Career-PathGPS
← All education and training
Career

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeHigh pressure

What they do

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. May also settle insurance claims.

Kinds of work

  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Enterprising: Leading, persuading, selling and starting new projects or businesses.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $78,000 Median per year · $37.50/hr Most earn $48,850–$117,040

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • 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.
  • Review police reports, medical treatment records, medical bills, or physical property damage to determine the extent of liability.
  • Interview or correspond with claimants, witnesses, police, physicians, or other relevant parties to determine claim settlement, denial, or review.
  • Confer with legal counsel on claims requiring litigation.
  • Collect evidence to support contested claims in court.
  • Adjust reserves or provide reserve recommendations to ensure that reserve activities are consistent with corporate policies.

Job outlook

United States
6% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 20,900 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Direct insurance (except life, health, and medical) carriers35.3%
  • Other insurance related activities16.5%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service13.3%
  • Insurance agencies and brokerages12.4%
  • Direct health and medical insurance carriers7.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Bachelor's degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Claims adjusting is not usually an entry-level job. Most people earn a bachelor's degree, then spend about 2 to 4 years in related work (often claims or customer service) before moving into this role, so the full path often takes around 6 to 8 years from starting college.

  1. Bachelor's degree (business, finance, or a related major)

    4 years

    A degree gives you the reading, writing, and analysis skills employers look for and is the typical education for this career.

  2. Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerk

    2-4 years

    You learn how claims are opened, documented, and paid, and you see how company rules and procedures work in practice.

  3. Claims Adjuster, Examiner, or Investigator

    Ongoing

    You review settled claims to make sure payments follow company practice, and you may confer with legal counsel on claims that go to litigation.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Claims Adjuster

    3-5 years of experience first

    You handle more complex or higher-value claims with less supervision, and you often mentor newer adjusters.

  2. Fraud Examiner or Investigator

    2-4 years of experience first

    You focus on spotting and investigating suspicious claims, which usually requires strong analysis skills and sometimes extra certification.

  3. Claims Supervisor

    5+ years of experience first

    You manage a team of adjusters, set claim handling standards, and make decisions on the hardest cases.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and English classes seriouslyStrong math helps with calculating damages and payments, and strong writing helps you explain decisions clearly later on.
  • Take a business, economics, or accounting class if your school offers oneThese classes introduce you to how businesses, money, and risk work, which is the world insurance companies operate in.
  • Join a club that builds public speaking or teamwork skillsDebate, student government, or a business club helps you practice explaining ideas and working with others, both of which matter in claims work.
  • Get a part-time job that involves helping people or solving problemsRetail, food service, or customer support jobs build patience and communication skills that adjusters use every day.

In college

  • Major in business, finance, risk management, or a related fieldThese majors build the knowledge base that claims employers expect from someone with a bachelor's degree.
  • Pursue an internship at an insurance company or claims officeReal claims experience makes your résumé stronger and gives you a path into the 2 to 4 years of related work this career usually requires.
  • Take a campus job in customer service or front-desk workThis builds the communication and problem-solving skills you'll use in the clerk role that often comes right before adjusting.
  • Learn Excel and basic data toolsSpreadsheet skills help with reviewing payments and spotting patterns, and they show up often in claims job postings.
  • Look up your state's adjuster licensing requirementsMany states require adjusters to hold a license, so knowing the rules early helps you plan your timeline and any courses you need.

Tips for getting started

  • Look for summer or part-time work at an insurance company, claims office, or customer service center. Hands-on claims exposure is one of the best ways to get hired later.
  • Get comfortable with spreadsheets and writing. Adjusters document decisions in detail, so clear written notes matter as much as math.
  • Ask people who work as adjusters what they like and dislike about the job. A short conversation can help you decide if this path fits your interests.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

Related careers