How To Become A Field Adjuster: What It Is and Career Path

What is a field adjuster and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A field adjuster investigates and evaluates insurance claims on-site. They assess damage to property, vehicles, or other assets covered by an insurance policy. Field adjusters gather information, take photos, and interview witnesses to determine the extent of the damage and coverage. They also negotiate settlements with claimants and communicate findings to insurance companies. Field adjusters may work for insurance companies, independent adjusting firms, or as self-employed contractors.

ScoreField AdjusterUS Average

Salary

4.2

Avg. Salary $54,120

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

8.3

Growth Rate -6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.50%

Asian 5.09%

Black or African American 12.04%

Hispanic or Latino 16.30%

Unknown 4.39%

White 61.68%

Gender

female 29.72%

male 70.28%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress Level

8.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.2

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.3

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Field Adjuster?

Pros

Opportunity for flexible scheduling
Potential for high earnings through commission-based pay structures
Opportunities for career advancement within the insurance industry
Constant learning opportunities and professional development
Potential for job stability in a growing industry

Cons

High stress and pressure to meet deadlines and quotas
Frequent travel and time away from home
Potentially dangerous working conditions, such as working on roofs or in hazardous areas
Need to be available for emergency situations outside of regular business hours
Required use of personal vehicle for work-related travel, which can result in wear and tear and additional expenses

Key steps to become a field adjuster

Explore field adjuster education requirements

Most common field adjuster degrees

Bachelor's

69.7 %

Associate

15.5 %

Master's

4.9 %

Start to develop specific field adjuster skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	19.82%
Xactimate	16.85%
Strong Negotiation	6.86%
Insurance Policies	5.74%
Claims Handling	3.05%

Complete relevant field adjuster training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New field adjusters learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a field adjuster based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real field adjuster resumes.

Research field adjuster duties and responsibilities

Manage and dispose of claims in litigation by preparing and developing strategy with defense counsel and consensus relative to litigation handling.
Provide optimum service to policyholders and agents, negotiate fair settlements and identify SIU claims.
Process boat, auto, motorcycle, and motorhome RV claims thru various estimating software.
Participate in development of claim handling strategies for mediation claims with home office personnel and attorneys.

Prepare your field adjuster resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your field adjuster resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a field adjuster resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Field Adjuster Resume templates

Build a professional Field Adjuster resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Field Adjuster resume.

Apply for field adjuster jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a field adjuster job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do field adjusters rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Field Adjuster reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2019

Pros

Complexity of the job, everyday was different

Cons

Volume of daily claims, stress level, rudeness and angry customers, lack of job growth and promotability, working on Saturday