How to hire a material damage adjuster

How to hire a material damage adjuster, step by step

Here's a step-by-step material damage adjuster hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a material damage adjuster job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new material damage adjuster
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The material damage adjuster hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   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 material damage adjuster 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 presents material damage adjuster salaries for various positions.

   Type of Material Damage Adjuster	Description	Hourly rate
   Material Damage Adjuster	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	$17-38
   Insurance Investigator	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... Show more	$12-29
   Field Investigator	A field investigator is responsible for collecting information and evidence to support ongoing investigations of law enforcement agencies. Field investigators analyze the occurrence and connections of criminal activities by gathering related cases and coordinating with scene witnesses... Show more	$11-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Insurance Claims
   • Policy Coverage
   • Repair Estimates
   • ISO
   • Customer Service
   • Police Reports
   • Insurance Policies
   • Repair Facilities
   • Coverage Issues
   • Policy Language
   • Material Damage Claims
   • Claims Handling
   • Arbitration
   • Process Claims

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Apply strong customer service, organizational and multitasking skills to efficiently manage auto insurance claims.
   • Review files for SIU investigations for all fire and theft losses.
   • Resolve total loss claims using CCC evaluations for market evaluation of vehicles.
   • Research and resolve total loss claims, while obtaining reports from CCC.
   • Create summaries explaining repair cost differences for arbitration purposes.
   • Research and review delinquent mortgage cases, financial scenarios and individual homeowner situations to develop solutions compliant with investor policy.

   More material damage adjuster duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the material damage adjuster job description is a good way to get more applicants. A material damage adjuster salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a material damage adjuster in Arkansas may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level material damage adjuster. Additionally, a material damage adjuster with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average material damage adjuster salary

   $53,724yearly

   $25.83 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level material damage adjuster salary

   $36,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

   Average material damage adjuster salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Kentucky	$65,169	$31
   2	Virginia	$63,184	$30
   3	Maryland	$62,959	$30
   4	New York	$61,042	$29
   5	Washington	$56,903	$27
   6	Maine	$56,562	$27
   7	Ohio	$56,306	$27
   8	North Carolina	$56,202	$27
   9	Colorado	$55,327	$27
   10	Texas	$54,972	$26
   11	Nevada	$53,604	$26
   12	West Virginia	$53,224	$26
   13	Missouri	$52,603	$25
   14	Nebraska	$51,075	$25
   15	Arizona	$50,981	$25
   16	Iowa	$50,578	$24
   17	Oklahoma	$49,771	$24
   18	Kansas	$49,538	$24
   19	Louisiana	$49,017	$24
   20	Tennessee	$48,643	$23

   Average material damage adjuster salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Erie Insurance	$60,547	$29.11	37
   2	Progressive	$59,266	$28.49	70
   3	GuideOne Insurance	$57,745	$27.76	8
   4	California Casualty	$54,562	$26.23
   5	National General Insurance	$53,876	$25.90
   6	Shelter Insurance	$49,368	$23.73	14

4. Writing a material damage adjuster job description

   A job description for a material damage adjuster 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 material damage adjuster job description:

   Material damage adjuster job description example

   This is for an experienced and already-trained AD adjuster in the Utica, Binghamton, or Oneonta area.
   THIS IS NOT A TRAINEE POSITION
   
   We are looking for a talented Auto Damage Adjuster to join our team as an Auto Damage Adjuster I, II, or III! As an experienced Adjuster, you should have a minimum of 12 months of Auto Damage experience and demonstrated a track record of success delivering excellent customer service while promptly and accurately settling claims. The ideal candidate will have the ability to handle complex claims using their technical and industry knowledge.
   
   Salary varies commensurate with experience.
   
   Schedule:
   
   Primarily Monday-Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM, but must be flexible
   
   Benefits:
   
   At GEICO, we make sure you have the support and resources to leverage and develop your skills, secure your financial future, and take care of your health and well-being. GEICO continually seeks to provide a workplace where everyone can be their authentic self. To help achieve this goal, we support associate-led Employee Resource Groups that foster a true sense of community. Through GEICO's competitive benefits offerings and various training and development opportunities, we have you covered with our Total Rewards Program* that includes:
   
   * Premier Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance with no waiting period
   * Paid Vacation, Sick and Parental Leave
   * 401(k) Plan
   * Tuition Assistance including Direct Billing and Reimbursement payment plan options
   * Paid Training, Licensures, and Certificates
   
   Qualifications & Skills:
   
   * New York State Appraiser's License *required*
   * Valid driver's license (must meet company underwriting guidelines for at least the past 3 consecutive years) and the ability to maintain applicable state and federal certifications and permits
   * Willingness to be flexible with primary work location - position may require either remote or in-office work
   * Solid computer, mechanical aptitude, and multi-tasking skills
   * Effective attention to detail and decision-making skills
   * Ability to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, and willingness to expand on these abilities
   * Minimum of high school diploma or equivalent, college degree or currently pursuing preferred
   * Benefits may be different by location. Benefit eligibility requirements vary and may include length of service.
   
   Coverage begins on the date of hire. Must enroll in New Hire Benefits within 30 days of the date of hire for coverage to take effect.
   
   GEICO is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to cultivating an environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all associates and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law. GEICO celebrates diversity and believes it is critical to our success. As such, we are committed to recruit, develop and retain the most talented individuals to join our team.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting material damage adjusters requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 material damage adjuster

   Once you've selected the best material damage adjuster candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new material damage adjuster. 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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