How to hire a claims representative

How to hire a claims representative, step by step

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

What does a claims representative do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your claims representative job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a claims representative for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect claims representative also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of claims representatives.

   Type of Claims Representative	Description	Hourly rate
   Claims Representative	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	$13-25
   Property Adjuster	Typically working for insurance companies, a property adjuster specializes in inspecting property damages to assess and determine a company's financial obligations. Their responsibilities revolve around reaching out to clients through calls and correspondence, arranging appointments, gathering and verifying data, and traveling to different locations to meet with clients... Show more	$18-36
   Adjuster	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... Show more	$16-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Quality Standards
   • Policy Coverage
   • Reservations
   • Claims Handling
   • Insurance Coverage
   • State Regulations
   • Insurance Policies
   • Xactimate
   • Medical Terminology
   • Auto Claims
   • Process Claims
   • Insurance Claims
   • Litigation

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Perform initial set-up and continuously manage claims in the Juris claims management system.
   • Investigate, evaluate, and manage call to complete coverage analysis confirming or denying coverage using Xactimate estimating software.
   • Prepare necessary state filings within statutory limits, manage litigation and vocational rehabilitation process, used appropriate cost containment techniques.
   • Assist the training department in developing CSR training in order to set expectations.
   • Create custom templates and guide sheets for new trainees in the CSR Internet division to ensure consistency and increase department efficiency.
   • Utilize proper SIU reporting procedures for extensive investigation as required.

   More claims representative duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, claims representatives' average salary in louisiana is 44% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level claims representatives 47% less than senior-level claims representatives.
   • Certifications. A claims representative 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 representative's salary.

   Average claims representative salary

   $38,796yearly

   $18.65 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level claims representative salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

   Average claims representative salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Michigan	$50,921	$24
   2	New York	$49,997	$24
   3	District of Columbia	$49,857	$24
   4	Connecticut	$48,884	$24
   5	Pennsylvania	$46,924	$23
   6	Massachusetts	$45,837	$22
   7	Oregon	$45,452	$22
   8	California	$43,719	$21
   9	Hawaii	$43,409	$21
   10	New Hampshire	$42,146	$20
   11	Kansas	$40,655	$20
   12	Ohio	$39,866	$19
   13	Texas	$38,429	$18
   14	Illinois	$38,387	$18
   15	Colorado	$38,343	$18
   16	Georgia	$37,796	$18
   17	North Carolina	$37,200	$18
   18	Virginia	$36,841	$18
   19	Minnesota	$36,381	$17
   20	Iowa	$35,967	$17

   Average claims representative salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	W. R. Berkley	$51,800	$24.90	32
   2	AIG	$48,997	$23.56	116
   3	Pentair	$48,301	$23.22
   4	SECURA Insurance	$47,897	$23.03	2
   5	BERKLEY TECHNOLOGY SERVICES	$46,816	$22.51	37
   6	Byrider	$46,500	$22.36
   7	Progressive	$46,237	$22.23	75
   8	Capital Group	$44,989	$21.63	5
   9	Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies	$44,216	$21.26	22
   10	The Hartford	$44,202	$21.25	54
   11	USAA	$44,136	$21.22	73
   12	Ryder System	$43,915	$21.11	439
   13	CNA Insurance	$42,805	$20.58	60
   14	Chubb	$42,763	$20.56	170
   15	AssuredPartners	$42,743	$20.55
   16	The Travelers Companies	$42,677	$20.52	145
   17	Great American Insurance	$42,474	$20.42	95
   18	National General Insurance	$42,300	$20.34
   19	Mercury Insurance	$42,274	$20.32	21
   20	JGS Insurance	$42,101	$20.24	1

4. Writing a claims representative job description

   A job description for a claims representative role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a claims representative job description:

   Claims representative job description example

   You work for NJM? That's a great company!" If you're hired at NJM, you'll hear it over and over again from friends, family and neighbors. Why? Because NJM is committed to providing its customers with superior service, and great service goes a long way. Why else is NJM called a great company? Because our employees enjoy working here, are appreciated, and are provided with a great benefits plan.
   
   At New Jersey Manufacturers (NJM), a top-rated insurance company, our General Claims department in West Trenton, NJ is looking for a Customer Service Representative (Claims) candidate who has excellent communication skills as well as strong organizational and time management skills. The official NJM job title is Subrogation Claims Rep I.
   Job Responsibilities:
   Receive and process subrogation claims, seeking recoveries from adverse parties and/or their insurance carriers Thoroughly review, evaluate and investigate subrogation claims to obtain necessary information for prompt resolutions Negotiate subrogation claims and resolve liability and/or damage disputes for successful recoveries. Efficiently credit recovery checks and issue deductible payments to our insureds Send out subrogation demands and all follow up letters. Apply comparative negligence laws Professionally respond and communicate on all subrogation related issues. Coordinate efforts with the General Claims Department. Provide excellent customer service to our policyholders
   
   Job Requirements:
   Bachelor's degree is preferred Knowledge of Claims or Personal Lines area are a plus Ability to produce quality work in a timely fashion Must be detail oriented, organized, and possess strong time management skills Ability to multi-task, problem-solve and the ability to make decisions Must be computer literate and have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Effective communication skills, including strong negotiation skills Prior claims experience is a plus
   
   Salary Range: $46,000 - $53,000. Salary is commensurate with experience and credentials.
   
   Legal Disclaimer: NJM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to attracting, retaining and promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce that is fully representative of the diversity that exists in the communities in which we do business.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right claims representative 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 representative job on Zippia to find and recruit claims representative candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit claims representatives, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 representative

   Once you've found the claims representative candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new claims representative. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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 representative?