SalaryByCity

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators vs Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters: 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

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

$62,970

Median annual salary

455,940 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators professionals earn $13,820 more per year than Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters professionals — that's 21.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators earns $112,150 compared to $105,150 for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters.

Salary Range Comparison

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$47,810 – $112,150
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$40,670 – $105,150
$40,670$112,150

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileClaims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsPlumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersDifference
10th Percentile$47,810$40,670+$7,140
25th Percentile$60,100$48,860+$11,240
Median (50th)$76,790$62,970+$13,820
75th Percentile$95,990$81,900+$14,090
90th Percentile$112,150$105,150+$7,000
Mean (Average)$78,770$69,940+$8,830

Employment Numbers

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators

305,020

employed nationwide

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

455,940

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 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

CityMedian
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$100,110
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI$98,890
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$97,020
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$90,220
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$87,160

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators or Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $13,820 (21.9% 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 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters?
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters salaries range from $40,670 (10th percentile) to $105,150 (90th percentile), with a median of $62,970.
How many Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators and Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters jobs are there?
There are approximately 305,020 Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators positions and 455,940 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters 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 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters earns $62,970. 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