How to hire a claims manager

How to hire a claims manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step claims manager 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 manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new claims manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a claims manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a claims manager, 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a claims manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a claims manager that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of claims managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Claims Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Claims Manager		$21-56
   Customer Experience Manager	A customer experience manager (CEM) links the gap between the brand they work for and the customer. It is their job to ensure that customer experience is engaging, efficient, and effective... Show more	$19-65
   Office Project Manager	An office project manager oversees office projects, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently in adherence to goals and deadlines. It is their responsibility to manage different teams, set timelines and objectives, establish guidelines, perform research and analysis, and develop strategies to optimize operations... Show more	$24-59

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Oversight
   • Litigation
   • Direct Reports
   • Claims Handling
   • Insurance Claims
   • General Liability
   • Claims Adjusters
   • Process Claims
   • Term Disability
   • Performance Management
   • Liability Claims
   • Quality Standards
   • Medicaid

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage multiple outsource PPO networks that enable company to increase top line revenue.
   • Achieve improved structure and efficiency with initiation of pip specific unit.
   • Manage day-to-day operations of claims department and provide general oversight and direction of all claims activity.
   • Oversee implementation and management of litigation and expense protocols including AFA agreements and BLO oversight.
   • Respond to all DOI questions and concerns.
   • Work with TPA, service providers and personnel on the design, implementation, and management of wellness programs.

   More claims manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your claims manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A claims manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a claims manager in North Carolina may be lower than in California, and an entry-level claims manager usually earns less than a senior-level claims manager. Additionally, a claims manager with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average claims manager salary

   $73,369yearly

   $35.27 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level claims manager salary

   $45,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 31, 2025

   Average claims manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$83,855	$40
   2	Arizona	$73,332	$35
   3	Washington	$70,305	$34
   4	Colorado	$67,668	$33
   5	Illinois	$66,642	$32
   6	Virginia	$65,157	$31
   7	Texas	$64,085	$31
   8	Nebraska	$60,204	$29
   9	Pennsylvania	$59,811	$29
   10	Iowa	$58,676	$28
   11	Georgia	$58,620	$28
   12	Florida	$58,475	$28
   13	Louisiana	$57,781	$28
   14	Tennessee	$56,122	$27
   15	New York	$55,693	$27
   16	Minnesota	$54,601	$26
   17	Massachusetts	$53,828	$26
   18	Connecticut	$53,433	$26
   19	Michigan	$53,215	$26
   20	Wisconsin	$52,932	$25

   Average claims manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Zurich	$110,011	$52.89	61
   2	Great American Insurance	$109,148	$52.48	76
   3	W. R. Berkley	$108,331	$52.08	26
   4	Mission Regional Medical Center	$105,777	$50.85	1
   5	PMA Companies	$104,296	$50.14	1
   6	Argo Group	$104,052	$50.02	34
   7	Chubb	$103,523	$49.77	119
   8	Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker Llp	$102,017	$49.05
   9	American Family Insurance	$98,888	$47.54	18
   10	RLI	$97,697	$46.97	19
   11	Pekin Insurance	$97,673	$46.96
   12	Prudential Bank	$95,898	$46.10	3
   13	AIG	$95,629	$45.98	89
   14	CCMSI	$95,537	$45.93	58
   15	Claims Management Resources	$93,243	$44.83
   16	Michels	$92,650	$44.54
   17	Munich Reinsurance America, Inc.	$91,968	$44.22
   18	Erie Insurance	$91,855	$44.16	2
   19	Gallagher	$91,764	$44.12	2
   20	IFG Companies	$91,741	$44.11

4. Writing a claims manager job description

   A good claims manager job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a claims manager job description:

   Claims manager job description example

   Our goal at Legacy Risk is to provide exceptional claims management service while working toward mitigating our clients' total cost of risk. Our insurance brokerage agency continues to grow and we are seeking an experienced Sr. P&C Claims Advocate/Consultant for our Commercial Lines Insurance team.
   
   In this position you will serve as a liaison between the client and the carrier to manage claims issues for our business. This will include receiving and processing initial claim reports, serving as a technical resource for our clients and establishing excellent working relationships with our carriers. Additional responsibilities include preparing and presenting in-person claim reviews for our clients, and communicating with producers and clients regarding claim activities, coverage and carrier issues.
   
   This position requires a Bachelor's degree, professional certification or equivalent training and education. The successful candidate must have exceptional depth and breadth of experience possessing a minimum of 7 years P&C insurance claims experience (preferably with an insurance brokerage firm) with a demonstrated ability to understand policies, coverages, forms, ratings and claims procedures. Some expertise in handling worker's compensation claims is desirable. Must have an excellent rapport with both the insureds and carriers; and exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
   
   Applied agency management system experience is desired. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office including, Word, Excel and Outlook. Proven ability to meet deadlines and possess strong analytical and organizational skills. A California insurance license and a professional designation such as AIC, ARM, CIC or WCCA preferred.
   
   Legacy Risk & Insurance Services is located in Walnut Creek, CA. Legacy is an insurance brokerage company offering risk management and commercial property/casualty insurance services to middle market commercial clients in the western U.S. We specialize in insurance programs for a variety of industries including construction & development, food & beverage, life sciences & technology, manufacturing, real estate & property management, service, solar/renewable energy and wholesale & retailers. Through our Private Client Services, we also provide specialized personal insurance solutions to affluent individuals and families.
   
   We value individual contributions, superior customer service, high performance standards, and a collaborative work style. We provide a great team environment and an opportunity for personal and professional growth. In addition, Legacy offers an outstanding compensation and benefits package including educational assistance and a 401(k) plan with company match.
   Equal Opportunity Employment We value individual contributions, superior customer service, high performance standards, and a collaborative work style. We provide a great team environment and an opportunity for personal and professional growth. As a result, Legacy was recently honored with a 1 st place ranking for 2018 Bay Area Best Places to Work by the San Francisco Business Times! We're an equal opportunity employer . All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. If you're a California resident, please read the California Consumer Privacy Act prior to applying.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right claims manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with claims manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect claims manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new claims manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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.)

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How much does it cost to hire a claims manager?