Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators: Review settled claims to determine that payments and settlements have been made in accordance with company practices and procedures, ensuring that proper methods have been followed. Report overpayments, underpayments, and other irregularities. Confer with legal counsel on claims requiring litigation.
Adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators held about 263,000 jobs in 2004. Only 5 percent of these jobs were held by auto damage insurance appraisers. Insurance carriers, agencies, brokerages, and related industries, such as private claims adjusting companies, employed more than 8 out of 10 claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators. Relatively few adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators were self-employed.
Earnings of claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators vary significantly. Median annual earnings were $44,220 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $33,900 and $57,410. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $27,220, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $72,620.
Many claims adjusters, especially those who work for insurance companies, receive additional bonuses or benefits as part of their job. Adjusters often are furnished a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, and a company car or are reimbursed for the use of their own vehicle for business purposes.
Median annual earnings of auto damage insurance appraisers were $45,330 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $37,210 and $54,280. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,550, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $63,220.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Claims Adjusters, Appraisers, Examiners, and Investigators)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Utilities employment: 190 mean earnings: $59,400 (EC) (def) (IG) | $41,200 | $49,500 | $59,180 | $69,560 | $81,490 |
| Utilities employment: 190 mean earnings: $59,400 | $41,200 | $49,500 | $59,180 | $69,560 | $81,490 |
| Manufacturing employment: n.a. mean earnings: $57,210 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,560 | $40,260 | $51,110 | $74,980 | $92,320 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing employment: n.a. mean earnings: $57,410 | $32,450 | $40,150 | $51,040 | $76,940 | $92,010 |
| Wholesale Trade employment: 110 mean earnings: $50,170 (EC) (def) (IG) | $32,820 | $38,650 | $45,310 | $59,960 | $73,300 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods employment: 50 mean earnings: $57,250 | $39,030 | $42,870 | $53,520 | $68,810 | $85,260 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 570 mean earnings: $53,970 (EC) (def) (IG) | $31,180 | $38,040 | $51,710 | $67,660 | $83,770 |
| Rail Transportation employment: 280 mean earnings: $63,730 | $37,750 | $50,000 | $63,560 | $78,150 | $90,870 |
| Truck Transportation employment: 130 mean earnings: $40,850 | $28,270 | $31,960 | $36,960 | $46,240 | $58,410 |
| Support Activities for Transportation employment: 40 mean earnings: $38,970 | $30,040 | $33,740 | $38,980 | $44,030 | $51,770 |
| Information employment: 520 mean earnings: $41,350 (EC) (def) (IG) | $25,130 | $30,670 | $40,350 | $50,720 | $56,040 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: n.a. mean earnings: $40,140 | $24,920 | $30,330 | $39,450 | $50,000 | $55,270 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 206,530 mean earnings: $49,350 (EC) (def) (IG) | $28,640 | $35,890 | $46,250 | $60,000 | $74,680 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 1,140 mean earnings: $40,780 | $22,380 | $27,880 | $36,550 | $50,440 | $66,320 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: n.a. mean earnings: $54,420 | $31,280 | $38,900 | $51,790 | $67,920 | $84,380 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 199,860 mean earnings: $49,480 | $28,690 | $36,020 | $46,410 | $60,180 | $74,800 |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 4,370 mean earnings: $44,330 | $28,390 | $33,070 | $41,080 | $52,940 | $67,210 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 400 mean earnings: $53,450 (EC) (def) (IG) | $30,880 | $37,720 | $48,760 | $69,480 | $84,400 |
| Real Estate employment: 80 mean earnings: $56,080 | $35,170 | $40,600 | $48,040 | $76,550 | $85,270 |
| Rental and Leasing Services employment: 320 mean earnings: $52,760 | $30,250 | $36,650 | $48,870 | $67,100 | $83,840 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 2,460 mean earnings: $50,500 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,830 | $34,680 | $49,360 | $62,950 | $75,860 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 2,460 mean earnings: $50,500 | $23,830 | $34,680 | $49,360 | $62,950 | $75,860 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 7,520 mean earnings: $46,430 (EC) (def) (IG) | $28,720 | $33,680 | $43,170 | $55,780 | $70,890 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 7,520 mean earnings: $46,430 | $28,720 | $33,680 | $43,170 | $55,780 | $70,890 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 4,200 mean earnings: $48,650 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,430 | $34,400 | $45,500 | $60,030 | $77,290 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 4,190 mean earnings: $48,660 | $27,430 | $34,400 | $45,520 | $60,050 | $77,310 |
| Educational Services employment: 40 mean earnings: $46,970 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,870 | $36,710 | $43,660 | $55,760 | $75,740 |
| Educational Services employment: 40 mean earnings: $46,970 | $27,870 | $36,710 | $43,660 | $55,760 | $75,740 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 920 mean earnings: $44,060 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,940 | $32,110 | $39,580 | $54,480 | $69,020 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 550 mean earnings: $42,920 | $27,510 | $31,630 | $37,440 | $53,070 | $68,160 |
| Hospitals employment: 300 mean earnings: $47,660 | $29,490 | $34,320 | $44,410 | $58,150 | $73,060 |
| Social Assistance employment: 60 mean earnings: $36,150 | $25,700 | $28,980 | $33,750 | $42,210 | $53,350 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) employment: 560 mean earnings: $46,960 (EC) (def) (IG) | $27,260 | $33,600 | $43,160 | $55,500 | $76,600 |
| Repair and Maintenance employment: 170 mean earnings: $47,590 | $31,060 | $34,850 | $43,170 | $53,920 | $69,740 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations employment: 370 mean earnings: $46,980 | $25,870 | $32,680 | $43,510 | $56,870 | $77,770 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 9,540 mean earnings: $48,270 (def) (IG) | $30,820 | $37,340 | $47,320 | $57,520 | $68,860 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 9,540 mean earnings: $48,270 | $30,820 | $37,340 | $47,320 | $57,520 | $68,860 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.