Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Salary
Business and Financial Operations Occupations · 324K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$78,000
Median hourly
$38
Average annual
$80,470
Typical range
$48,850–$117,040
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators is $78,000 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $38 an hour at a full-time schedule.
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.
Most earn between $48,850 and $117,040 a year. There are roughly 324K people employed as claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators.
- Hourly
- $37.50
- Daily
- $300
- Weekly
- $1,500
- Bi-weekly
- $3,000
- Monthly
- $6,500
- Annual
- $78,000
$78,000 a year is around the 50th percentile for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigatorss. The median is $78,000.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1District of Columbia$101,150
- 2New Jersey$95,690
- 3Maryland$95,560
- 4California$91,790
- 5Connecticut$88,330
- 6Alaska$87,670
- 7New York$87,130
- 8Rhode Island$86,520
- 9Vermont$83,970
- 10New Hampshire$83,890
- 11Massachusetts$83,740
- 12Oregon$81,640
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Merced, CA$110,910
- 2Burlington-South Burlington, VT$108,510
- 3San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$105,340
- 4Boulder, CO$103,080
- 5Salinas, CA$101,900
- 6Barnstable Town, MA$100,480
- 7Kingston, NY$100,430
- 8Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$99,660
- 9Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$98,700
- 10San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$98,230
- 11Lexington Park, MD$98,060
- 12Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT$97,740
Related job titles
Employers advertise Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators roles under these titles.
Related occupations
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$49,230
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$54,210
- Customer Service Representatives$44,770
- Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks$50,080
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$62,370
- Financial Specialists, All Other$81,100
- Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists$78,210
- Insurance Underwriters$81,370
What a Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators does
- Examine claims forms and other records to determine insurance coverage.
- Analyze information gathered by investigation and report findings and recommendations.
- Review police reports, medical treatment records, medical bills, or physical property damage to determine the extent of liability.
- Interview or correspond with agents and claimants to correct errors or omissions and to investigate questionable claims.
- Investigate and assess damage to property and create or review property damage estimates.
- Refer questionable claims to investigator or claims adjuster for investigation or settlement.
- Interview or correspond with claimants, witnesses, police, physicians, or other relevant parties to determine claim settlement, denial, or review.
- Collect evidence to support contested claims in court.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators make?
- The median annual wage for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators is $78,000 ($38 per hour). Pay ranges from about $48,850 at the 10th percentile to $117,040 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $80,470, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigatorss the most?
- District of Columbia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $101,150.
- Is Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 324K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators do?
- Examine claims forms and other records to determine insurance coverage.; Analyze information gathered by investigation and report findings and recommendations.; Review police reports, medical treatment records, medical bills, or physical property damage to determine the extent of liability..