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The differences between total loss specialists and claim specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a total loss specialist, becoming a claim specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a total loss specialist has an average salary of $51,718, which is higher than the $43,164 average annual salary of a claim specialist.
The top three skills for a total loss specialist include customer service, HR and outbound calls. The most important skills for a claim specialist are customer service, litigation, and patients.
| Total Loss Specialist | Claim Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,718 | $43,164 |
| Hourly rate | $24.86 | $20.75 |
| Growth rate | -6% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 33,617 | 29,505 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
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.
A claims specialist is responsible for processing insurance claims, reviewing insurance coverage, and analyzing claims cases. Claims specialists' duties include negotiating claims settlements, validating claims to prevent fraud, creating court testimonies as needed, developing claim review plans, and checking necessary documents and related resolve claims. A claims specialist must have strong analytical and critical-thinking skills to authorize claim payment and investigate complex and unusual claims. Claims specialists should also have extensive knowledge of the insurance processes to handle various cases, following legal policies and regulatory procedures.
Total loss specialists and claim specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Total Loss Specialist | Claim Specialist | |
| Average salary | $51,718 | $43,164 |
| Salary range | Between $32,000 And $81,000 | Between $27,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | - | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | - | W. R. Berkley |
| Best paying industry | - | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a total loss specialist and a claim specialist in terms of educational background:
| Total Loss Specialist | Claim Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between total loss specialists' and claim specialists' demographics:
| Total Loss Specialist | Claim Specialist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 35.7% Female, 64.3% | Male, 31.0% Female, 69.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.5% Asian, 5.1% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |