places you must choose a side. Reciprocity is not automatic: it depends on an agreement between your home state (or designated home state) and each state you want a non-resident licence in, differences in lines of authority and licence types have created real barriers, and a few states require the non-resident applicant to sit their own exam regardless. States that license also commonly offer temporary licensure or registration for emergency and catastrophe adjusters after a declared event, and NAIC recommends granting an exam waiver for the crop line to applicants who have completed the National Crop Insurance Services Crop Adjuster Proficiency Program or the FCIC loss adjustment training curriculum. Note that the NAIC counts of 40, 33 and 15 states come from the State Licensing Handbook and are the association's own figures at the time of writing, so confirm your own state directly.
Who governs the credential
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) — Writes the model law and guideline that states adopt for adjuster licensing, the Public Adjuster Licensing Model Act (#228) and the Independent Adjuster Licensing Guideline (#1224), and publishes the State Licensing Handbook chapter that documents how licensing, home state designation, reciprocity and continuing education actually work across the states.
- Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) — Issues Texas adjuster licences, including the designated home state all-lines adjuster licence available only to residents of states that do not offer a resident adjuster licence. Included here as the worked example of the designated home state mechanism; Florida and other states run comparable programmes.
Credential detail for claims adjuster, examiner, and investigators is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Claims Adjusters, Appraisers, Examiners, and Investigators · checked August 23, 2026
- NAIC State Licensing Handbook, Chapter 18: Adjusters · checked August 23, 2026
- Texas Department of Insurance: Adjuster, designated home state, all lines · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for a person to work as an entry-level claims adjuster, examiner, or investigator, although some positions require a bachelor’s degree or insurance-related work experience. Auto damage appraisers typically have either a postsecondary nondegree award or work experience in identifying and estimating the cost of automotive repair.
| Typical entry-level education | High school diploma or equivalent |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Medium preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Long-term on-the-job training |
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 Diploma13.1%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)12.0%
- Some College Courses11.9%
- Doctoral Degree4.0%
What does a Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator do?
Review settled claims to determine that payments and settlements are made in accordance with company practices and procedures. Confer with legal counsel on claims requiring litigation. May also settle insurance claims.
Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators evaluate insurance claims. They decide whether an insurance company must pay a claim and if so, how much.
Day-to-day tasks
- Examine claims forms and other records to determine insurance coverage.
- Interview or correspond with claimants, witnesses, police, physicians, or other relevant parties to determine claim settlement, denial, or review.
- Review police reports, medical treatment records, medical bills, or physical property damage to determine the extent of liability.
- Analyze information gathered by investigation and report findings and recommendations.
- Adjust reserves or provide reserve recommendations to ensure that reserve activities are consistent with corporate policies.
- 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.
- Refer questionable claims to investigator or claims adjuster for investigation or settlement.
- Interview or correspond with agents and claimants to correct errors or omissions and to investigate questionable claims.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators work full time. However, their work schedules may vary.
Adjusters often arrange their work schedules to accommodate evening and weekend appointments with clients. This requirement sometimes results in adjusters working irregular schedules, especially when they have a lot of claims to review.
Physical demands
- Seated for more than half the working day
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Dealing with customers or the public is very important
Pressure and stakes
- Meeting strict deadlines at least weekly
- Handling conflict situations at least monthly
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators work
| Direct insurance (except life, health, and medical) carriers | 35% |
|---|---|
| Agencies, brokerages, and other insurance related activities | 28% |
| Federal government | 15% |
| Direct health and medical insurance carriers | 7% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 3% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1/5
- Active Listening4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Speaking3.9/5
- Writing3.6/5
- Monitoring3.4/5
- Active Learning3.3/5
- Mathematics2.9/5
Transferable skills
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.5/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.4/5
- Coordination3.3/5
- Negotiation3.1/5
- Service Orientation3.1/5
- Systems Analysis3.0/5
- Time Management3.0/5
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.
What personality type suits a Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic1.2
Investigativeprimary3.5
Artistic1.0
Social2.6
Enterprisingprimary4.8
Conventionalprimary6.2
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
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.
Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator: frequently asked questions
How much do Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators make?
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators earn a median of $78,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 53% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $37.50/hr. The middle half earn between $61,160 and $98,030. The top 10% earn $117,040 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator?
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 Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 5.1% over 2024–2034, a loss of 18,200 jobs (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 21,100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator do?
Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators evaluate insurance claims. A core O*NET task: examine claims forms and other records to determine insurance coverage. 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 Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator?
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 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become a Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator?
There is no degree requirement and no fixed programme. BLS records a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for claims adjusters, examiners and investigators, with entry-level workers handling small claims under an experienced worker's supervision and moving to larger, more complex claims as they learn. Some positions prefer a bachelor's degree or insurance-related work experience, and some insurers prefer investigators trained as law enforcement officers or private investigators for their interviewing skills. Auto damage appraisers typically have a postsecondary nondegree award or auto body repair experience plus several months of on-the-job training. Where a state requires pre-licensing coursework it is measured in hours.
Do you need a license to work as a Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. This is a case where "varies by state" understates it, because states differ on whether the occupation is licensed at all. Some have few requirements; others require pre-licensing education, a passing score on a licensing examination, or both, and public adjusters may face separate or additional requirements. In some states a claims adjuster employed by an insurance company need not become licensed personally because they can work under the company licence. NAIC encourages states to prohibit simultaneous licensure as both an independent adjuster and a public adjuster, so in many places you must choose a side. Reciprocity is not automatic: it depends on an agreement between your home state (or designated home state) and each state you want a non-resident licence in, differences in lines of authority and licence types have created real barriers, and a few states require the non-resident applicant to sit their own exam regardless. States that license also commonly offer temporary licensure or registration for emergency and catastrophe adjusters after a declared event, and NAIC recommends granting an exam waiver for the crop line to applicants who have completed the National Crop Insurance Services Crop Adjuster Proficiency Program or the FCIC loss adjustment training curriculum. Note that the NAIC counts of 40, 33 and 15 states come from the State Licensing Handbook and are the association's own figures at the time of writing, so confirm your own state directly.