Property claims adjuster vs total loss specialist

The differences between property claims 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 property claims adjuster and a total loss specialist. Additionally, a property claims adjuster has an average salary of $54,520, which is higher than the $51,718 average annual salary of a total loss specialist.

The top three skills for a property claims adjuster include customer service, claims handling and xactimate. The most important skills for a total loss specialist are customer service, HR, and outbound calls.

Property claims adjuster vs total loss specialist overview

	Property Claims Adjuster	Total Loss Specialist
Yearly salary	$54,520	$51,718
Hourly rate	$26.21	$24.86
Growth rate	-6%	-6%
Number of jobs	16,957	33,617
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 77%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

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.

What does a total loss specialist do?

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.

Property claims adjuster vs total loss specialist salary

Property claims adjusters and total loss specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Property Claims Adjuster	Total Loss Specialist
Average salary	$54,520	$51,718
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $74,000	Between $32,000 And $81,000
Highest paying City	Trenton, NJ	-
Highest paying state	New Jersey	-
Best paying company	EMC Insurance	-
Best paying industry	Insurance	-

Differences between property claims adjuster and total loss specialist education

There are a few differences between a property claims adjuster and a total loss specialist in terms of educational background:

	Property Claims Adjuster	Total Loss Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 77%	Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Property claims adjuster vs total loss specialist demographics

Here are the differences between property claims adjusters' and total loss specialists' demographics:

	Property Claims Adjuster	Total Loss Specialist
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 59.2% Female, 40.8%	Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3%
Race ratio	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%	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%

Differences between property claims adjuster and total loss specialist duties and responsibilities

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.

Total loss specialist example responsibilities.

Analyze and support development and execution of underwriting, automation and operational strategies to efficiently and effectively manage the portfolio.
Work with SIU to flag fraud and mitigate fraudulent payouts.
Clean, pack and organize the SIU office and files.
Participate in utilizing inter-company arbitration.
Participate in utilizing inter-company arbitration.

Property claims adjuster vs total loss specialist skills

Common property claims adjuster skills

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

Common total loss specialist skills

Customer Service, 22%
HR, 16%
Outbound Calls, 7%
Inbound Calls, 6%
Insurance Claims, 4%
Training Sessions, 4%

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Property Claims Adjuster
Property Claims Adjuster vs Total Loss Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

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