SOC 43-9041.00

    Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks

    Process new insurance policies, modifications to existing policies, and claims forms.

    Median pay
    $49,230
    Growth
    -1.9%
    Decline
    Openings a year
    17,500
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $37,560
    Median
    $49,230
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $73,590
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    214,260 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Insurance claims and policy processing clerks handle new policies, modifications, and claims forms. The median annual pay for these administrative professionals is $49,230, with positions available across the country.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What insurance claims and policy processing clerks do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    Process new insurance policies, modifications to existing policies, and claims forms. Obtain information from policyholders to verify the accuracy and completeness of information on claims forms, applications and related documents, and company records. Update existing policies and company records to reflect changes requested by policyholders and insurance company representatives.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    What the work is like

    People in this career spend their days processing new insurance policies, updating existing records, and handling claims forms. They gather information directly from policyholders to ensure all applications, claims, and company documents are complete and accurate. This role requires working with computers to document information, evaluate compliance with industry standards, and solve processing problems.

    To succeed, clerks must have strong skills in reading comprehension, active listening, time management, and clear communication. They need a solid foundation in customer service, administrative procedures, the English language, and basic mathematics. Because this work involves handling sensitive financial and personal data, clerks must demonstrate high attention to detail, dependability, integrity, and cautiousness. This role fits well with individuals who have conventional interests, meaning they enjoy structured, detail-oriented tasks and clear procedures.

    How to get there

    Entering this field typically requires a high school diploma. Most workers need some on-the-job training or previous experience to become fully proficient. Students interested in this career path often study business operations support and assistant services in college.

    While not always required, several professional certifications can help clerks advance. These include the Associate in Claims - Management, Associate in General Insurance, Associate in Insurance Services, and Associate in National Flood Insurance, all offered by The Institutes. Other options include the Associate, Insurance Regulatory Compliance from LOMA, and the Certified Insurance Counselors designation from The National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research. Additionally, some states list a license for this work, so requirements vary by location.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for these clerks is $49,230. The lowest 10 percent of workers earn less than $37,560, while the highest 10 percent earn more than $73,590.

    There are 214,260 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to decline by -1.9 percent. Despite this slight decrease in total jobs, the field will still see about 17,500 openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    4 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    24 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    26 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    48 / 100
    Conventional (C) · strongest
    100 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code CES. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Working with Computers
    86
    Getting Information
    80
    Processing Information
    78
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    77
    Documenting/Recording Information
    77
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    76
    Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    69
    Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    69
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    66
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    66
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Reading Comprehension
    • Time Management
    • Speaking
    • Active Listening
    • Critical Thinking
    • Coordination
    • Service Orientation
    • Social Perceptiveness
    • Writing
    • Complex Problem Solving

    Knowledge

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Administrative
    • English Language
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Mathematics
    • Administration and Management
    • Communications and Media
    • Production and Processing
    • Law and Government
    • Economics and Accounting

    Abilities

    • Oral Comprehension
    • Written Comprehension
    • Near Vision
    • Oral Expression
    • Speech Clarity
    • Speech Recognition
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Information Ordering
    • Written Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Integrity
    • Cautiousness
    • Cooperation
    • Self-Control
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Sincerity
    • Perseverance
    • Social Orientation

    Also called

    Agency Service Representative (Agency Service Rep) · Auto Claims Rep (Automotive Claims Representative) · Auto Liability Claims Rep (Automotive Liability Claims Representative) · Billing and Insurance Coordinator · Bodily Injury Claims Representative (Bodily Injury Claims Rep) · Cancellation Clerk · Claim Representative (Claims Rep) · Claims Adjudicator · Claims Analyst · Claims Assistant

    Career pathway

    From your interests to insurance claims and policy processing clerks

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks$49,230 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      Bellevue University-Nebraska

      Bellevue, NE · Business Operations Support and Assistant Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $67,452
      4 yrs after
      $83,581
      Median debt
      $19,499
    2. 2Valdosta State University logo
      Valdosta State University

      Valdosta, GA · Business Operations Support and Assistant Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $42,670
      4 yrs after
      $60,715
      Median debt
      $25,991

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What insurance claims and policy processing clerks may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • General Office Occupations and Clerical Services

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    39 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about insurance claims and policy processing clerks

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for this career?

    Workers in this field are also known as agency service representatives, auto claims representatives, billing and insurance coordinators, and claims analysts. Other common titles include cancellation clerks and claims assistants.

    Do I need a college degree to work in this field?

    No, a college degree is not typically required. A high school diploma is the standard entry-level education, combined with some on-the-job training.

    Are there licensing requirements for insurance clerks?

    Licensing requirements depend on where you live. Some states list a license for this specific type of work, so it is important to check local regulations.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.