Insurance Adjuster (Property/Casualty)

Insurance & Claims

Investigates property damage claims and decides what the insurance company will actually pay to fix it.

What is a Insurance Adjuster (Property/Casualty)?

A Property/Casualty Insurance Adjuster inspects damage from events like fires, storms, and water leaks, then writes a scope of loss, an itemized estimate of repair costs, that determines what the policyholder gets paid. Adjusters sit on the insurer's side of a claim (a separate role, Public Adjuster, represents the property owner instead); construction knowledge is what lets them tell the difference between a reasonable repair estimate and one that's padded or missing damage entirely.

What they do

• Inspect damaged property in person and document the damage with photos and measurements
• Write a detailed scope of loss covering every item that needs repair or replacement
• Interpret the policy to determine what's actually covered and what isn't
• Negotiate the final settlement with the policyholder or their contractor when the two sides disagree on scope or price
• Coordinate with contractors and restoration companies to verify a proposed repair matches the actual damage
• Manage a caseload of claims simultaneously, prioritizing by severity and how long a claim has been open

A typical day

• 8:00 AMReview the day's inspection schedule and prior notes on each claim
• 9:00 AMInspect a storm-damaged roof, photograph the damage, and take measurements
• 11:30 AMWrite the scope of loss for that morning's inspection, itemizing materials and labor
• 1:30 PMCall a policyholder's contractor to reconcile a difference between two competing estimates
• 3:30 PMClose out a finished claim's paperwork and update the file before moving to the next one

Skills

Software

Education

Required:

High school diploma or equivalent, plus a state adjuster license (requirements vary by state, and many states have reciprocity agreements with each other)

Preferred:

Bachelor's degree in business, construction management, or a related field

Helpful:

IICRC certifications for water/fire/mold restoration knowledge

Not necessary:

A construction-specific degree; many adjusters come from an insurance or claims background rather than construction, and pick up the technical side on the job

Career progression

1. 1.Trainee or Staff Adjuster
2. 2.Independent or Catastrophe (CAT) Adjuster (deployed to disaster areas as needed, often higher-paying but less predictable)
3. 3.Senior Adjuster or Claims Manager
4. 4.Some adjusters instead move to the policyholder's side as a Public Adjuster

Who hires for this role