What Does it Take to Be an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator?
Job Description & Duties Investigate, analyze, and determine the extent of insurance company’s liability concerning personal, casualty, or property loss or damages, and attempt to effect settlement with claimants. Correspond with or interview medical specialists, agents, witnesses, or claimants to compile information. Calculate benefit payments and approve payment of claims within a certain monetary limit.
What Do Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Do On a Daily Basis?
- Examine claims forms and other records to determine insurance coverage.
- Prepare report of findings of investigation.
- Communicate with former associates to verify employment record and to obtain background information regarding persons or businesses applying for credit.
- Analyze information gathered by investigation and report findings and recommendations.
- Obtain credit information from banks and other credit services.
- Review police reports, medical treatment records, medical bills, or physical property damage to determine the extent of liability.
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What an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator Should Know
Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Other Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator Job Titles
- Clerical Adjuster
- General Adjuster
- Claim Specialist
- Claims Adjustor
- Claim Adjuster
Job Demand for Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 311,100 jobs in the United States for Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 24,500 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator are Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, District of Columbia, or Mississippi. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator
The salary for Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators ranges between about $39,620 and $98,660 a year.

Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators who work in Connecticut, Massachusetts, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $65,060 |
Alaska | $73,370 |
Arizona | $67,340 |
Arkansas | $61,930 |
California | $71,720 |
Colorado | $72,460 |
Connecticut | $78,590 |
Delaware | $63,440 |
District of Columbia | $74,210 |
Florida | $62,840 |
Georgia | $65,430 |
Hawaii | $62,860 |
Idaho | $63,020 |
Illinois | $65,980 |
Indiana | $63,480 |
Iowa | $62,750 |
Kansas | $67,570 |
Kentucky | $55,820 |
Louisiana | $66,440 |
Maine | $60,980 |
Maryland | $72,050 |
Massachusetts | $76,150 |
Michigan | $67,860 |
Minnesota | $65,760 |
Mississippi | $62,700 |
Missouri | $66,340 |
Montana | $55,970 |
Nebraska | $61,050 |
Nevada | $65,510 |
New Hampshire | $71,190 |
New Jersey | $74,260 |
New Mexico | $63,890 |
New York | $71,950 |
North Carolina | $62,580 |
North Dakota | $58,580 |
Ohio | $65,890 |
Oklahoma | $61,670 |
Oregon | $67,750 |
Pennsylvania | $67,730 |
Rhode Island | $71,950 |
South Carolina | $62,950 |
South Dakota | $61,490 |
Tennessee | $60,550 |
Texas | $69,560 |
Utah | $59,330 |
Vermont | $66,240 |
Virginia | $63,640 |
Washington | $72,340 |
West Virginia | $57,030 |
Wisconsin | $63,420 |
Wyoming | $65,300 |
What Tools & Technology do Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Medical procedure coding software
- Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
- Document management system software
- CGI-AMS BureauLink Enterprise
- Hyland OnBase Enterprise Content Management
- Axonwave Fraud and Abuse Management System
- ISO NetMap for Claims
- LexisNexis RiskWise
- StrataCare StrataWare eReview
- ISO ClaimSearch
- ADP software
- CCC Pathways Appraisal Quality Solution
- IBM Fraud and Abuse Management System
- Hummingbird Legal Bill Review
- Agency Management Systems AMS 360
- Automatic Data Processing Autosource
- Automatic Data Processing Claims Manager & Dispatch
How to Become an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator
Are there Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators education requirements?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator?

Where Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Are Employed

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Nick Youngson via Creative Commons 3 - CC BY-SA 3.0
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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