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What is a senior claims specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read

A senior claims specialist is someone who works in the insurance industry and is responsible for managing and processing claims. Their main duties include investigating and evaluating claims, negotiating settlements with claimants, and ensuring that all claims are handled efficiently and accurately. A senior claims specialist must have strong analytical and communication skills, as well as extensive knowledge of insurance policies and regulations. They play a crucial role in ensuring that policyholders receive fair compensation.

ScoreSenior Claims SpecialistUS Average
Salary
5.5

Avg. Salary $69,808

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
9.3

Growth rate -6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.50%

Asian 5.22%

Black or African American 12.02%

Hispanic or Latino 16.83%

Unknown 4.40%

White 61.03%

Gender

female 59.34%

male 40.66%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress level
9.3

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.6

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.7

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a senior claims specialist?

Pros

  • High earning potential

  • Opportunity for growth and advancement

  • Ability to help people in difficult situations

  • Variety of tasks and responsibilities

  • Job security and stability

Cons

  • Dealing with upset and angry customers

  • Working long hours during peak seasons or busy periods

  • Potentially dealing with traumatic events or losses

  • Potential for burnout due to high pressure environment

  • Requiring to keep up with continuous education and training.

Senior claims specialist career paths

Key steps to become a senior claims specialist

  1. Explore senior claims specialist education requirements

    Most common senior claims specialist degrees

    Bachelor's

    65.1 %

    Associate

    14.6 %

    Master's

    7.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific senior claims specialist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service26.48%
    Litigation9.83%
    Claims Handling7.67%
    SR4.69%
    Settlement Conferences4.55%
  3. Complete relevant senior claims specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior claims specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior claims specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior claims specialist resumes.
  4. Gain additional senior claims specialist certifications

    Senior claims specialist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific senior claims specialist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for senior claims specialists include Associate in Claims (AIC) and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research senior claims specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage assigned third party administration (TPA) multi-jurisdictional workers' compensation; subrogation recovery claims; assign defense attorney.
    • Work toward settlement with claimants and attorneys, or determine company litigation strategy, participating in mediation and arbitration when necessary.
    • Maintain EDI processing table logic.
    • Work with testing HIPAA transactions, reporting and processing data reporting to the state.
  6. Get senior claims specialist experience

    Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a senior claims specialist. The most common roles before becoming a senior claims specialist include claim specialist, claims representative team lead and claims adjuster.
  7. Prepare your senior claims specialist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior claims specialist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a senior claims specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable senior claims specialist resume templates

    Build a professional senior claims specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your senior claims specialist resume.
    Senior Claims Specialist Resume
    Senior Claims Specialist Resume
    Senior Claims Specialist Resume
    Senior Claims Specialist Resume
    Senior Claims Specialist Resume
    Senior Claims Specialist Resume
    Senior Claims Specialist Resume
    Senior Claims Specialist Resume
    Senior Claims Specialist Resume
  8. Apply for senior claims specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a senior claims specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first senior claims specialist job

Zippi

Are you a senior claims specialist?

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Average senior claims specialist salary

The average senior claims specialist salary in the United States is $69,808 per year or $34 per hour. Senior claims specialist salaries range between $45,000 and $107,000 per year.

Average senior claims specialist salary
$69,808 Yearly
$33.56 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do senior claims specialists rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Senior claims specialist reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2023
Cons

Can be long hours and stressful


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2021
Pros

Being able to control the decision making and managing the delivery of service so I can enhance the customer experience which is very important to ensure the Company remains successful. Also being able to liaise on injury claims and read case law to determine the applicable one

Cons

When customers are not satisfied even when you know you have delivered the best service you could have and have gone beyond the call of duty in delivering same. They appear to not understand the dynamics of the process even if explained to them


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019
Pros

Working from home

Cons

Amount of work expected, duplicative data entry and oversight adjusters. Angry phone calls.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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