Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Salary in Washington, DC
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $84,590 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,117 take-home, or $5,343 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,780
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,245
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,227
- District of Columbia income tax$4,222
- Take-home pay$64,117
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,960 | $26.90 | $44,952 | $3,746 |
| 25th percentile | $65,590 | $31.53 | $52,065 | $4,339 |
| Median (50th) | $84,590 | $40.67 | $64,117 | $5,343 |
| 75th percentile | $104,330 | $50.16 | $76,327 | $6,361 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,050 | $60.12 | $89,077 | $7,423 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $84,590 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators's $64,117 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,886 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators jobs are less concentrated in Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.40), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #19 of 30 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $98,700 | $73,941 | $70,766 |
| 2 | San Antonio, TX | $81,830 | $66,397 | $70,102 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $78,030 | $63,724 | $66,146 |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO | $78,090 | $61,033 | $65,951 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $105,340 | $76,000 | $65,737 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $78,820 | $64,280 | $65,173 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $82,890 | $67,143 | $65,131 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $79,770 | $62,101 | $64,063 |
| 19 | Washington, DC | $84,590 | $64,117 | $58,886 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 30 metros →
About the job: claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
Review settled claims to determine that payments and settlements are made in accordance with company practices and procedures. Confer with legal counsel on claims requiring litigation. May also settle insurance claims.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -5.5% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators make in Washington, DC?
The median claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $84,590 a year, or about $40.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,590 and $104,330.
What is a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $84,590 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $64,117 a year ($5,343 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,222 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $78,000. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,886 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #19 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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