What Does it Take to Be an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator?
Career Description 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.
A Day in the Life of an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator
- Interview or correspond with agents and claimants to correct errors or omissions and to investigate questionable claims.
- Collect evidence to support contested claims in court.
- Examine titles to property to determine validity and act as company agent in transactions with property owners.
- Examine claims forms and other records to determine insurance coverage.
- Refer questionable claims to investigator or claims adjuster for investigation or settlement.
- Negotiate claim settlements and recommend litigation when settlement cannot be negotiated.
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What Every Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator Should Know
When polled, Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Related Job Titles
- Claims Service Adjustor
- Accident Investigator
- Claim Adjuster
- Clerical Adjuster
- Disability Analyst
Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator Job Outlook
There were about 311,100 jobs for Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator. There will be an estimated 24,500 positions for Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator per 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 average yearly salary of an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator ranges between $39,620 and $98,660.

Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators who work in Connecticut, Massachusetts, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
How much do Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators make in each U.S. state?
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 do Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators may use on a daily basis:
- 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
Becoming an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator
What kind of Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator requirements are there?

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

Where do Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Work?

The table below shows the approximate number of Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators employed by various industries.

Similar Careers
Those interested in being an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator may also be interested in:
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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