Adjuster vs general contractor

The differences between adjusters and general contractors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an adjuster, becoming a general contractor takes usually requires 6-8 years. Additionally, a general contractor has an average salary of $66,602, which is higher than the $49,396 average annual salary of an adjuster.

The top three skills for an adjuster include customer service, strong customer service and litigation. The most important skills for a general contractor are plumbing, safety regulations, and contract negotiations.

Adjuster vs general contractor overview

	Adjuster	General Contractor
Yearly salary	$49,396	$66,602
Hourly rate	$23.75	$32.02
Growth rate	-6%	8%
Number of jobs	7,936	66,218
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age	44	46
Years of experience	4	8

What does an adjuster do?

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.

What does a general contractor do?

The job of general contractors is to oversee the day-to-day operations of projects in the organization. General contractors are considered seasoned experts when it comes to home improvement. They provide the material, equipment, labor, and services for a construction project. Often, they hire specialized subcontractors who will be working on some part of the construction work. They should have attained a bachelor's or associate's degree in construction management. Their experience in the industry is highly coveted.

Adjuster vs general contractor salary

Adjusters and general contractors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Adjuster	General Contractor
Average salary	$49,396	$66,602
Salary range	Between $35,000 And $68,000	Between $41,000 And $107,000
Highest paying City	Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ	-
Highest paying state	New Jersey	-
Best paying company	FCCI	-
Best paying industry	Insurance	-

Differences between adjuster and general contractor education

There are a few differences between an adjuster and a general contractor in terms of educational background:

	Adjuster	General Contractor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

Adjuster vs general contractor demographics

Here are the differences between adjusters' and general contractors' demographics:

	Adjuster	General Contractor
Average age	44	46
Gender ratio	Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1%	Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4%
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, 3.6% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.0% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	10%	4%

Differences between adjuster and general contractor duties and responsibilities

Adjuster example responsibilities.

Manage strict confidentiality of documents and comply with HIPAA regulations stipulate by the facility and government.
Review evidence obtain in liability investigations to evaluate a claim for success in recovery through litigation or arbitration.
Document measurements and relevant data to author estimates and appraisals utilizing Xactimate 28software.
Charge with answering and defending policy holders and company interests through independent and binding third-party arbitration proceedings.
Review departmental reports and financial data; prepare reports of findings, negotiating settlement demands or recommending litigation.
Prepare computerize estimates utilizing Xactimate and document all activity associate with the claim in clients web base claims management system.

Show more

General contractor example responsibilities.

Manage the repair/replacement of mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and structural of primarily historical residences.
Manage third party contractors including safety oversight, environmental design specification compliance, and similar construction specifications and requirements.
Perform electrical, mechanical (HVAC), plumbing, framing, roofing and finishing construction for residential and commercial buildings.
Remodel restaurants, which include painting, dry wall, tiling, plumbing, electrical and laying carpet.
Assist and perform all duties with installation of cabinets, flooring, sheetrock, framing, concrete, and basic plumbing.
Experience in roofing, painting, digging of footers, and tile setting.

Show more

Adjuster vs general contractor skills

Common adjuster skills

Customer Service, 19%
Strong Customer Service, 7%
Litigation, 7%
Liability Claims, 6%
Policy Coverage, 6%
Insurance Claims, 4%

Common general contractor skills

Plumbing, 17%
Safety Regulations, 12%
Contract Negotiations, 11%
Drywall Installation, 7%
Construction Projects, 4%
Payroll, 4%

Adjuster vs. similar jobs

Adjuster related careers

Adjuster related jobs

What similar roles do

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse business and financial jobs

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z