Life As an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator
Job 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.
What Do Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Do On a Daily Basis?
- Negotiate claim settlements and recommend litigation when settlement cannot be negotiated.
- Investigate and assess damage to property and create or review property damage estimates.
- Interview or correspond with claimants, witnesses, police, physicians, or other relevant parties to determine claim settlement, denial, or review.
- Communicate with former associates to verify employment record and to obtain background information regarding persons or businesses applying for credit.
- Collect evidence to support contested claims in court.
- Prepare report of findings of investigation.
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Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators say are important on the job.
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.
Types of Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator
- Claim Specialist
- Insurance Inspector
- Property Adjuster
- Material Damage Adjuster
- Arson Investigator
What Kind of Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 311,100 jobs for Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator in 2016. 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.
Do Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Make A Lot Of Money?
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
Learn what Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator education requirements there are.
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 some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
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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