You can have a fulfilling and lucrative career as an insurance adjuster. Insurance adjusters investigate an insurance claim to determine if the insurer should pay for any damages or injuries and determine the amount. The job basically involves taking photos and gathering information to compile into a report.
As an insurance adjuster, there are several paths you can take that require specific licenses, and they can make a big difference in your earnings. Read on to learn more about the different career paths of an insurance adjuster and the income potential for each.
Independent adjusters
As an independent insurance adjuster, the income potential can be great, especially during the aftermath of a catastrophic event. Your pay depends on what you decide as a scale. It can be hourly, fixed rate, or on a fee scale.
Traditionally, the fee schedule is what most independent insurance adjusters work from. Specifically, the scale begins with a base fee and changes depending on the loss or damages. Independent insurance adjusters are contracted by insurance companies and the insured and work as a third party.
Your earnings can depend greatly on your location, but the potential can reach over $100,000 a year. The average pay across the United States surpasses $68,632 a year, according to Glassdoor.
Staff Adjusters
Staff adjusters, also called company adjusters, are employed by insurance companies full-time. They receive a regular salary and benefits such as health insurance, retirement, paid time off, and are often given a company vehicle. Staff adjusters work to gather information on behalf of the insurance company to investigate claims. They do this firstly by gathering information and then completing assessments on insurance claims.
Staff adjuster positions are open to individuals with a college degree, require training, and involve continuing education throughout their careers. The pay depends on the location and locations where prevalent hurricane season tends to make more money. However, according to ZipRecruiter, the average salary of a staff adjuster is $54,035 annually.
Catastrophic and Independent Adjusting Firms
Catastrophic events caused by nature or lousy weather are inevitable in many locations across the United States. During these events, insurance companies become inundated with claims which can be challenging to manage. Independent adjusting firms and designated catastrophic insurance adjusters are dedicated to helping sort these claims by offering a wide range of services. These services cover analytics, data modeling, quality assurance metrics, and more. Thus, helping insurance companies improve their claims process by making it more efficient.
Independent adjusting firms dedicated to managing catastrophic claims require diligent handling by an experienced adjuster. Therefore ensuring accuracy and speed up the process. They are regulated similarly to insurance adjusters in other fields and must abide by legal requirements and licenses. According to ZipRecruiter, the independent catastrophe adjuster’s salary averages $88,559 annually.
Becoming an Insurance Adjuster
To become an insurance adjuster, many requirements demand that you receive specific insurance-related college hours before taking your state’s licensing exam. Depending on the employer, you may be required to take further training sessions along with online courses. The goal is to ensure you are continuously updated with laws and regulations for insurance claims. Before you begin work as an insurance adjuster, you may also need to get fingerprinted.
Earning an Emergency License
In a natural disaster, states can issue an emergency license to manage a catastrophic event for insurance adjusters. However, they are only issued to address these events and expire after the designated period, typically 90 days. If you need to renew your license, you can do so within 30 days of the expiration date.
Conclusion
An insurance adjuster can offer a rewarding and stable career with an excellent salary. Additionally, you can increase your earning potential the longer you work in the field or as a catastrophic insurance adjuster. While working as an independent insurance adjuster can be stressful, and the pay can make the job worth it.
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