Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators (SOC 13-1031) employed 324,230 people in May 2025. The median pay is $78,000 a year ($37.50 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,850 and the highest-paid 10% more than $117,040. BLS projects its employment to change by -5.5% between 2025 and 2035 (about 20,900 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest median pay: District of Columbia ($101,150), New Jersey ($95,690), California ($91,790). Most jobs: Texas (29,220), Florida (28,100), California (24,290).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,850 | $23.49 |
| 25th percentile | $61,160 | $29.40 |
| Median | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Mean | $80,470 | $38.69 |
| 75th percentile | $98,030 | $47.13 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $117,040 | $56.27 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 376,100 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 355,500 |
| Change in jobs | -20,600 |
| Percent change | -5.5% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 20,900 |
| Self-employed share | 1.6% |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Long-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 4,040 | 0.92 | $79,710 | $49,190 | $106,370 | +2% | 16% |
| Alaska | 220 | 0.33 | $87,670 | $62,200 | $132,200 | +12% | 20% |
| Arizona | 13,830 | 2.05 | $65,110 | $47,990 | $100,590 | -17% | 31% |
| Arkansas | 2,660 | 0.98 | $73,920 | $46,490 | $103,420 | -5% | 16% |
| California | 24,290 | 0.64 | $91,790 | $60,020 | $124,990 | +18% | 28% |
| Colorado | 5,680 | 0.95 | $77,620 | $59,550 | $123,360 | -0% | 28% |
| Connecticut | 3,190 | 0.90 | $88,330 | $63,090 | $129,740 | +13% | 21% |
| District of Columbia | 360 | 0.24 | $101,150 | $70,240 | $144,680 | +30% | 23% |
| Florida | 28,100 | 1.36 | $76,920 | $47,030 | $105,150 | -1% | 28% |
| Hawaii | 900 | 0.69 | $79,080 | $51,830 | $106,690 | +1% | 29% |
| Idaho | 1,320 | 0.74 | $77,340 | $49,940 | $117,100 | -1% | 21% |
| Illinois | 14,210 | 1.12 | $77,010 | $48,620 | $118,810 | -1% | 21% |
| Indiana | 4,340 | 0.65 | $73,560 | $48,660 | $101,270 | -6% | 18% |
| Iowa | 3,930 | 1.21 | $72,640 | $50,360 | $102,900 | -7% | 16% |
| Kansas | 4,570 | 1.53 | $77,290 | $48,980 | $112,710 | -1% | 17% |
| Kentucky | 3,670 | 0.88 | $73,840 | $52,600 | $100,400 | -5% | 16% |
| Louisiana | 3,340 | 0.83 | $65,220 | $42,160 | $102,240 | -16% | 20% |
| Maine | 1,650 | 1.23 | $78,590 | $60,180 | $104,490 | +1% | 18% |
| Massachusetts | 5,070 | 0.67 | $83,740 | $58,650 | $123,260 | +7% | 26% |
| Michigan | 6,640 | 0.72 | $78,850 | $48,210 | $109,000 | +1% | 18% |
| Minnesota | 5,530 | 0.90 | $78,350 | $58,110 | $106,270 | +0% | 20% |
| Missouri | 6,200 | 1.01 | $75,840 | $48,900 | $111,070 | -3% | 17% |
| Montana | 1,230 | 1.15 | $63,860 | $46,080 | $101,390 | -18% | 22% |
| Nebraska | 3,160 | 1.48 | $75,830 | $50,170 | $102,250 | -3% | 17% |
| New Hampshire | 880 | 0.62 | $83,890 | $59,580 | $120,430 | +8% | 22% |
| New Jersey | 9,650 | 1.08 | $95,690 | $61,780 | $129,720 | +23% | 23% |
| New Mexico | 1,280 | 0.71 | $67,930 | $40,620 | $101,520 | -13% | 20% |
| New York | 17,330 | 0.86 | $87,130 | $51,560 | $130,370 | +12% | 23% |
| North Carolina | 9,880 | 0.96 | $75,310 | $48,200 | $108,630 | -3% | 21% |
| North Dakota | 750 | 0.84 | $65,460 | $47,960 | $97,470 | -16% | 18% |
| Ohio | 13,650 | 1.18 | $67,990 | $47,950 | $104,870 | -13% | 19% |
| Oklahoma | 4,140 | 1.16 | $71,260 | $47,440 | $100,240 | -9% | 18% |
| Oregon | 2,950 | 0.72 | $81,640 | $56,320 | $117,380 | +5% | 23% |
| Pennsylvania | 13,270 | 1.05 | $77,290 | $46,360 | $119,980 | -1% | 19% |
| Rhode Island | 1,150 | 1.10 | $86,520 | $60,290 | $130,480 | +11% | 20% |
| South Carolina | 4,130 | 0.86 | $75,370 | $46,640 | $104,050 | -3% | 20% |
| South Dakota | 1,030 | 1.08 | $78,900 | $58,160 | $104,190 | +1% | 15% |
| Tennessee | 6,390 | 0.93 | $78,010 | $47,310 | $108,890 | +0% | 20% |
| Texas | 29,220 | 1.00 | $78,800 | $46,560 | $116,610 | +1% | 22% |
| Utah | 2,440 | 0.67 | $69,000 | $46,120 | $100,970 | -12% | 28% |
| Vermont | 280 | 0.44 | $83,970 | $62,360 | $118,500 | +8% | 19% |
| Virginia | 7,860 | 0.92 | $74,240 | $49,140 | $109,970 | -5% | 27% |
| Washington | 6,180 | 0.83 | $80,700 | $50,080 | $122,840 | +3% | 27% |
| West Virginia | 1,340 | 0.92 | $67,290 | $45,650 | $106,330 | -14% | 16% |
| Wisconsin | 8,760 | 1.43 | $78,160 | $50,570 | $103,620 | +0% | 18% |
| Wyoming | 180 | 0.30 | $76,400 | $48,790 | $126,440 | -2% | 16% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,390 | $105,340 | $70,930 | $136,640 | 0.68 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 4,280 | $98,700 | $56,910 | $144,680 | 1.51 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 370 | $98,230 | $59,740 | $148,660 | 0.16 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 14,840 | $95,980 | $55,440 | $135,760 | 0.75 |
| Mobile, AL | 550 | $94,740 | $48,280 | $106,370 | 1.54 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,410 | $91,940 | $58,360 | $119,430 | 0.39 |
