SalaryByCity

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators vs Tax Preparers: 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

Tax Preparers

$50,560

Median annual salary

73,570 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators professionals earn $26,230 more per year than Tax Preparers professionals — that's 51.9% higher. At the 90th percentile, Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators earns $112,150 compared to $96,240 for Tax Preparers.

Salary Range Comparison

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$47,810 – $112,150
Tax Preparers$30,500 – $96,240
$30,500$112,150

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileClaims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsTax PreparersDifference
10th Percentile$47,810$30,500+$17,310
25th Percentile$60,100$37,750+$22,350
Median (50th)$76,790$50,560+$26,230
75th Percentile$95,990$75,590+$20,400
90th Percentile$112,150$96,240+$15,910
Mean (Average)$78,770$58,860+$19,910

Employment Numbers

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators

305,020

employed nationwide

Tax Preparers

73,570

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 Tax Preparers

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$83,600
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$83,240
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$74,670
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA$71,990
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX$68,160

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators or Tax Preparers?
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $26,230 (51.9% 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 Tax Preparers?
Tax Preparers salaries range from $30,500 (10th percentile) to $96,240 (90th percentile), with a median of $50,560.
How many Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators and Tax Preparers jobs are there?
There are approximately 305,020 Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators positions and 73,570 Tax Preparers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Tax Preparers 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 Tax Preparers earns $50,560. 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