Why Be An Insurance Adjuster?
Benefits of Choosing a Career as an Independent Insurance Adjuster
A career as an Independent Insurance Adjuster offers independence, freedom, flexibility, and far-reaching financial opportunity. And when disaster strikes, Independent Adjusters are able to play a vital role in the recovery process for individuals and communities.
Independence -- Be Your Own Boss
As opposed to Staff Adjusters, who work directly for insurance companies as year-round salaried employees, Independent Adjusters operate as independent contractors who typically contract with independent insurance adjusting firms. This means that they decide how much work to take on, and which projects to take. As an Independent Adjuster, you are your own boss.
Freedom and Flexibility
Unlike Staff Adjusters, who put in a steady full-time workload for their employers, Independent Adjusters decide which work they want to take on. Independent Adjusters have the freedom and flexibility to work from home if they wish, and to set their own hours.
Far-Reaching Financial Opportunity
While the average entry-level salary of Staff Adjusters is $34,000 per year or lower, work for Independent Adjusters offers much greater financial opportunity. Particularly after a catastrophic event like a hurricane, tornado, fire, or flood, the demand for quality insurance adjusters offers Independent Adjusters a chance to earn big money in a short period of time.
In 2005, for example, after Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita struck the Gulf Coast, Independent Adjusters reported averaging up to $400 per claim they closed. Since a catastrophic adjuster can expect to close a minimum of 2-3 claims per day, this means earnings of $800 to $1200 daily. Expert adjusters who can close 5 or more claims per day can easily see their earnings go beyond $100,000 yearly.
Real-World Examples: CADO Adjuster Assignment Survey
In 2007, a CADO (Catastrophe Adjuster Dot Org) survey of independent catastrophe adjusters in the field shows the financial opportunity available to qualified adjusters. The table below shows typical responses to the survey.
Note that these performances were turned in despite the fact that 2007 was a non-hurricane year, with no major hurricanes striking the U.S. mainland.
Making a Difference When Disaster Strikes
After disaster strikes, the need for healing begins. Independent Insurance Adjusters have the opportunity to go into hard-hit areas and make a real difference, handling claims and helping individuals and communities on the road to recovery.
Spectrum of Career Paths in the Adjuster Industry
The wide range of career opportunities in the adjuster industry allows Independent Insurance Adjusters to follow their own path and focus on areas of their greatest interest. Career paths in the adjuster industry include:
Automotive Appraiser/Estimator/Examiner
Residential Property Adjuster/Examiner
Catastrophe Adjuster
Commercial Property Adjuster/Examiner
Casualty/Liability/Workers Comp. Adjuster
Insurance Company Staff Adjuster
Public Adjuster
Heavy Equipment/Tractor-Trailer Adjuster
Crop Adjuster
Flood Claims Adjuster
Home Inspections
Remodeling/Construction Estimator
Construction Industry Sales Representative
Insurance Company Claim Staff (Officer, Manager/Supervisor)
Independent Firm Claim Staff (Officer, Manager/Supervisor)
Note: Some positions may require additional licensing and/or specialized education or training varying by state-bystate regulations and specific company standards.
Becoming a Successful Independent Insurance Adjuster
Personal Attributes and Skills
The most successful Independent Adjusters are highly motivated, with a good work ethic, good people skills, a good sense of direction, and above average computer skills. Any of these skills and attributes can be sharpened by training at Insurance Education Centers of America.
Superior Training
Independent Adjusters cannot be successful without superior training, and with every catastrophe come the tales of unqualified adjusters who are sent home after failing to properly handle the claims for which they are hired. For immediate success in the field, nothing can equip you better than training at Insurance Education Centers of America. We offer comprehensive career training that goes far beyond simple preparation for state insurance exams, so that you will be ready to immediately step into the field and make a real difference.
Taking the First Step
The first step to success as an Independent Insurance Adjuster is to contact us by phone or online contact form. We are ready to answer any questions you may have about the insurance industry and our training programs.
A career as an Independent Insurance Adjuster offers independence, freedom, flexibility, and far-reaching financial opportunity. And when disaster strikes, Independent Adjusters are able to play a vital role in the recovery process for individuals and communities.
Independence -- Be Your Own Boss
As opposed to Staff Adjusters, who work directly for insurance companies as year-round salaried employees, Independent Adjusters operate as independent contractors who typically contract with independent insurance adjusting firms. This means that they decide how much work to take on, and which projects to take. As an Independent Adjuster, you are your own boss.
Freedom and Flexibility
Unlike Staff Adjusters, who put in a steady full-time workload for their employers, Independent Adjusters decide which work they want to take on. Independent Adjusters have the freedom and flexibility to work from home if they wish, and to set their own hours.
