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Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks

SOC 13-1031 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data

Median Annual Salary
$78,000
$37.50/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators is $78,000 per year ($37.50/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $61,152 and $98,030 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $117,042 per year. There are approximately 324,230 claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators employed in the United States.

About This Role

BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018

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.

Career Outlook

BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
-5.1%
Much slower than average
Annual openings
21K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
356K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
0% from new growth100% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training

Industry Wage Breakdown

Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
IndustryWorkforce Median Pay
Insurance Carriers
NAICS 524100
132K$77,780
Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities
NAICS 524200
110K$76,130
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999100
47K$93,660
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999200
10K$74,440
Management of Companies and Enterprises
NAICS 551100
7K$65,260
Wage range across top 5 industries: $65,260 to $93,660 (44% spread)

Wage Percentiles

Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
PercentileHourly RateAnnual Salary
P10$23.48$48,838
P25$29.40$61,152
P50MEDIAN$37.50$78,000
P75$47.13$98,030
P90$56.27$117,042

Market Context Signal

JOLTS · finance sector
Hot
Openings Rate
6.0%
Quits Rate
1.2%

Finance and Insurance openings surged to 428K (+98K) in March, pushing the openings rate to 6.0% -- the highest in any major sector. Quits ticked up to 1.2%. Demand for finance talent has reaccelerated sharply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators salary?

The national median salary for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators is $78,000 per year ($37.50/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $61,152 and $98,030 annually.

How much do top-earning claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators make?

The 90th percentile salary for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators is $117,042 per year ($56.27/hr). The 75th percentile is $98,030 per year.

What is the entry-level salary for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators?

Entry-level Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators (10th percentile) earn approximately $48,838 per year ($23.48/hr). The 25th percentile is $61,152 per year.

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Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Salary by State

Top 5 states by employment
Texas29,220 workersFlorida28,100 workersCalifornia24,290 workersNew York17,330 workersIllinois14,210 workers

About This Data

Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.

P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.

Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.

Next OEWS release: May 2027Verify on BLS.gov →

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