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The differences between senior claims specialists and claims managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a senior claims specialist and a claims manager. Additionally, a claims manager has an average salary of $73,369, which is higher than the $69,808 average annual salary of a senior claims specialist.
The top three skills for a senior claims specialist include customer service, litigation and claims handling. The most important skills for a claims manager are customer service, oversight, and litigation.
| Senior Claims Specialist | Claims Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $69,808 | $73,369 |
| Hourly rate | $33.56 | $35.27 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 11,011 | 30,302 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 66% |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A senior claims specialist's role is to handle and process insurance claims, ensuring accuracy and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include liaising with clients to identify their needs, reviewing and validating documentation, resolving issues and concerns, and traveling to different locations in order to perform claims inspections and investigations for client eligibility. They may also approve claims applications and negotiate settlements. Furthermore, as a senior claims specialist, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior specialists, all while implementing 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 specialists and claims managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Senior Claims Specialist | Claims Manager | |
| Average salary | $69,808 | $73,369 |
| Salary range | Between $45,000 And $107,000 | Between $45,000 And $117,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Zurich |
| Best paying industry | - | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a senior claims specialist and a claims manager in terms of educational background:
| Senior Claims Specialist | Claims Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | 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 specialists' and claims managers' demographics:
| Senior Claims Specialist | Claims Manager | |
| Average age | 44 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 40.7% Female, 59.3% | Male, 47.9% Female, 52.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 5.2% White, 61.0% 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% |