Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators salary in the U.S.
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators in the U.S. earn a median of $78,000 a year ($37.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 324,230 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $117,040 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $80,470, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,850 | $23.48 |
| 25th percentile | $61,160 | $29.40 |
| Median | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| 75th percentile | $98,030 | $47.13 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,040 | $56.27 |
| Average (mean) | $80,470 | $38.69 |
Half of claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,500 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,250 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,000 |
| Weekly | $1,500 |
| Hourly | $37.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $78,000 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $101,150 | 360 |
| New Jersey | $95,690 | 9,650 |
| Maryland | $95,560 | n/a |
| California | $91,790 | 24,290 |
| Connecticut | $88,330 | 3,190 |
| Alaska | $87,670 | 220 |
| New York | $87,130 | 17,330 |
| Rhode Island | $86,520 | 1,150 |
| Vermont | $83,970 | 280 |
| New Hampshire | $83,890 | 880 |
| Massachusetts | $83,740 | 5,070 |
| Oregon | $81,640 | 2,950 |
| Washington | $80,700 | 6,180 |
| Alabama | $79,710 | 4,040 |
| Hawaii | $79,080 | 900 |
| South Dakota | $78,900 | 1,030 |
| Michigan | $78,850 | 6,640 |
| Texas | $78,800 | 29,220 |
| Maine | $78,590 | 1,650 |
| Minnesota | $78,350 | 5,530 |
| Wisconsin | $78,160 | 8,760 |
| Tennessee | $78,010 | 6,390 |
| Colorado | $77,620 | 5,680 |
| Idaho | $77,340 | 1,320 |
| Kansas | $77,290 | 4,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $77,290 | 13,270 |
| Mississippi | $77,100 | n/a |
| Illinois | $77,010 | 14,210 |
| Florida | $76,920 | 28,100 |
| Wyoming | $76,400 | 180 |
| Missouri | $75,840 | 6,200 |
| Nebraska | $75,830 | 3,160 |
| South Carolina | $75,370 | 4,130 |
| North Carolina | $75,310 | 9,880 |
| Virginia | $74,240 | 7,860 |
| Arkansas | $73,920 | 2,660 |
| Kentucky | $73,840 | 3,670 |
| Indiana | $73,560 | 4,340 |
| Georgia | $73,320 | n/a |
| Iowa | $72,640 | 3,930 |
| Delaware | $72,370 | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $71,260 | 4,140 |
| Utah | $69,000 | 2,440 |
| Ohio | $67,990 | 13,650 |
| New Mexico | $67,930 | 1,280 |
| West Virginia | $67,290 | 1,340 |
| North Dakota | $65,460 | 750 |
| Louisiana | $65,220 | 3,340 |
| Arizona | $65,110 | 13,830 |
| Montana | $63,860 | 1,230 |
| Nevada | $62,730 | n/a |
| Virgin Islands | $60,050 | 30 |
| Guam | $50,560 | 80 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,970 | 2,730 |
Best-paying metro areas for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | $110,910 | 40 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $108,510 | 70 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $105,340 | 3,390 |
| Boulder, CO | $103,080 | 30 |
| Salinas, CA | $101,900 | 150 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $100,480 | 40 |
| Kingston, NY | $100,430 | 30 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $99,660 | 100 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $98,700 | 4,280 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $98,230 | 370 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $98,060 | 40 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $97,740 | 280 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $96,970 | 150 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $95,980 | 14,840 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $95,730 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 14,840 | $95,980 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 13,830 | $75,770 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 11,350 | $64,370 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 9,080 | $78,640 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 8,630 | $82,890 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 7,540 | $89,070 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 7,240 | $77,990 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 6,850 | $81,560 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 5,210 | $78,730 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 4,860 | $81,830 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 4,280 | $98,700 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,280 | $78,460 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,840 | $83,200 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 3,690 | $78,090 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 3,580 | $79,930 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $83,050 | $39.93 |
| Project Management Specialist | $102,320 | $49.19 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $78,760 | $37.87 |
| Management Analyst | $101,860 | $48.97 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $77,710 | $37.36 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $69,280 | $33.31 |
| Compliance Officer | $80,730 | $38.81 |
| Logistician | $82,320 | $39.58 |
| Cost Estimator | $78,740 | $37.86 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $61,160 | $29.41 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $78,210 | $37.60 |
| Fundraiser | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $95,420 | $45.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators in the U.S. is $78,000 a year, or $37.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $117,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators in the U.S. earn at least $117,040 a year. The top 25% earn $98,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,850 a year, and a quarter of claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators earn $61,160 or less.
How many claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators work in the U.S.?
About 324,230 claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.