Insurance investigator vs property claims adjuster

The differences between insurance investigators and property claims 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 a property claims adjuster. Additionally, a property claims adjuster has an average salary of $54,520, 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 a property claims adjuster are customer service, claims handling, and xactimate.

Insurance investigator vs property claims adjuster overview

	Insurance Investigator	Property Claims Adjuster
Yearly salary	$40,373	$54,520
Hourly rate	$19.41	$26.21
Growth rate	-6%	-6%
Number of jobs	38,201	16,957
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 77%
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 a property claims adjuster do?

Property Claims Adjusters are individuals who evaluate the insurance claims of their clients. They specialize in the appraisal of property-related insurance claims such as damages or other concerns. They often work outside the office, typically always on fieldwork, since their job entails them to visit the property involved in the insurance claim. Property Claims Adjusters appraise the property, check the damages, evaluate whether the claims are valid, and provide their verdict. Insurance Claims on the property are adjusted based on their recommendations and final verdict. Property claims adjusters should be familiar with building codes, property laws, and insurance guidelines.

Insurance investigator vs property claims adjuster salary

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

	Insurance Investigator	Property Claims Adjuster
Average salary	$40,373	$54,520
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $61,000	Between $39,000 And $74,000
Highest paying City	-	Trenton, NJ
Highest paying state	-	New Jersey
Best paying company	-	EMC Insurance
Best paying industry	-	Insurance

Differences between insurance investigator and property claims adjuster education

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

	Insurance Investigator	Property Claims Adjuster
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Business
Most common college	California State University - Bakersfield	Stanford University

Insurance investigator vs property claims adjuster demographics

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

	Insurance Investigator	Property Claims Adjuster
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 58.0% Female, 42.0%	Male, 59.2% Female, 40.8%
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, 11.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between insurance investigator and property claims 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.

Property claims adjuster example responsibilities.

Manage file inventory by utilizing CCC pathways diary system documenting claim file activities in accordance with establish procedures
Offer diligent investigations and evaluation of commercial and third party liability claims, investigative and litigation management.
Represent the insurance company in an arbitration settlement in NYC.
Write denial letters, reservations of rights letters, and other complex correspondence.
Recognize potentially fraudulent claims, utilizes SIU and other sources as needed, consults with management.
Negotiate with attorneys, order police reports, assist with the SIU department for possible fraud claims.

Insurance investigator vs property claims 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 property claims adjuster skills

Customer Service, 34%
Claims Handling, 11%
Xactimate, 8%
Strong Customer Service, 5%
Damage Estimates, 5%
Policy Coverage, 3%

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Insurance Investigator vs Property Claims Adjuster

Updated January 8, 2025

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