Insurance adjuster salary by state
Claims adjusters, examiners and investigators earned a mean of $80,470 a year in May 2025, with a median of $78,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state mean ranges from $69,540 in North Dakota to $103,060 in District of Columbia. Here is every state, ranked.
Highest-paying states
- District of Columbia: $103,060
- Connecticut: $94,410
- Maryland: $94,280
- New Jersey: $94,120
- Alaska: $92,930
Most adjuster jobs
- Texas: 29,220
- Florida: 28,100
- California: 24,290
- New York: 17,330
- Illinois: 14,210
Lowest-paying states
- North Dakota: $69,540
- Nevada: $69,730
- Montana: $70,660
- Louisiana: $70,790
- New Mexico: $70,890
Adjuster pay in every state
| Rank | State | Mean wage | Median wage | 10th percentile | 90th percentile | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $103,060 | $101,150 | $70,240 | $144,680 | 360 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $94,410 | $88,330 | $63,090 | $129,740 | 3,190 |
| 3 | Maryland | $94,280 | $95,560 | $53,190 | $135,040 | n/a |
| 4 | New Jersey | $94,120 | $95,690 | $61,780 | $129,720 | 9,650 |
| 5 | Alaska | $92,930 | $87,670 | $62,200 | $132,200 | 220 |
| 6 | California | $91,860 | $91,790 | $60,020 | $124,990 | 24,290 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $91,320 | $86,520 | $60,290 | $130,480 | 1,150 |
| 8 | Vermont | $90,250 | $83,970 | $62,360 | $118,500 | 280 |
| 9 | New York | $89,860 | $87,130 | $51,560 | $130,370 | 17,330 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $88,750 | $83,740 | $58,650 | $123,260 | 5,070 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $87,810 | $83,890 | $59,580 | $120,430 | 880 |
| 12 | Washington | $85,270 | $80,700 | $50,080 | $122,840 | 6,180 |
| 13 | Oregon | $84,720 | $81,640 | $56,320 | $117,380 | 2,950 |
| 14 | Colorado | $84,250 | $77,620 | $59,550 | $123,360 | 5,680 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $81,510 | $78,900 | $58,160 | $104,190 | 1,030 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $81,340 | $78,350 | $58,110 | $106,270 | 5,530 |
| 17 | Idaho | $81,140 | $77,340 | $49,940 | $117,100 | 1,320 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $80,650 | $79,080 | $51,830 | $106,690 | 900 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $80,430 | $76,400 | $48,790 | $126,440 | 180 |
| 20 | Maine | $80,390 | $78,590 | $60,180 | $104,490 | 1,650 |
| 21 | Alabama | $80,130 | $79,710 | $49,190 | $106,370 | 4,040 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $79,780 | $77,290 | $46,360 | $119,980 | 13,270 |
| 23 | Kansas | $79,750 | $77,290 | $48,980 | $112,710 | 4,570 |
| 24 | Illinois | $79,680 | $77,010 | $48,620 | $118,810 | 14,210 |
| 25 | Michigan | $79,640 | $78,850 | $48,210 | $109,000 | 6,640 |
| 26 | Texas | $79,560 | $78,800 | $46,560 | $116,610 | 29,220 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $78,840 | $78,010 | $47,310 | $108,890 | 6,390 |
| 28 | Virginia | $78,220 | $74,240 | $49,140 | $109,970 | 7,860 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $77,930 | $78,160 | $50,570 | $103,620 | 8,760 |
| 30 | Delaware | $77,570 | $72,370 | $51,430 | $116,710 | n/a |
| 31 | Missouri | $77,490 | $75,840 | $48,900 | $111,070 | 6,200 |
| 32 | Florida | $76,760 | $76,920 | $47,030 | $105,150 | 28,100 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $76,730 | $75,830 | $50,170 | $102,250 | 3,160 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $76,300 | $75,310 | $48,200 | $108,630 | 9,880 |
| 35 | Mississippi | $76,190 | $77,100 | $48,680 | $100,850 | n/a |
| 36 | South Carolina | $76,190 | $75,370 | $46,640 | $104,050 | 4,130 |
| 37 | Kentucky | $76,120 | $73,840 | $52,600 | $100,400 | 3,670 |
| 38 | Georgia | $75,700 | $73,320 | $51,000 | $103,080 | n/a |
| 39 | Arkansas | $74,530 | $73,920 | $46,490 | $103,420 | 2,660 |
| 40 | Ohio | $74,520 | $67,990 | $47,950 | $104,870 | 13,650 |
| 41 | Indiana | $74,310 | $73,560 | $48,660 | $101,270 | 4,340 |
| 42 | Iowa | $74,300 | $72,640 | $50,360 | $102,900 | 3,930 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $73,400 | $67,290 | $45,650 | $106,330 | 1,340 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $72,820 | $71,260 | $47,440 | $100,240 | 4,140 |
| 45 | Utah | $72,710 | $69,000 | $46,120 | $100,970 | 2,440 |
| 46 | Arizona | $72,290 | $65,110 | $47,990 | $100,590 | 13,830 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $70,890 | $67,930 | $40,620 | $101,520 | 1,280 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $70,790 | $65,220 | $42,160 | $102,240 | 3,340 |
| 49 | Montana | $70,660 | $63,860 | $46,080 | $101,390 | 1,230 |
| 50 | Nevada | $69,730 | $62,730 | $43,800 | $98,920 | n/a |
| 51 | North Dakota | $69,540 | $65,460 | $47,960 | $97,470 | 750 |
How adjusters are actually paid
The BLS figures describe adjusters on a payroll: company (staff) adjusters and employees of adjusting firms. Staff adjusters earn a salary, often with a company car or mileage, bonuses and benefits. Independent adjusters are usually paid per claim from the adjusting firm's fee schedule, a table that pays more as the gross amount of the claim rises. Catastrophe (CAT) adjusters deploy to hurricane, hail and wildfire zones and can close many claims a week for several months, then go without work between storms.
Pay also depends on licenses: adjusters who hold licenses in the states where storms hit get deployed first. See which states your license opens on the reciprocity map, and estimate fee-schedule income with the earnings calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an insurance adjuster make?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a mean annual wage of $80,470 and a median of $78,000 for claims adjusters, examiners and investigators in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $48,850 and the top 10% earned over $117,040.
Which state pays insurance adjusters the most?
District of Columbia had the highest mean wage for the occupation at $103,060, followed by Connecticut ($94,410) and Maryland ($94,280).
Do independent adjusters earn more than staff adjusters?
They can, but income is less predictable. Staff adjusters earn a salary and benefits. Independent adjusters are paid per claim from a fee schedule set by the adjusting firm, so pay depends on how many claims they close and how large they are. Catastrophe seasons can be very lucrative, and slow years can mean little or no income. Try the independent adjuster earnings calculator.
What does the BLS occupation "claims adjusters, examiners and investigators" include?
SOC code 13-1031 covers people who review claims to determine coverage and settlement amounts, investigate questionable claims, and negotiate settlements. It includes staff and many independent adjusters who are on a payroll, but self-employed adjusters are not included in these wage estimates.