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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What does a Insurance Claims Clerk actually earn in 2026? The national weighted average lands at $51,211 — but that single number is deceptively simple. Across the 288 cities in our database, median pay ranges from $36,520 to $93,280. The $35,848 gap between entry-level (P10) and senior (P90) pay tells you this career has real earning trajectory — if you're in the right place.
Positioned in Office & Admin within the broader Administrative industry, Insurance Claims Clerks typically hold High school + training. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is office. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$56,760 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Insurance Claims Clerk in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $93,280 — $56,760 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($36,520). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Insurance Claims Clerks average $36,872, the median sits at $51,211, and senior earners pull in $72,720. That $35,848 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $29,156 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $87,120, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $36,813. The $50,307 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Insurance Claims Clerk in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $93,280 — $56,760 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($36,520). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $36,872 | $51,211 | $72,720 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £20,266 | £28,148 | £39,970 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$29,670 | CA$41,208 | CA$58,516 |
| Australia | 13 | A$32,496 | A$45,134 | A$64,090 |
| Sweden | 24 | 209,243 kr | 290,615 kr | 412,673 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $44,503 | $61,809 | $87,769 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $43,006 | $59,730 | $84,817 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $42,768 | $59,400 | $84,348 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $39,600 | $55,000 | $78,100 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $39,125 | $54,340 | $77,163 |
| Washington | 8 | $38,372 | $53,295 | $75,679 |
| New York | 5 | $36,115 | $50,160 | $71,227 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $36,115 | $50,160 | $71,227 |
| Florida | 22 | $35,842 | $49,780 | $70,688 |
| Colorado | 11 | $35,222 | $48,920 | $69,466 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $35,165 | $48,840 | $69,353 |
| Nevada | 5 | $35,101 | $48,752 | $69,228 |
| Arizona | 12 | $34,927 | $48,510 | $68,884 |
| Oregon | 5 | $34,848 | $48,400 | $68,728 |
| Idaho | 3 | $34,742 | $48,253 | $68,520 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $34,468 | $47,872 | $67,978 |
| Utah | 4 | $34,373 | $47,740 | $67,791 |
| Virginia | 7 | $33,807 | $46,954 | $66,675 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $33,370 | $46,347 | $65,812 |
| Alaska | 1 | $33,264 | $46,200 | $65,604 |
| Illinois | 5 | $32,884 | $45,672 | $64,854 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $32,067 | $44,538 | $63,244 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $31,680 | $44,000 | $62,480 |
| Montana | 1 | $31,680 | $44,000 | $62,480 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $31,574 | $43,853 | $62,272 |
| Texas | 40 | $31,419 | $43,637 | $61,965 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $31,364 | $43,560 | $61,856 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $31,205 | $43,340 | $61,543 |
| Georgia | 6 | $31,099 | $43,193 | $61,335 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $31,046 | $43,120 | $61,230 |
| Kansas | 4 | $30,888 | $42,900 | $60,918 |
| Michigan | 6 | $30,782 | $42,753 | $60,710 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $30,413 | $42,240 | $59,981 |
| Maryland | 1 | $30,413 | $42,240 | $59,981 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $30,096 | $41,800 | $59,356 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $30,096 | $41,800 | $59,356 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $29,304 | $40,700 | $57,794 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $29,146 | $40,480 | $57,482 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $28,750 | $39,930 | $56,701 |
| Missouri | 4 | $28,750 | $39,930 | $56,701 |
| Alabama | 5 | $28,639 | $39,776 | $56,482 |
| Indiana | 3 | $28,195 | $39,160 | $55,607 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $28,195 | $39,160 | $55,607 |
| Iowa | 2 | $27,878 | $38,720 | $54,982 |
| Ohio | 6 | $27,826 | $38,647 | $54,878 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $26,611 | $36,960 | $52,483 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Insurance Claims Clerk median of $61,809 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($59,730) and Hawaii ($59,400). Stack the top-paying states against the cheapest — the math is revealing. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $36,960 and $38,720. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($93,280 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $44,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $93,280 | 212 | $44,000 | $58,163 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $87,120 | 198 | $44,000 | $54,649 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $80,960 | 184 | $44,000 | $51,135 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $79,640 | 181 | $44,000 | $50,382 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $78,320 | 178 | $44,000 | $49,629 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $77,880 | 177 | $44,000 | $49,378 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $77,880 | 177 | $44,000 | $49,378 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $76,120 | 173 | $44,000 | $48,373 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $76,120 | 173 | $44,000 | $48,373 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $74,360 | 169 | $44,000 | $47,369 |
Career economics for Insurance Claims Clerks: entry level averages $36,872, mid-career hits $51,211, and experienced professionals reach $72,720. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires High school + training, and the work is office. The outlook: steady. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The weighted national median salary for Insurance Claims Clerks is $51,211 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $36,872, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $72,720.
The highest-paying city for Insurance Claims Clerks is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $93,280. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($93,280), Santa Clara ($87,120), Irvine ($80,960). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Insurance Claims Clerk salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $36,520. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Insurance Claims Clerks (10th percentile) average $36,872 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $67,162. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Insurance Claims Clerks average $72,720 nationally — $35,848 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Insurance Claims Clerks can earn up to $132,458.
The top-paying states for Insurance Claims Clerks are California ($61,809 median), Massachusetts ($59,730 median), Hawaii ($59,400 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Insurance Claims Clerk involves High school + training. The field is in the Administrative sector (Office & Admin), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically office.
With a national median of $51,211 and representation across 288 metro areas, Insurance Claims Clerk offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $35,848 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.