Insurance investigator vs adjuster

The differences between insurance investigators and adjusters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an insurance investigator and an adjuster. Additionally, an adjuster has an average salary of $49,396, which is higher than the $40,373 average annual salary of an insurance investigator.

The top three skills for an insurance investigator include insurance claims, insurance benefits and general liability. The most important skills for an adjuster are customer service, strong customer service, and litigation.

Insurance investigator vs adjuster overview

	Insurance Investigator	Adjuster
Yearly salary	$40,373	$49,396
Hourly rate	$19.41	$23.75
Growth rate	-6%	-6%
Number of jobs	38,201	7,936
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

What does an insurance investigator do?

A claims investigator is responsible for examining and investigating in a particular insurance claim is valid. They ensure that the insurance company will settle claims as soon as possible. They resolve issues to prevent fraudulent allegations. This career also requires effective communication. Claims investigators must often conduct interviews.

What does an adjuster do?

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. They collect documents from different organizations, perform field research, and interview witnesses to verify the accuracy of claims statement.

Insurance investigator vs adjuster salary

Insurance investigators and adjusters have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Insurance Investigator	Adjuster
Average salary	$40,373	$49,396
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $61,000	Between $35,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City	-	Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
Highest paying state	-	New Jersey
Best paying company	-	FCCI
Best paying industry	-	Insurance

Differences between insurance investigator and adjuster education

There are a few differences between an insurance investigator and an adjuster in terms of educational background:

	Insurance Investigator	Adjuster
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Business
Most common college	California State University - Bakersfield	Stanford University

Insurance investigator vs adjuster demographics

Here are the differences between insurance investigators' and adjusters' demographics:

	Insurance Investigator	Adjuster
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 58.0% Female, 42.0%	Male, 56.9% Female, 43.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 5.5% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 5.1% White, 61.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between insurance investigator and adjuster duties and responsibilities

Insurance investigator example responsibilities.

Manage and dispose of claims in litigation by preparing and developing strategy with defense counsel and consensus relative to litigation handling.
Research commercial coverage plans and government plans such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Follow all HIPPA guidelines and procedures to protect patients and company interest.
Analyze high risk transaction activity and provide final approval of investigative case analyses utilize for SAR preparation and filing.
Prepare facility specific HIPAA authorizations for release of records.

Adjuster example responsibilities.

Manage strict confidentiality of documents and comply with HIPAA regulations stipulate by the facility and government.
Review evidence obtain in liability investigations to evaluate a claim for success in recovery through litigation or arbitration.
Document measurements and relevant data to author estimates and appraisals utilizing Xactimate 28software.
Charge with answering and defending policy holders and company interests through independent and binding third-party arbitration proceedings.
Review departmental reports and financial data; prepare reports of findings, negotiating settlement demands or recommending litigation.
Prepare computerize estimates utilizing Xactimate and document all activity associate with the claim in clients web base claims management system.

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Insurance investigator vs adjuster skills

Common insurance investigator skills

Insurance Claims, 14%
Insurance Benefits, 12%
General Liability, 9%
Scene Investigations, 7%
Insurance Laws, 6%
Consumer Complaints, 6%

Common adjuster skills

Customer Service, 19%
Strong Customer Service, 7%
Litigation, 7%
Liability Claims, 6%
Policy Coverage, 6%
Insurance Claims, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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