SalaryByCity

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators vs Paralegals and Legal Assistants: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators

$76,790

Median annual salary

305,020 employed nationally

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

$61,010

Median annual salary

367,220 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators professionals earn $15,780 more per year than Paralegals and Legal Assistants professionals — that's 25.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators earns $112,150 compared to $98,990 for Paralegals and Legal Assistants.

Salary Range Comparison

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$47,810 – $112,150
Paralegals and Legal Assistants$39,710 – $98,990
$39,710$112,150

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileClaims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsParalegals and Legal AssistantsDifference
10th Percentile$47,810$39,710+$8,100
25th Percentile$60,100$48,190+$11,910
Median (50th)$76,790$61,010+$15,780
75th Percentile$95,990$78,280+$17,710
90th Percentile$112,150$98,990+$13,160
Mean (Average)$78,770$66,510+$12,260

Employment Numbers

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators

305,020

employed nationwide

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

367,220

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators

CityMedian
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$100,260
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$97,030
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$95,650
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$95,190
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$89,730

Best Cities for Paralegals and Legal Assistants

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$97,740
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$85,230
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$84,950
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$80,550
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO$79,240

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators or Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $15,780 (25.9% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators?
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators salaries range from $47,810 (10th percentile) to $112,150 (90th percentile), with a median of $76,790.
What is the salary range for Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
Paralegals and Legal Assistants salaries range from $39,710 (10th percentile) to $98,990 (90th percentile), with a median of $61,010.
How many Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators and Paralegals and Legal Assistants jobs are there?
There are approximately 305,020 Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators positions and 367,220 Paralegals and Legal Assistants positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Paralegals and Legal Assistants to Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators has a median salary of $76,790 while Paralegals and Legal Assistants earns $61,010. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS