Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$78,000
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$37.50
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$117,040
entry level starts ~$48,850
Pay Grade
B+
strong pay · 324,000 employed

How much do Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators make?

The median pay for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators in the United States is $78,000 per year — about $37.50 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $48,850, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $117,040.

That is $16,610 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators salary range by percentile

Half of all Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators earn between $61,160 and $98,030 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$48,850$23.49
25th percentile (early career)$61,160$29.40
50th percentile (median)$78,000$37.50
75th percentile (experienced)$98,030$47.13
90th percentile (top earners)$117,040$56.27

Highest-paying states for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators pay at $101,150 a year, followed by New Jersey ($95,690) and Maryland ($95,560). At the other end, Nevada posts the lowest median at $62,730 — a gap of $38,420 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1District of Columbia$101,150$48.63+30%
2New Jersey$95,690$46.00+23%
3Maryland$95,560$45.94+23%
4California$91,790$44.13+18%
5Connecticut$88,330$42.47+13%

Workforce and education

About 324,000 people work as Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $80,470 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators make in the United States?
The median Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators salary in the United States is $78,000 per year, or about $37.50 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $48,850, while the top 10% of earners make $117,040 or more.
How does Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B+ (strong pay), the Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators median of $78,000 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators, with a median salary of $101,150 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators need?
For most positions, a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators work in the United States?
About 324,000 people were employed as Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.