Auto claims adjuster vs claim investigator

The differences between auto claims adjusters and claim 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 auto claims adjuster and a claim investigator. Additionally, an auto claims adjuster has an average salary of $52,621, which is higher than the $49,415 average annual salary of a claim investigator.

The top three skills for an auto claims adjuster include repair process, body shop and strong customer service. The most important skills for a claim investigator are scene investigations, insurance claims, and property damage.

Auto claims adjuster vs claim investigator overview

	Auto Claims Adjuster	Claim Investigator
Yearly salary	$52,621	$49,415
Hourly rate	$25.30	$23.76
Growth rate	-6%	-6%
Number of jobs	16,187	8,738
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

What does an auto claims adjuster do?

A claims adjuster inspects insurance claim liability for property damage or personal injuries and calculates payments. They can either work in-house for insurance companies or as external freelancers. They collect gathered information from different reliable sources to determine insurance obligations based on the degree of damage caused. It is part of their responsibility to interview claimants and witnesses and refer with experts like engineers or policyholders to estimate the damage and if it's covered by insurance policies.

What does a claim investigator do?

Claim Investigators are professionals who are responsible for examining facts of insurance claims to determine their extent and validity to prevent any cases of fraud. These investigators must use a combination of tools such as cutting-edge software to help insurance companies to settle claims quickly by evaluating them. They are required to manage multiple cases by investigating defective products or events such as an oil spill. Claim Investigators must also prepare reports while keeping track of evidence trails.

Auto claims adjuster vs claim investigator salary

Auto claims adjusters and claim investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Auto Claims Adjuster	Claim Investigator
Average salary	$52,621	$49,415
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $71,000	Between $37,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City	Jersey City, NJ	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	Alaska
Best paying company	EMC Insurance	Health Alliance
Best paying industry	Insurance	Finance

Differences between auto claims adjuster and claim investigator education

There are a few differences between an auto claims adjuster and a claim investigator in terms of educational background:

	Auto Claims Adjuster	Claim Investigator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 72%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common major	Business	Criminal Justice
Most common college	Stanford University	California State University - Bakersfield

Auto claims adjuster vs claim investigator demographics

Here are the differences between auto claims adjusters' and claim investigators' demographics:

	Auto Claims Adjuster	Claim Investigator
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 52.2% Female, 47.8%	Male, 52.5% Female, 47.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 5.2% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between auto claims adjuster and claim investigator duties and responsibilities

Auto claims adjuster example responsibilities.

Manage file inventory by utilizing CCC pathways diary system documenting claim file activities in accordance with establish procedures
Work closely with staff attorneys to develop litigation strategies and prepare for depositions.
Provide feedback and implement strategies on claim investigation, reserving, settlement and litigation.
Research and review delinquent mortgage cases, financial scenarios and individual homeowner situations to develop solutions compliant with investor policy.
Prepare written arguments for arbitration and provide all supporting documentation and evidence.
Compile and submit arbitration applications against the insurers of at-fault parties who refuse liability.

Claim investigator example responsibilities.

Manage and dispose of claims in litigation by preparing and developing strategy with defense counsel and consensus relative to litigation handling.
Coordinate with SIU investigators in their investigations of the same claimant or insure.
Collaborate with SIU, fire, and police personnel in an effort to resolve investigations.
Conduct extensive field investigations and interact with staff attorneys on litigation matters.
Prepare and/or review property and content estimates for settlement using Xactimate and XactContents software programs.
Conduct complete assessment of interior and exterior damage to create a detail repair estimate within Xactimate software.

Auto claims adjuster vs claim investigator skills

Common auto claims adjuster skills

Repair Process, 14%
Body Shop, 10%
Strong Customer Service, 9%
Vehicle Inspections, 8%
Insurance Claims, 7%
Customer Service, 5%

Common claim investigator skills

Scene Investigations, 11%
Insurance Claims, 7%
Property Damage, 5%
Fraud Claims, 5%
Background Checks, 5%
Litigation, 4%

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Auto Claims Adjuster
Auto Claims Adjuster vs Claim Investigator

Updated January 8, 2025

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