How to hire a claims adjuster

How to hire a claims adjuster, step by step

Here's a step-by-step claims adjuster hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a claims adjuster job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new claims adjuster
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a claims adjuster do?

Post a claims adjuster job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a claims adjuster, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A claims adjuster's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, claims adjusters from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of claims adjuster salaries for various roles:

   Type of Claims Adjuster	Description	Hourly rate
   Claims Adjuster	Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators evaluate insurance claims. They decide whether an insurance company must pay a claim, and if so, how much... Show more	$19-30
   Field Investigator	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... Show more	$11-24
   Claims Service Representative	Claims service representatives evaluate customer insurance claims. Their tasks in this career include interviewing witnesses or customers and visiting accident sites to assess the scope of the claim... Show more	$14-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Insurance Carriers
   • Auto Claims
   • Customer Service
   • Litigation
   • Xactimate
   • Claims Handling
   • Multitasking
   • Insurance Coverage
   • Bodily Injury Claims
   • Policy Coverage
   • Insurance Policy
   • Police Reports
   • Policy Provisions
   • Medical Claims

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Achieve targeted performance goals to manage costs and support Allstate's industry-leading operational standards.
   • Maintain a full caseload of WC files for a Louisiana customer, for six months, while managing this team.
   • Manage California branch operations including supervision of 5 WC adjusting and support staff
   • Apply strong customer service, organizational and multitasking skills to efficiently manage auto insurance claims.
   • Manage strict confidentiality of documents and comply with HIPAA regulations stipulate by the facility and government.
   • Manage file inventory by utilizing CCC pathways diary system documenting claim file activities in accordance with establish procedures

   More claims adjuster duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your claims adjuster job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A claims adjuster can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, claims adjusters' average salary in mississippi is 28% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level claims adjusters 38% less than senior-level claims adjusters.
   • Certifications. A claims adjuster with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a claims adjuster's salary.

   Average claims adjuster salary

   $51,116yearly

   $24.57 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level claims adjuster salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 23, 2025

   Average claims adjuster salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$59,457	$29
   2	New York	$59,436	$29
   3	Massachusetts	$57,593	$28
   4	Washington	$56,218	$27
   5	Oregon	$53,484	$26
   6	Michigan	$52,614	$25
   7	Missouri	$50,972	$25
   8	Maine	$50,713	$24
   9	Colorado	$50,529	$24
   10	Texas	$50,418	$24
   11	Kansas	$50,062	$24
   12	Minnesota	$50,020	$24
   13	Wisconsin	$49,487	$24
   14	Nevada	$49,420	$24
   15	South Dakota	$49,189	$24
   16	Georgia	$49,006	$24
   17	Illinois	$48,983	$24
   18	Oklahoma	$48,903	$24
   19	New Mexico	$48,574	$23
   20	Florida	$48,218	$23

   Average claims adjuster salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Merchants Insurance Group	$56,902	$27.36
   2	Mercy Health	$55,418	$26.64
   3	TALENT Software Services	$55,396	$26.63
   4	AIG	$55,321	$26.60	113
   5	EMC Insurance	$54,715	$26.31
   6	Confie	$54,070	$26.00
   7	Hylant	$54,062	$25.99	4
   8	Protect My Car	$53,887	$25.91
   9	Acadia Healthcare	$53,668	$25.80
   10	Root Insurance	$53,664	$25.80
   11	Sedgwick LLP	$53,660	$25.80	1,736
   12	The General	$53,613	$25.78
   13	FCCI	$53,558	$25.75
   14	AssuredPartners	$53,508	$25.73
   15	W. R. Berkley	$53,307	$25.63	31
   16	The Travelers Companies	$53,211	$25.58	143
   17	Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County	$52,846	$25.41
   18	Paul Davis USA	$52,541	$25.26	1
   19	Baylor Scott & White Health	$52,350	$25.17	2
   20	Amerisure Insurance	$52,321	$25.15	7

4. Writing a claims adjuster job description

   A claims adjuster job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a claims adjuster job description:

   Claims adjuster job description example

   Location: Evesham, NJ 08053

   Duration: Contract to hire

   
   PRIMARY PURPOSE:

   To analyze mid- and higher-level workers compensation claims to determine benefits due; to ensure ongoing adjudication of claims within company standards and industry best practices; and to identify subrogation of claims and negotiate settlements.

   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES

   · Manages workers compensation claims determining compensability and benefits due on long term indemnity claims, monitors reserve accuracy, and files necessary documentation with state agency.

   · Develops and manages workers compensation claims' action plans to resolution, coordinates return-to-work efforts, and approves claim payments.

   · Approves and processes assigned claims, determines benefits due, and manages action plan pursuant to the claim or client contract.

   · Manages subrogation of claims and negotiates settlements.

   · Communicates claim action with claimant and client.

   · Ensures claim files are properly documented and claims coding is correct.

   · May process complex lifetime medical and/or defined period medical claims which include state and physician filings and decisions on appropriate treatments recommended by utilization review.

   · Maintains professional client relationships.

   ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES

   · Performs other duties as assigned.

   · Supports the organization's quality program(s).

   · Travels as required.

   Company DescriptionBC Forward began as an IT business solutions and staffing firm. Founded in 1998, BCforward has grown with our customers’ needs into a full-service personnel solutions organization. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, BCforward also operates numerous delivery centers across North America and India. We are currently the largest consulting firm and largest MBE certified firm in Indiana. Our uninterrupted growth has allowed BCforward to deliver uniquely configured IT staffing and project solutions for over years of catering to our customers’ specific needs. BCforward currently maintains a team of over 5000 global resources. With our additional brand, Stafforward, together we have the capabilities to deliver services for a variety of industries in both public and private sectors which allows us to address your most challenging needs.
   www.BCforward.com

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find claims adjusters for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any claims adjusters they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level claims adjusters with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your claims adjuster job on Zippia to find and recruit claims adjuster candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting claims adjusters requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new claims adjuster

   Once you have selected a candidate for the claims adjuster position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a claims adjuster?