All About Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
Occupation 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
- Analyze information gathered by investigation and report findings and recommendations.
- 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.
- Interview or correspond with claimants, witnesses, police, physicians, or other relevant parties to determine claim settlement, denial, or review.
- Obtain credit information from banks and other credit services.
- Investigate and assess damage to property and create or review property damage estimates.
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Skills Needed to be an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator
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.
Types of Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator
- Investigator
- Claims Analyst
- Inspector
- Claims Representative
- Claims Manager
Are There Job Opportunities 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. The BLS estimates 24,500 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
Average Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Salary
The typical yearly salary for Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators is somewhere 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 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
Becoming an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator
What education is needed to be an Insurance Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Insurance Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Work

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

You May Also Be Interested In…
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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