Why Insurance Adjusters Will Always Be In Demand
Natural disasters, accidents, and unexpected losses happen every day—so who steps in to assess the damage and help people get back on their feet? Insurance adjusters are the backbone of the claims process, and their expertise will always be needed.
In this blog, we’ll explore why this career path remains stable, rewarding, and full of opportunities for those looking to enter the field.
What Is the Role of an Insurance Adjuster?
An insurance adjuster, also known as a claims adjuster, is responsible for assessing damages in the wake of an event like the Pacific Palisades fire and getting policyholders the fair and timely settlement they need to move on with their lives.
Insurance adjusters help people navigate insurance bureaucracy after they’ve experienced a loss. They walk the policyholder through the complex processes of damage assessment, cost estimation, determining policy coverage, and agreeing on a fair settlement. At the same time, they’re responsible for identifying fraudulent insurance claims and saving insurance companies money that would be better spent on policyholders with legitimate claims.
There are different types of insurance adjusters: those who work for insurance companies and those who work independently, those who sit behind a desk and spend time in the field, those who specialize in a particular type of insurance, and those who handle multiple types.
Insurance adjusters who specialize in natural disasters are known as catastrophe adjusters.
Is Insurance Adjusting a Good Career?
You get to help people move past some of the worst days of their lives. Customer satisfaction is actually a very important part of claims adjusting, more so than any of the other insurance careers.
Insurance jobs tend to pay well, and adjusting is no exception. Insurance adjuster’s salaries vary by where they work and the types of claims they handle. Catastrophe adjusters, in particular, can easily make six figures, but you need the fortitude to go into disaster zones and get your hands dirty.
The job’s lower barrier to entry adds to the potential lifetime earnings of insurance adjusting – you don’t need a college degree or years of specialized schooling before you can start earning. You’ll need to study for your licensing exam, and then you’ll learn on the job as you make money.
Finally, insurance adjusting is one of the few white-collar jobs that tend to be recession-proof.
Why Will Insurance Adjusters Always Be In Demand?
No matter how the economy is doing, disasters and accidents still happen, insurance companies keep chugging, and insurance adjusters are a vital part of the process. Data shows that the number of claims remains steady regardless of economic circumstances. That means insurance adjusting is less at risk of swings in demand than other insurance careers, like brokers and agents.
In fact, areas like catastrophe adjusting are almost guaranteed to see an increase in demand over the next decade.
First, the frequency of these disasters is increasing. In the 1980s, the U.S. sustained an average of 3.3 weather and climate-related disasters a year; in the 1990s, it was 5.7; in the 2000s, 6.7; in the 2010s, it jumped to 13.1; and between 2020 and 2024, it leaped to 23. The pattern shows no sign of slowing down; 2024, by itself, contained 27 separate disasters.
The result for the year was insured losses more than 30% above average. The industry anticipates an increasing number of high-impact events in the future.
As the scale of these disasters grows, insurance companies will need an ever-growing fleet of insurance adjusters to process related claims.
What is an All-Lines Insurance Adjuster?
Across the insurance industry, there are several major types (or “lines”) of coverage. Common lines for individuals include homeowner’s insurance, auto insurance, life insurance, and health insurance. Each state sets the licensing requirements for insurance adjusters, issuing different licenses that qualify you for handling different types of claims.
All-lines insurance adjusters are licensed to adjust claims for multiple types of personal lines – the specifics will vary by state.
Adjusters with an all-lines license have more flexibility and broader career opportunities. The ability to handle multiple types of claims will make you more valuable to employers, and all-lines licenses are more likely to have reciprocal rights with other states. Finally, if you’re new to claims adjusting, an all-lines license will give you a chance to work different types of claims and discover which, if any, you might be interested in specializing in.
How Much Do Insurance Adjusters Make?
The earning potential for insurance adjusters can vary widely based on factors like experience, location, and the type of claims they handle. On average, staff adjusters—those employed by insurance companies—earn between $40,000 and $95,000 per year, while independent adjusters, who work on a contract basis, can make significantly more, especially during catastrophe (CAT) events. CAT adjusters, who travel to disaster-stricken areas, can earn six figures in a matter of months due to the high volume of claims. Factors like state licensing, industry certifications, and specialization in high-paying areas like commercial or liability claims can also impact an adjuster’s income. Whether you’re looking for a stable salary or the flexibility to earn more during peak seasons, insurance adjusting offers strong financial opportunities.
Why Get a Texas All-Lines License
The Texas All-Lines License is a particularly good choice for new adjusters just starting out. You’ll be licensed to handle residential, commercial, auto, farm & ranch, inland marine, ocean marine, and workers compensation claims, giving you a wide area of practice.
Additionally, most states recognize reciprocity if you have a Texas All-Lines License. In fact, all but three states that have an insurance licensing system have reciprocal agreements with Texas. And if your state doesn’t have adjuster licensing, you can use Texas as your “home state” despite being a non-resident – you’ll get all the benefits!
It’s easy to earn your Texas All-Lines Insurance Adjuster License. In fact, you can get started right now by enrolling in our online classroom-equivalent pre-license course. You’ll be able to work through the 40 required hours of coursework and homework at your own pace, whenever and wherever it’s most convenient for you. Piece of cake!