Far-Reaching Financial Opportunity
While the average entry-level salary of Staff Adjusters is $34,000 per year or lower, work for Independent Adjusters offers much greater financial opportunity. Particularly after a catastrophic event like a hurricane, tornado, fire, or flood, the demand for quality insurance adjusters offers Independent Adjusters a chance to earn big money in a short period of time.
In 2005, for example, after Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita struck the Gulf Coast, Independent Adjusters reported averaging up to $400 per claim they closed. Since a catastrophic adjuster can expect to close a minimum of 2-3 claims per day, this means earnings of $800 to $1200 daily. Expert adjusters who can close 5 or more claims per day can easily see their earnings go beyond $100,000 yearly.
Real-World Examples: CADO Adjuster Assignment Survey
In 2007, a CADO (Catastrophe Adjuster Dot Org) survey of independent catastrophe adjusters in the field shows the financial opportunity available to qualified adjusters. The table below shows typical responses to the survey.
| CADO Adjuster Assignment Survey | |||||||
| Location | Event | Start Date | Days Worked | #Claims | Avg Invoice | Adjuster Earnings* | Insurance Company |
 White Plains, NY | Flood | April 2007 | 82 days | 140 | $450 | $37,800 - 44,100 | Pilot |
| Coffeyville, KS | Flood | July 2007 | 15 days | 40 | $230 | $5,520 - 6,440 | NCA Group |
| Minn/St. Paul, MN | Hail | May 2007 | 67 days | 281 | $875 | $147,525 - 172,112 | NCA Group |
| Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX | Hail | April 2007 | 147 days | 630 | $725 | $274,050 - 319,725 | ICA, Inc. |
| Ft. Worth, TX | Hail | June 2007 | 2 months | 200 | $600 | $72,000 - 84,000 | ICA, Inc. |
| Chicago, IL | Wind | August 2007 | 10 days | 126 | $550 | $41,580 - 48,510 | Mason Claims/RAC |
| Blaine, MN | Hail | August 2007 | 17 days | 50 | $500 | $15,000 - 17,500 | Pacesetter Claims |
| Lexington, KY | Hail | June 2007 | 130 days | 589 | $275 | $97,185 - 113,382 | N/A |
| Colorado | Hail | October 2007 | 30 days | 125 | $175 | $13,125 - 15,312 | AmFam |
| Clarksville, TN | Hail | April 2007 | 7 months | 615 | $450 | $166,050 - 193,725 | USSA |
* Adjuster Earnings is a range calculated on the assumption that the adjuster will receive 60-70% of the amount of the invoices submitted for the claims worked, with the insurance company receiving the remainder. |
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Note that these performances were turned in despite the fact that 2007 was a non-hurricane year, with no major hurricanes striking the U.S. mainland.
Making a Difference When Disaster Strikes
After disaster strikes, the need for healing begins. Independent Insurance Adjusters have the opportunity to go into hard-hit areas and make a real difference, handling claims and helping individuals and communities on the road to recovery.
Spectrum of Career Paths in the Adjuster Industry
The wide range of career opportunities in the adjuster industry allows Independent Insurance Adjusters to follow their own path and focus on areas of their greatest interest. Career paths in the adjuster industry include:
Automotive Appraiser/Estimator/Examiner
Residential Property Adjuster/Examiner
Catastrophe Adjuster
Commercial Property Adjuster/Examiner
Casualty/Liability/Workers Comp. Adjuster
Insurance Company Staff Adjuster
Public Adjuster
Heavy Equipment/Tractor-Trailer Adjuster
Crop Adjuster
Flood Claims Adjuster
Home Inspections
Remodeling/Construction Estimator
Construction Industry Sales Representative
Insurance Company Claim Staff (Officer, Manager/Supervisor)
Independent Firm Claim Staff (Officer, Manager/Supervisor)
Note: Some positions may require additional licensing and/or specialized education or training varying by state-bystate regulations and specific company standards.
Becoming a Successful Independent Insurance Adjuster
Personal Attributes and Skills
The most successful Independent Adjusters are highly motivated, with a good work ethic, good people skills, a good sense of direction, and above average computer skills. Any of these skills and attributes can be sharpened by training at Insurance Education Centers of America.
Superior Training
Independent Adjusters cannot be successful without superior training, and with every catastrophe come the tales of unqualified adjusters who are sent home after failing to properly handle the claims for which they are hired. For immediate success in the field, nothing can equip you better than training at Insurance Education Centers of America. We offer comprehensive career training that goes far beyond simple preparation for state insurance exams, so that you will be ready to immediately step into the field and make a real difference.
Taking the First Step
The first step to success as an Independent Insurance Adjuster is to contact us by phone or online contact form. We are ready to answer any questions you may have about the insurance industry and our training programs.