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The differences between senior claims adjusters and claims managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a senior claims adjuster, becoming a claims manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a claims manager has an average salary of $73,369, which is higher than the $58,688 average annual salary of a senior claims adjuster.
The top three skills for a senior claims adjuster include customer service, litigation and coverage issues. The most important skills for a claims manager are customer service, oversight, and litigation.
| Senior Claims Adjuster | Claims Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $58,688 | $73,369 |
| Hourly rate | $28.22 | $35.27 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 11,495 | 30,302 |
| Job satisfaction | 2 | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
A claims manager is an individual who works in an insurance-based firm and is responsible for managing the insurance claims department that is composed of examiners and adjusters. Claims managers are required to maintain claim files and reviewing these files as well as communicate with customers to follow up regarding issues they face with insurance claims. They must determine who is liable for the damage if there were other parties involved. Claims managers must also include an expert to assess the amount of damage and avoid insurance fraud.
Senior claims adjusters and claims managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Claims Adjuster | Claims Manager | |
| Average salary | $58,688 | $73,369 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $91,000 | Between $45,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | Roseville, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | EMC Insurance | Zurich |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a senior claims adjuster and a claims manager in terms of educational background:
| Senior Claims Adjuster | Claims Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | California State University - Bakersfield |
Here are the differences between senior claims adjusters' and claims managers' demographics:
| Senior Claims Adjuster | Claims Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.2% Female, 51.8% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 5.9% White, 61.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 8% |