Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
Also called: Accident Investigator, Adjuster, Adjustment Clerk, Auto Claims Adjuster (Automotive Claims Adjuster), Auto Damage Claims Adjuster (Automotive Damage Claims Adjuster), Benefit Authorizer, Bodily Injury Claims Adjuster, Bodily Injury Claims Examiner
Review settled claims to determine that payments and settlements are made in accordance with company practices and procedures.
What claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators do
Typical tasks
- Examine claims forms and other records to determine insurance coverage.
- Analyze information gathered by investigation and report findings and recommendations.
- Pay and process claims within designated authority level.
- Investigate, evaluate, and settle claims, applying technical knowledge and human relations skills to effect fair and prompt disposal of cases and to contribute to a reduced loss ratio.
- Verify and analyze data used in settling claims to ensure that claims are valid and that settlements are made according to company practices and procedures.
- Review police reports, medical treatment records, medical bills, or physical property damage to determine the extent of liability.
- Investigate and assess damage to property and create or review property damage estimates.
- Interview or correspond with agents and claimants to correct errors or omissions and to investigate questionable claims.
- Interview or correspond with claimants, witnesses, police, physicians, or other relevant parties to determine claim settlement, denial, or review.
- Enter claim payments, reserves and new claims on computer system, inputting concise yet sufficient file documentation.
- Resolve complex, severe exposure claims, using high service oriented file handling.
- Adjust reserves or provide reserve recommendations to ensure that reserve activities are consistent with corporate policies.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators salary
The median annual wage for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators is $78,000 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $48,850 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $117,040. The mean annual wage is $80,470.
The mean hourly wage of $38.00 is 5.2× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $78,000 → in 3 years $82,700 → in 5 years $85,900 → in 10 years $94,700 (10-year range $81,400–$109,900). The model assumes pay growth of +1.9% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
Skills, education and requirements for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 4 — considerable preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.