Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators (SOC 13-1031) earn a median $78,000 a year ($37.50 an hour) in the United States, with 324,230 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators do
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators handle insurance claims after a loss. The work depends on the line of insurance and the person's role. Adjusters investigate and evaluate claims for property damage, injury, or liability, read claim forms and related records to decide whether the policy covers the loss, and pay or settle claims within an assigned authority level. Examiners review settled claims to check that payments follow company practices and procedures, and may confer with legal counsel about claims likely to go to litigation. Investigators gather information about suspicious or disputed losses, then report findings and recommendations. Adjusters also interview or correspond with agents and claimants to correct errors and investigate questionable claims, and they review police reports, medical records, and property damage. The occupation is separate from auto damage appraisers, who estimate vehicle repair costs, and from fire inspectors and investigators, who determine the causes of fires. Insurance underwriters evaluate risk before a policy is written rather than after a loss. They also verify and analyze claim data to confirm that claims are valid and settled according to company practices.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a bachelor's degree as the typical level of education for this occupation.
Also called: Accident Investigator, Adjuster, Adjustment Clerk, Benefit Authorizer, Bodily Injury Claims Adjuster.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $23.48 | $29.40 | $37.50 | $47.13 | $56.27 | $38.69 | 324,230 |
| Annual | $48,850 | $61,160 | $78,000 | $98,030 | $117,040 | $80,470 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $33.77 | $39.62 | $48.63 | $57.00 | $69.56 | $49.55 | 360 | 0.51 | 0.24 |
| Annual | $70,240 | $82,410 | $101,150 | $118,560 | $144,680 | $103,060 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $29.70 | $36.62 | $46.01 | $51.66 | $62.37 | $45.25 | 9,650 | 2.25 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $61,780 | $76,170 | $95,690 | $107,450 | $129,720 | $94,120 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $25.57 | $34.73 | $45.94 | $55.25 | $64.92 | $45.33 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $53,190 | $72,240 | $95,560 | $114,920 | $135,040 | $94,280 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $28.86 | $34.75 | $44.13 | $51.15 | $60.09 | $44.17 | 24,290 | 1.33 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $60,020 | $72,280 | $91,790 | $106,400 | $124,990 | $91,860 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $30.33 | $36.90 | $42.47 | $52.95 | $62.38 | $45.39 | 3,190 | 1.88 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $63,090 | $76,740 | $88,330 | $110,140 | $129,740 | $94,410 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $22.39 | $28.74 | $37.89 | $47.11 | $56.06 | $38.25 | 29,220 | 2.08 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $46,560 | $59,780 | $78,800 | $97,990 | $116,610 | $79,560 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $22.61 | $28.48 | $36.98 | $45.13 | $50.55 | $36.91 | 28,100 | 2.83 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $47,030 | $59,240 | $76,920 | $93,860 | $105,150 | $76,760 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $28.86 | $34.75 | $44.13 | $51.15 | $60.09 | $44.17 | 24,290 | 1.33 | 0.64 |
| Annual | $60,020 | $72,280 | $91,790 | $106,400 | $124,990 | $91,860 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $24.79 | $32.10 | $41.89 | $50.56 | $62.68 | $43.20 | 17,330 | 1.79 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $51,560 | $66,770 | $87,130 | $105,160 | $130,370 | $89,860 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $23.37 | $29.12 | $37.02 | $47.00 | $57.12 | $38.31 | 14,210 | 2.33 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $48,620 | $60,570 | $77,010 | $97,770 | $118,810 | $79,680 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Merced, CA | Hourly | $29.93 | $39.85 | $53.32 | $57.76 | $65.69 | $49.95 | 40 | 0.49 | 0.24 |
