Senior claims adjuster vs claim investigator

The differences between senior claims adjusters and claim investigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a senior claims adjuster and a claim investigator. Additionally, a senior claims adjuster has an average salary of $58,688, which is higher than the $49,415 average annual salary of a claim investigator.

The top three skills for a senior claims adjuster include customer service, litigation and coverage issues. The most important skills for a claim investigator are scene investigations, insurance claims, and property damage.

Senior claims adjuster vs claim investigator overview

	Senior Claims Adjuster	Claim Investigator
Yearly salary	$58,688	$49,415
Hourly rate	$28.22	$23.76
Growth rate	-6%	-6%
Number of jobs	11,495	8,738
Job satisfaction	2	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

What does a senior claims adjuster do?

A senior claims adjuster is in charge of inspecting and analyzing insurance claims to validate and adjust payments. Among their responsibilities include reviewing and verifying claims documents, visiting sites to investigate property damages and personal injuries, gathering evidence such as photos and videos, and conducting interviews with witnesses and clients. Moreover, as a senior claims adjuster, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to fellow claims adjusters while enforcing and promoting the company's policies and regulations.

What does a claim investigator do?

Claim Investigators are professionals who are responsible for examining facts of insurance claims to determine their extent and validity to prevent any cases of fraud. These investigators must use a combination of tools such as cutting-edge software to help insurance companies to settle claims quickly by evaluating them. They are required to manage multiple cases by investigating defective products or events such as an oil spill. Claim Investigators must also prepare reports while keeping track of evidence trails.

Senior claims adjuster vs claim investigator salary

Senior claims adjusters and claim investigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Senior Claims Adjuster	Claim Investigator
Average salary	$58,688	$49,415
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $91,000	Between $37,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City	Roseville, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	New Jersey	Alaska
Best paying company	EMC Insurance	Health Alliance
Best paying industry	Insurance	Finance

Differences between senior claims adjuster and claim investigator education

There are a few differences between a senior claims adjuster and a claim investigator in terms of educational background:

	Senior Claims Adjuster	Claim Investigator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 70%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common major	Business	Criminal Justice
Most common college	Stanford University	California State University - Bakersfield

Senior claims adjuster vs claim investigator demographics

Here are the differences between senior claims adjusters' and claim investigators' demographics:

	Senior Claims Adjuster	Claim Investigator
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 48.2% Female, 51.8%	Male, 52.5% Female, 47.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 5.2% White, 61.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 5.2% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between senior claims adjuster and claim investigator duties and responsibilities

Senior claims adjuster example responsibilities.

Manage file inventory by utilizing CCC pathways diary system documenting claim file activities in accordance with establish procedures
Experience litigation adjuster proactively investigating, evaluating, and negotiating commercial and homeowner general liability casualty and property damage liability claims.
Prepare and calculate consumer pensions as well as variable & fix annuities.
Develop relationships with other departments such as sales, underwriting, and SIU in order to meet business goals.
Prepare property repair estimates utilizing Xactimate estimating software.
Structure settlement options with annuities and Medicare set-aside programs.

Claim investigator example responsibilities.

Manage and dispose of claims in litigation by preparing and developing strategy with defense counsel and consensus relative to litigation handling.
Coordinate with SIU investigators in their investigations of the same claimant or insure.
Collaborate with SIU, fire, and police personnel in an effort to resolve investigations.
Conduct extensive field investigations and interact with staff attorneys on litigation matters.
Prepare and/or review property and content estimates for settlement using Xactimate and XactContents software programs.
Conduct complete assessment of interior and exterior damage to create a detail repair estimate within Xactimate software.

Senior claims adjuster vs claim investigator skills

Common senior claims adjuster skills

Customer Service, 25%
Litigation, 9%
Coverage Issues, 6%
Strong Customer Service, 5%
Settlement Authority, 5%
Claims Handling, 3%

Common claim investigator skills

Scene Investigations, 11%
Insurance Claims, 7%
Property Damage, 5%
Fraud Claims, 5%
Background Checks, 5%
Litigation, 4%

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Senior Claims Adjuster
Senior Claims Adjuster vs Claim Investigator

Updated January 8, 2025

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