Insurance Adjuster Salary Calculator
Estimate what you could earn as a staff, independent, catastrophe or public adjuster in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio or anywhere else in Texas — or any other state.
Your estimated salary
- Realistic range-
- Hourly equivalent-
- Monthly (gross)-
- Benefits & vehicle value-
- vs. national median ($76,790)-
Estimates only. Not a job offer.
How this insurance adjuster salary calculator works
Every estimate starts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics median for claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners and investigators: $76,790 a year (May 2024). From there the calculator applies four adjustments:
- Role. Staff desk and field adjusters earn a W-2 salary. Independent, CAT and public adjusters earn per claim, per day or by percentage, so their ranges are much wider.
- Line of business. Commercial and large-loss claims pay the most; auto material damage pays the least.
- Experience. Pay climbs quickly over the first five years, then levels off. A ten-year adjuster earns roughly 15% more than a five-year adjuster.
- Location. Texas metros are built in: Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston pay about 4–6% above the national median, while El Paso and McAllen pay less. A regional wage index covers every other state. For 1099 roles, where carriers set national fee schedules, location counts for much less.
Want the detail behind the numbers? Read how much insurance adjusters make, compare claims adjuster salary by line, or see how independent adjuster pay really works.
Calculator FAQs
How accurate is this insurance adjuster salary calculator?
It gives a realistic range, not a quote. The model starts from the BLS national median for claims adjusters ($76,790, May 2024) and adjusts for role, line of business, experience and a regional wage index. Actual offers vary by employer, caseload and storm activity.
Why is the range so wide for independent and CAT adjusters?
Independent and catastrophe adjusters are paid per claim or per day, so income depends on how many deployments they land. A quiet year can pay half of a staff salary, while a major hurricane season can pay two or three times as much.
Does location change what independent adjusters earn?
Less than it does for staff. IA fee schedules are set nationally by carriers and firms, so where you live matters far less than where storms hit. The calculator applies only part of the state wage index to 1099 roles.
What is included in total compensation for staff adjusters?
Staff roles typically include health insurance, a 401(k) match and paid time off. Field roles often add a company car, gas card, phone and laptop. We value that package at roughly $8,000 to $11,000 a year.
Keep running the numbers
CAT Deployment Earnings Calculator
Model what a catastrophe deployment pays after fee splits, expenses and taxes.
Open toolPublic Adjuster Fee Calculator
See what a public adjuster earns on a settlement, with Texas and Florida fee caps built in.
Open toolSalary by State Explorer
Search and sort estimated adjuster pay for all 50 states and D.C.
Open toolBecome a Texas Insurance Adjuster Within a Week
Take an online Texas all-lines pre-licensing course, get licensed and start applying for claims roles across Texas and every reciprocal state. Use code joe20 for 20% off.