| Annual | $62,250 | $82,880 | $110,910 | $120,140 | $136,640 | $103,890 | ||||
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | Hourly | $36.27 | $38.65 | $52.17 | $56.97 | $56.97 | $48.29 | 70 | 0.62 | 0.30 |
| Annual | $75,440 | $80,390 | $108,510 | $118,500 | $118,500 | $100,440 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $34.10 | $40.26 | $50.64 | $60.09 | $65.69 | $50.94 | 3,390 | 1.43 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $70,930 | $83,740 | $105,340 | $124,990 | $136,640 | $105,960 | ||||
| Boulder, CO | Hourly | $26.92 | $39.85 | $49.56 | $58.59 | $65.90 | $49.07 | 30 | 0.17 | 0.08 |
| Annual | $55,990 | $82,890 | $103,080 | $121,870 | $137,070 | $102,060 | ||||
| Salinas, CA | Hourly | $30.65 | $39.08 | $48.99 | $56.28 | $65.69 | $49.07 | 150 | 0.81 | 0.39 |
| Annual | $63,750 | $81,290 | $101,900 | $117,060 | $136,640 | $102,060 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $26.65 | $36.55 | $46.14 | $56.90 | $65.27 | $46.18 | 14,840 | 1.56 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $55,440 | $76,030 | $95,980 | $118,350 | $135,760 | $96,060 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $26.37 | $30.76 | $36.43 | $45.25 | $52.21 | $37.83 | 13,830 | 4.79 | 2.29 |
| Annual | $54,860 | $63,980 | $75,770 | $94,120 | $108,600 | $78,680 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $23.34 | $28.62 | $30.95 | $38.11 | $47.67 | $34.70 | 11,350 | 4.78 | 2.29 |
| Annual | $48,550 | $59,520 | $64,370 | $79,260 | $99,150 | $72,170 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $23.84 | $29.71 | $37.81 | $47.75 | $59.36 | $39.75 | 9,080 | 2.01 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $49,590 | $61,790 | $78,640 | $99,310 | $123,460 | $82,680 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $24.80 | $30.69 | $39.85 | $47.68 | $57.30 | $41.22 | 8,630 | 2.13 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $51,590 | $63,820 | $82,890 | $99,170 | $119,180 | $85,740 | ||||
Top industries employing claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
Insurance Carriers employ 40.8% of claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators nationally (132,180 jobs) at a median $77,780 a year ($37.40 an hour), followed by Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (33.8%) and Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) (14.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance Carriers NAICS 524100 | 132,180 | 40.8% | $77,780 | $37.40 |
| Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities NAICS 524200 | 109,500 | 33.8% | $76,130 | $36.60 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 46,690 | 14.4% | $93,660 | $45.03 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 10,090 | 3.1% | $74,440 | $35.79 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises NAICS 551100 | 6,530 | 2.0% | $65,260 | $31.37 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (324,230). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $65,080 for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators in May 2021 and $78,000 in May 2025, with employment of 278,140 and 324,230.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $65,080 | $31.29 | 278,140 |
| May 2022 | $72,230 | $34.73 | 285,270 |
| May 2023 | $75,050 | $36.08 | 293,780 |
| May 2024 | $76,790 | $36.92 | 305,020 |
| May 2025 | $78,000 | $37.50 | 324,230 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $48.63 | $101,150 | $70,240 | $144,680 | 360 | 0.51 | 0.24 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $46.01 | $95,690 | $61,780 | $129,720 | 9,650 | 2.25 | 1.08 |
| 3 | Maryland profile | $45.94 | $95,560 | $53,190 | $135,040 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | California profile | $44.13 | $91,790 | $60,020 | $124,990 | 24,290 | 1.33 | 0.64 |
| 5 | Connecticut profile | $42.47 | $88,330 | $63,090 | $129,740 | 3,190 | 1.88 | 0.90 |
| 6 | Alaska profile | $42.15 | $87,670 | $62,200 | $132,200 | 220 | 0.69 | 0.33 |
| 7 | New York profile | $41.89 | $87,130 | $51,560 | $130,370 | 17,330 | 1.79 | 0.86 |
| 8 | Rhode Island profile | $41.60 | $86,520 | $60,290 | $130,480 | 1,150 | 2.30 | 1.10 |
