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The differences between adjusters and field investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an adjuster and a field investigator. Additionally, an adjuster has an average salary of $49,396, which is higher than the $34,305 average annual salary of a field investigator.
The top three skills for an adjuster include customer service, strong customer service and litigation. The most important skills for a field investigator are excellent time management, background checks, and mental health.
| Adjuster | Field Investigator | |
| Yearly salary | $49,396 | $34,305 |
| Hourly rate | $23.75 | $16.49 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 7,936 | 49,068 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An adjuster is responsible for evaluating the extent of loss in the company by calculating the damage costs, determining the settlement payment to the client, and managing the reputation of the company for claims accountability. Adjusters must have extensive knowledge of the insurance principles and processes, following the state and federal regulations to protect clients and the business from insurance fraud. They collect documents from different organizations, perform field research, and interview witnesses to verify the accuracy of claims statement.
A field investigator is responsible for collecting information and evidence to support ongoing investigations of law enforcement agencies. Field investigators analyze the occurrence and connections of criminal activities by gathering related cases and coordinating with scene witnesses. They also validate the information by conducting surveillance operations and coordinating with law professionals. A field investigator may also work for private clients, updating them regularly for the progress, and informing them of additional actions as needed to solve complicated cases.
Adjusters and field investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Adjuster | Field Investigator | |
| Average salary | $49,396 | $34,305 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $68,000 | Between $23,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | FCCI | The Travelers Companies |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Insurance |
There are a few differences between an adjuster and a field investigator in terms of educational background:
| Adjuster | Field Investigator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 62% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between adjusters' and field investigators' demographics:
| Adjuster | Field Investigator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1% | Male, 72.5% Female, 27.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |