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The differences between claims 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 a claims adjuster and a field investigator. Additionally, a claims adjuster has an average salary of $51,116, which is higher than the $34,305 average annual salary of a field investigator.
The top three skills for a claims adjuster include insurance carriers, auto claims and customer service. The most important skills for a field investigator are excellent time management, background checks, and mental health.
| Claims Adjuster | Field Investigator | |
| Yearly salary | $51,116 | $34,305 |
| Hourly rate | $24.57 | $16.49 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 13,221 | 49,068 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A claim's adjuster is responsible for the handling of the insurance claims and investigating the extent of property damage and processing the business or a person's liability. Claims adjusters have a broad range of duties such as damage inspection to evaluate incident reports, communicating with property owners and spectators as well as referring to legal documents. They must also have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills to calculate payments and analyze the complexities of multiple sources. Claims adjusters should also provide timely reports for reference and possible disputes.
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.
Claims adjusters and field investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Claims Adjuster | Field Investigator | |
| Average salary | $51,116 | $34,305 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $64,000 | Between $23,000 And $50,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Merchants Insurance Group | The Travelers Companies |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a claims adjuster and a field investigator in terms of educational background:
| Claims Adjuster | Field Investigator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Criminal Justice |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between claims adjusters' and field investigators' demographics:
| Claims Adjuster | Field Investigator | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 45.1% Female, 54.9% | Male, 72.5% Female, 27.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 5.2% White, 61.2% 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% |