| Salem, OR | 500 | $90,270 | $63,590 | $122,710 | 1.27 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 7,540 | $89,070 | $59,100 | $122,130 | 0.58 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3,380 | $88,390 | $59,850 | $123,390 | 0.60 |
| Fresno, CA | 550 | $87,910 | $57,410 | $109,690 | 0.55 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 2,560 | $87,910 | $60,170 | $124,430 | 1.13 |
| Binghamton, NY | 300 | $87,320 | $58,320 | $106,440 | 1.47 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 1,310 | $86,360 | $60,290 | $129,320 | 0.88 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 2,220 | $85,020 | $63,260 | $129,740 | 1.77 |
| Birmingham, AL | 1,510 | $84,640 | $51,980 | $113,380 | 1.40 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,600 | $84,590 | $55,960 | $125,050 | 0.40 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,840 | $84,550 | $59,520 | $118,510 | 0.89 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 770 | $83,420 | $58,300 | $112,460 | 1.54 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,840 | $83,200 | $51,990 | $125,840 | 0.88 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 8,630 | $82,890 | $51,590 | $119,180 | 1.02 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,730 | $82,160 | $51,820 | $117,770 | 0.69 |
| Rochester, NY | 470 | $82,080 | $54,850 | $128,040 | 0.46 |
| Syracuse, NY | 590 | $82,060 | $58,950 | $111,750 | 0.95 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 4,860 | $81,830 | $47,470 | $116,900 | 2.07 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 6,850 | $81,560 | $54,590 | $127,070 | 1.13 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 790 | $81,420 | $49,280 | $103,910 | 0.64 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 370 | $81,330 | $60,530 | $115,210 | 0.45 |
| Madison, WI | 1,400 | $81,200 | $59,860 | $105,240 | 1.65 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 300 | $80,970 | $52,630 | $108,890 | 0.65 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 770 | $80,950 | $60,300 | $106,060 | 1.28 |
| Knoxville, TN | 440 | $80,820 | $47,330 | $103,970 | 0.50 |
| Worcester, MA | 710 | $80,560 | $55,720 | $119,210 | 0.97 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 1,210 | $80,070 | $54,850 | $110,920 | 1.29 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 460 | $79,970 | $48,120 | $115,010 | 0.65 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 3,580 | $79,930 | $60,540 | $126,480 | 1.07 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 2,620 | $79,770 | $50,890 | $104,570 | 1.53 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 700 | $79,510 | $47,680 | $102,100 | 1.54 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 400 | $79,160 | $59,090 | $119,300 | 0.60 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 3,280 | $79,060 | $54,980 | $113,130 | 0.83 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 770 | $78,970 | $51,830 | $106,690 | 0.83 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 520 | $78,950 | $40,960 | $103,010 | 0.91 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 570 | $78,900 | $51,600 | $104,100 | 1.54 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 450 | $78,850 | $49,450 | $106,330 | 0.35 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 430 | $78,830 | $49,230 | $112,260 | 0.47 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,890 | $78,820 | $48,120 | $115,810 | 0.42 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 2,040 | $78,810 | $57,050 | $107,790 | 1.83 |
| Richmond, VA | 1,790 | $78,780 | $50,320 | $105,540 | 1.30 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 5,210 | $78,730 | $47,970 | $120,940 | 0.89 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 2,460 | $78,680 | $47,430 | $113,310 | 0.87 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 9,080 | $78,640 | $49,590 | $123,460 | 0.96 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,280 | $78,460 | $60,400 | $106,880 | 1.05 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | 910 | $78,460 | $55,640 | $95,640 | 3.36 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 3,690 | $78,090 | $51,750 | $121,370 | 1.61 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 3,390 | $78,030 | $48,070 | $109,470 | 1.48 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 7,240 | $77,990 | $48,100 | $104,430 | 2.40 |
| Peoria, IL | 300 | $77,740 | $57,960 | $123,840 | 0.88 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1,830 | $77,640 | $48,980 | $104,420 | 0.80 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 560 | $77,310 | $58,820 | $100,420 | 0.93 |
| Redding, CA | 330 | $77,070 | $53,280 | $98,270 | 2.21 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 930 | $77,020 | $48,150 | $104,330 | 1.00 |
The median is $78,000 a year ($37.50 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $48,850 and the highest-paid tenth over $117,040 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
324,230 in May 2025, and BLS projects -5.5% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS).
District of Columbia, with a median of $101,150 (among states with published figures).