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The differences between general adjusters and total loss specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a general adjuster and a total loss specialist. Additionally, a general adjuster has an average salary of $62,495, which is higher than the $51,718 average annual salary of a total loss specialist.
The top three skills for a general adjuster include customer service, xactimate and claims handling. The most important skills for a total loss specialist are customer service, HR, and outbound calls.
| General Adjuster | Total Loss Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $62,495 | $51,718 |
| Hourly rate | $30.05 | $24.86 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 47,263 | 33,617 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
In insurance companies, a general adjuster is responsible for studying and analyzing insurance claims to identify the company's financial liability. As a general adjuster, they must personally assess the extent and cause of property or physical damages, including the cost of repairs. They may also conduct interviews with witnesses or experts to ensure the eligibility of claims. Furthermore, as a general adjuster, it is essential to maintain records and documentation of procedures and cases, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
As a Total Loss Specialist, your job will involve appraising the damage and determining the salvage value on the total-loss vehicle. You will be tasked with examining the damaged vehicle to ascertain the extent of damage done to its body and structure and other mechanical, electrical, and internal damage. You'd also have to arrange with another appraiser to resolve any disagreement with the shop on the cost of repair after determining the extent of the damage to the vehicle.
General adjusters and total loss specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| General Adjuster | Total Loss Specialist | |
| Average salary | $62,495 | $51,718 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $94,000 | Between $32,000 And $81,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between a general adjuster and a total loss specialist in terms of educational background:
| General Adjuster | Total Loss Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 76% | Bachelor's Degree, 60% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between general adjusters' and total loss specialists' demographics:
| General Adjuster | Total Loss Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.0% Female, 27.0% | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 5.3% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 14.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 5.4% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |