Claims adjuster job description template: staff, independent or desk, the adjuster license, authority and exempt status
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"Claims adjuster: investigate and settle insurance claims" could be a staff desk adjuster handling sixty auto physical damage claims at a carrier, a field property adjuster inspecting roofs in a three-county territory, an independent catastrophe adjuster deployed to a hurricane zone for six weeks, a bodily injury adjuster negotiating with attorneys, or a workers' compensation adjuster at a third-party administrator. The license, the authority, the travel and the work pattern differ, and so can the employment relationship. A useful claims adjuster job description names the lines and claim types, desk or field, staff or independent, the caseload, the settlement authority, the license and states, the systems, and whether catastrophe deployment is part of the job. Below are the seat types, the licensing and classification lines with sources, a copy-ready template, screening and scorecard rows, and common mistakes. For the first call, use the claims adjuster screening questions.
Name the seat: line, location and authority
| Seat | What the work looks like | Must-have that separates it |
|---|---|---|
| Staff desk adjuster (auto or property) | Phone and virtual inspections, coverage review, estimates from appraisers or photos, payments, high caseload | Has carried a caseload with diary deadlines and explained a coverage decision to an upset policyholder |
| Field property adjuster | Site inspections, scoping and estimating with estimating software, contractor and mitigation coordination, territory travel | Has written estimates from inspections, including roof work if the territory needs it, and has a reliable vehicle and license |
| Independent or catastrophe adjuster | Deployments after storms, many claims fast, several carriers' guidelines, often away from home for weeks | Holds the licenses the firm deploys under and has worked catastrophe volume to carrier standards |
| Casualty or bodily injury adjuster | Liability investigation, recorded statements, medical records review, negotiation with attorneys, reserves | Has set reserves and negotiated injury settlements within authority |
| Workers' compensation claims adjuster | Compensability decisions, state benefit rules, medical management, return-to-work coordination | Knows the state's workers' compensation system and has managed lost-time claims |
Settle before writing: lines and claim types, desk or field, staff or independent, the states claims come from, expected open caseload, settlement and payment authority, estimating and claims systems, catastrophe deployment expectations, vehicle and travel, and the reporting line. Public adjusters represent the insured rather than the insurer; write that posting separately.
Licensing and classification lines, with sources
Not legal advice. The points below were checked against the NAIC State Licensing Handbook, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, the federal regulations and Department of Labor pages as of October 2026. Adjuster licensing is set by each state's insurance department; confirm the rules for your states and lines.
Adjuster license. The NAIC describes three kinds of adjusters: public adjusters, who represent the insured; independent adjusters, who are self-employed or work for an independent firm and may adjust for many insurers; and company or staff adjusters, typically salaried employees of an insurer. It says more than 30 states require licensure of one or more of these types, that some states license by line of authority or by categories such as motor vehicle physical damage, workers' compensation or crop, and that adjusters residing in states that do not license adjusters can select a designated home state and qualify there as if they were residents (NAIC State Licensing Handbook, Chapter 18). BLS adds that in some states, adjusters employed by insurance companies can work under the company's license (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, last modified August 27, 2026). Name the license, the states and any nonresident licenses needed, and say whether you pay for prelicensing and exams.
Designations. The NAIC handbook lists designations such as the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Claims (AIC) among the ways some states assess adjuster knowledge. The Institutes says the CPCU requires eight courses plus ethics and two years of experience in risk management or insurance. List designations as preferred.
Exempt or nonexempt. The regulations say insurance claims adjusters generally meet the duties requirements for the administrative exemption if their duties include activities such as interviewing insureds, witnesses and physicians, inspecting property damage, reviewing facts to prepare damage estimates, evaluating and making recommendations about coverage, determining liability and the total value of a claim, negotiating settlements and making recommendations about litigation (29 CFR 541.203(a)). The exemption also needs a salary of at least the standard level, which the Department of Labor lists as $684 a week (DOL Fact Sheet 17C). A desk role that mainly keys in claims and pays from set tables is a weaker fit; review the actual duties. Independent adjusters engaged as contractors raise a separate classification question for counsel.
The claims adjuster job description template
[Senior] Claims Adjuster, [Auto Physical Damage / Property /
Casualty / Workers' Compensation] — [Desk / Field / Catastrophe],
[Staff / Independent]
[Company], [city, state] — [In office / Hybrid: days / Remote
within: states / Field: territory], [catastrophe deployment: about
N weeks a year, if any]
Pay: $[min]–$[max] per [year / hour / day rate]. [Vehicle or
mileage terms.] [Benefits summary, if required.] [Exempt or
non-exempt, after review.]
SUMMARY
You will handle [claim types] for [lines] from first notice to
closure, with an open caseload of about [N] claims, settlement
authority up to $[amount], and claims from [states]. You will work
in [claims system] and [estimating software] and report to [title].
WHAT YOU WILL DO
- Contact insureds and claimants promptly and explain the process.
- Investigate: statements, [inspections], documents, [medical
records], photos.
- Review coverage and recommend or make decisions within your
authority, citing the policy language.
- Prepare or review estimates, set and update reserves, and
negotiate settlements.
- Document every step and meet state claim-handling timelines.
- Spot potential fraud or subrogation and refer as required.
YOU MUST HAVE
- [Active (state) adjuster license for (lines) / ability to obtain
it within (N) days, with our support.]
- [N] years of [claims / estimating / insurance / related]
experience.
- Clear written explanations of coverage decisions.
- [Field: valid driver's license and ability to inspect (roofs /
vehicles) safely.]
NICE TO HAVE
- [CPCU / AIC / other], [estimating software], [catastrophe
experience].
If you meet the must-haves and none of these, please apply.
FIXED CONDITIONS
- Licensing and background checks as required by state law, after
a conditional offer where required.
HOW WE HIRE
[Recruiter screen; conversation with (claims manager); a written
exercise explaining a coverage decision on a sample claim;
meeting the team.]
[EEO STATEMENT]
Need an adjustment to apply or interview? Contact [address].Post the range and any vehicle or per diem terms (check pay transparency laws by state), and close with a short EEO statement and an accommodation contact. Physical requirements such as climbing ladders belong in field postings only, stated as job tasks.
From must-haves to screening questions and scorecard rows
| Must-have | Screening question | Scorecard competency | Evidence of a strong answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| License | "Which adjuster licenses do you hold, in which states, and is any of them a designated home state license?" | Not scored: verified | Matches the state lookup; lines and states fit the job |
| Coverage judgment | "Walk me through the last claim you denied or reduced. What did the policy say and how did you explain it?" | Coverage analysis | Cites policy language, evidence, a clear and respectful explanation |
| Caseload management | "How many open claims did you carry, and how did you keep contact and diary deadlines?" | Organization | A real number, a diary method, how they recovered when behind |
| Negotiation | "Describe a settlement where the claimant or attorney started far from your number." | Negotiation | Evidence-based valuation, stayed within authority, documented the result |
| Estimating (field) | "What do you check first on a roof or vehicle inspection, and what do people miss?" | Technical accuracy | Specific checks, safety habits, common misses |
The later rounds are in the interview guide for insurance roles. For the sales side of the same carrier or agency, see the insurance agent job description template. The first months are in the 30-60-90 day plan for claims adjusters, and sourcing strings are in the boolean search strings for claims adjusters.
Common mistakes in claims adjuster job descriptions
No caseload or authority
Forty claims with $10,000 authority and 150 claims with $2,500 are different jobs. Give both.
Catastrophe deployment buried
If adjusters may be sent away for weeks after storms, say how often and how travel is paid.
Licensing left as "preferred"
If the state requires a license to adjust, it is not optional. Say what is required and by when.
Mixing public and insurer adjusting
Public adjusters represent policyholders. Keep that posting separate.
Assuming every adjuster is exempt
The regulation describes adjusters who investigate and decide. Scripted intake roles need a separate look.
Before you publish
- Lines, claim types, desk or field, and staff or independent are in the summary.
- Caseload, authority, states and systems are stated.
- The license line names the states and says required at hire or sponsored.
- Travel, catastrophe deployment and vehicle terms are clear.
- Classification has been reviewed; the EEO statement and an accommodation contact close the posting.
Questions people ask
Does a claims adjuster need a license?
It depends on the state and the type of adjuster. The NAIC's State Licensing Handbook describes public, independent and company or staff adjusters and says more than 30 states require licensure of one or more of these types. Some states do not license adjusters, so adjusters living there often obtain a license from a designated home state. Name the license and states the seat needs, and say whether you sponsor it.
Is a claims adjuster exempt from overtime?
Often. The regulations say insurance claims adjusters generally meet the duties requirements of the administrative exemption when their work includes interviewing insureds and witnesses, inspecting damage, preparing estimates, evaluating coverage, determining liability and value, negotiating settlements and making litigation recommendations. The exemption also needs a salary of at least $684 a week. A high-volume desk role that mostly follows scripts and set payment tables deserves a closer review.
What is the difference between a staff, independent and public adjuster?
The NAIC handbook says staff adjusters are typically salaried employees of an insurer who adjust claims only for that insurer, independent adjusters are self-employed or work for an independent firm and may adjust for many insurers, and public adjusters contract with and represent the insured. A public adjuster posting is a different job and usually a different license.
What is a good first screening question for a claims adjuster?
Ask them to walk through the last claim they denied or reduced: the coverage question, the evidence, how they explained it and what happened next. Adjusters who have carried a caseload cite the policy language and the documentation; others describe empathy in general terms.