SalaryByCity

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators vs Mechanical Engineers: 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

Mechanical Engineers

$102,320

Median annual salary

286,760 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Mechanical Engineers professionals earn $25,530 more per year than Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators professionals — that's 33.2% higher. At the 90th percentile, Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators earns $112,150 compared to $161,240 for Mechanical Engineers.

Salary Range Comparison

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$47,810 – $112,150
Mechanical Engineers$68,740 – $161,240
$47,810$161,240

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileClaims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsMechanical EngineersDifference
10th Percentile$47,810$68,740$-20,930
25th Percentile$60,100$81,800$-21,700
Median (50th)$76,790$102,320$-25,530
75th Percentile$95,990$130,290$-34,300
90th Percentile$112,150$161,240$-49,090
Mean (Average)$78,770$110,080$-31,310

Employment Numbers

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators

305,020

employed nationwide

Mechanical Engineers

286,760

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 Mechanical Engineers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$147,730
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$145,640
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$128,660
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX$126,870
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$124,160

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators or Mechanical Engineers?
Mechanical Engineers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $25,530 (33.2% 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 Mechanical Engineers?
Mechanical Engineers salaries range from $68,740 (10th percentile) to $161,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $102,320.
How many Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators and Mechanical Engineers jobs are there?
There are approximately 305,020 Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators positions and 286,760 Mechanical Engineers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Mechanical Engineers 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 Mechanical Engineers earns $102,320. 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