| 9 | Vermont profile | $40.37 | $83,970 | $62,360 | $118,500 | 280 | 0.92 | 0.44 |
| 10 | New Hampshire profile | $40.33 | $83,890 | $59,580 | $120,430 | 880 | 1.29 | 0.62 |
| 11 | Massachusetts profile | $40.26 | $83,740 | $58,650 | $123,260 | 5,070 | 1.39 | 0.67 |
| 12 | Oregon profile | $39.25 | $81,640 | $56,320 | $117,380 | 2,950 | 1.50 | 0.72 |
| 13 | Washington profile | $38.80 | $80,700 | $50,080 | $122,840 | 6,180 | 1.74 | 0.83 |
| 14 | Alabama profile | $38.32 | $79,710 | $49,190 | $106,370 | 4,040 | 1.91 | 0.92 |
| 15 | Hawaii profile | $38.02 | $79,080 | $51,830 | $106,690 | 900 | 1.44 | 0.69 |
| 16 | South Dakota profile | $37.93 | $78,900 | $58,160 | $104,190 | 1,030 | 2.26 | 1.08 |
| 17 | Michigan profile | $37.91 | $78,850 | $48,210 | $109,000 | 6,640 | 1.51 | 0.72 |
| 18 | Texas profile | $37.89 | $78,800 | $46,560 | $116,610 | 29,220 | 2.08 | 1.00 |
| 19 | Maine profile | $37.79 | $78,590 | $60,180 | $104,490 | 1,650 | 2.57 | 1.23 |
| 20 | Minnesota profile | $37.67 | $78,350 | $58,110 | $106,270 | 5,530 | 1.88 | 0.90 |
| 21 | Wisconsin profile | $37.58 | $78,160 | $50,570 | $103,620 | 8,760 | 2.98 | 1.43 |
| 22 | Tennessee profile | $37.50 | $78,010 | $47,310 | $108,890 | 6,390 | 1.95 | 0.93 |
| 23 | Colorado profile | $37.32 | $77,620 | $59,550 | $123,360 | 5,680 | 1.98 | 0.95 |
| 24 | Idaho profile | $37.19 | $77,340 | $49,940 | $117,100 | 1,320 | 1.54 | 0.74 |
| 25 | Kansas profile | $37.16 | $77,290 | $48,980 | $112,710 | 4,570 | 3.18 | 1.53 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania profile | $37.16 | $77,290 | $46,360 | $119,980 | 13,270 | 2.19 | 1.05 |
| 27 | Mississippi profile | $37.07 | $77,100 | $48,680 | $100,850 | ** | ** | ** |
| 28 | Illinois profile | $37.02 | $77,010 | $48,620 | $118,810 | 14,210 | 2.33 | 1.12 |
| 29 | Florida profile | $36.98 | $76,920 | $47,030 | $105,150 | 28,100 | 2.83 | 1.36 |
| 30 | Wyoming profile | $36.73 | $76,400 | $48,790 | $126,440 | 180 | 0.63 | 0.30 |
| 31 | Missouri profile | $36.46 | $75,840 | $48,900 | $111,070 | 6,200 | 2.11 | 1.01 |
| 32 | Nebraska profile | $36.46 | $75,830 | $50,170 | $102,250 | 3,160 | 3.08 | 1.48 |
| 33 | South Carolina profile | $36.24 | $75,370 | $46,640 | $104,050 | 4,130 | 1.79 | 0.86 |
| 34 | North Carolina profile | $36.21 | $75,310 | $48,200 | $108,630 | 9,880 | 2.00 | 0.96 |
| 35 | Virginia profile | $35.69 | $74,240 | $49,140 | $109,970 | 7,860 | 1.91 | 0.92 |
| 36 | Arkansas profile | $35.54 | $73,920 | $46,490 | $103,420 | 2,660 | 2.04 | 0.98 |
| 37 | Kentucky profile | $35.50 | $73,840 | $52,600 | $100,400 | 3,670 | 1.83 | 0.88 |
| 38 | Indiana profile | $35.36 | $73,560 | $48,660 | $101,270 | 4,340 | 1.36 | 0.65 |
| 39 | Georgia profile | $35.25 | $73,320 | $51,000 | $103,080 | ** | ** | ** |
| 40 | Iowa profile | $34.92 | $72,640 | $50,360 | $102,900 | 3,930 | 2.52 | 1.21 |
| 41 | Delaware profile | $34.79 | $72,370 | $51,430 | $116,710 | ** | ** | ** |
| 42 | Oklahoma profile | $34.26 | $71,260 | $47,440 | $100,240 | 4,140 | 2.43 | 1.16 |
| 43 | Utah profile | $33.18 | $69,000 | $46,120 | $100,970 | 2,440 | 1.40 | 0.67 |
| 44 | Ohio profile | $32.69 | $67,990 | $47,950 | $104,870 | 13,650 | 2.46 | 1.18 |
| 45 | New Mexico profile | $32.66 | $67,930 | $40,620 | $101,520 | 1,280 | 1.47 | 0.71 |
| 46 | West Virginia profile | $32.35 | $67,290 | $45,650 | $106,330 | 1,340 | 1.92 | 0.92 |
| 47 | North Dakota profile | $31.47 | $65,460 | $47,960 | $97,470 | 750 | 1.75 | 0.84 |
| 48 | Louisiana profile | $31.36 | $65,220 | $42,160 | $102,240 | 3,340 | 1.73 | 0.83 |
| 49 | Arizona profile | $31.30 | $65,110 | $47,990 | $100,590 | 13,830 | 4.27 | 2.05 |
| 50 | Montana profile | $30.70 | $63,860 | $46,080 | $101,390 | 1,230 | 2.40 | 1.15 |
| 51 | Nevada profile | $30.16 | $62,730 | $43,800 | $98,920 | ** | ** | ** |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (13-1030), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Business and Financial Operations Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 13-1031 Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 13-1031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 13-1031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.