What is the best state to be a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators?

By the Gera US Real Pay Index, South Dakota is the best state for a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators: a BLS median of $78,900 is worth $89,066 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 88.6), an index of 115.4 where the average state is 100.

Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?

Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators at $101,150, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #3 of 51 on real pay (index 112.5). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators

Best States to Be a Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators

After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators salary goes furthest in South Dakota — a $78,900 BLS median worth $89,066 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 115.4).

Which US states are best for a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators after cost of living and tax?

For a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks South Dakota #1: a $78,900 BLS median becomes $89,066 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 115.4). Nevada ranks last ($62,743, index 81.3). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

South Dakota ranks #1 of 51 states for a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators. Index 100 = the average state; 115.4 means pay goes 15.4% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

115.4

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — real pay by state (best first)

#	State	BLS median	State tax	Cost (RPP)	Real pay	Index
1	South Dakota	$78,900	—	88.6	$89,066	115.4
2	Maryland	$95,560	$4,206	105.0	$87,037	112.8
3	District of Columbia	$101,150	$5,723	109.9	$86,830	112.5
4	Mississippi	$77,100	$2,587	87.0	$85,693	111.0
5	Alaska	$87,670	—	102.4	$85,650	111.0
6	Alabama	$79,710	$3,721	88.8	$85,552	110.8
7	Tennessee	$78,010	—	91.9	$84,913	110.0
8	New Jersey	$95,690	$3,906	108.8	$84,357	109.3
9	Vermont	$83,970	$3,160	98.0	$82,494	106.9
10	Wyoming	$76,400	—	92.7	$82,424	106.8
11	Connecticut	$88,330	$3,283	103.6	$82,084	106.3
12	Rhode Island	$86,520	$2,645	102.3	$82,006	106.2
13	Arkansas	$73,920	$2,674	86.9	$81,951	106.2
14	Kansas	$77,290	$3,513	90.1	$81,912	106.1
15	Texas	$78,800	—	97.1	$81,189	105.2
16	Nebraska	$75,830	$2,847	90.1	$81,000	104.9
17	Missouri	$75,840	$2,684	90.8	$80,554	104.4
18	New Hampshire	$83,890	—	104.2	$80,536	104.3
19	Wisconsin	$78,160	$2,990	94.1	$79,887	103.5
20	Iowa	$72,640	$2,720	87.8	$79,670	103.2
21	California	$91,790	$4,415	110.7	$78,916	102.2
22	Kentucky	$73,840	$2,823	90.2	$78,769	102.0
23	Michigan	$78,850	$3,105	96.2	$78,723	102.0
24	Oklahoma	$71,260	$2,847	87.8	$77,881	100.9
25	Idaho	$77,340	$3,284	95.5	$77,550	100.5
26	Maine	$78,590	$3,690	97.0	$77,177	100.0
27	South Carolina	$75,370	$3,066	93.7	$77,126	99.9
28	North Carolina	$75,310	$2,659	94.3	$77,021	99.8
29	New York	$87,130	$4,187	107.9	$76,855	99.6
30	Pennsylvania	$77,290	$2,373	97.6	$76,781	99.5
31	Indiana	$73,560	$2,177	93.3	$76,486	99.1
32	Minnesota	$78,350	$3,839	98.6	$75,553	97.9
33	Massachusetts	$83,740	$3,967	105.8	$75,430	97.7
34	Washington	$80,700	—	107.0	$75,411	97.7
35	Florida	$76,920	—	103.4	$74,381	96.4
36	North Dakota	$65,460	$39	89.0	$73,541	95.3
37	Illinois	$77,010	$3,671	100.0	$73,370	95.0
38	Oregon	$81,640	$6,340	103.4	$72,852	94.4
39	Georgia	$73,320	$3,305	96.3	$72,710	94.2
40	Colorado	$77,620	$2,755	103.1	$72,648	94.1
41	West Virginia	$67,290	$2,308	89.5	$72,607	94.1
42	Louisiana	$65,220	$1,582	88.2	$72,147	93.5
43	Ohio	$67,990	$1,087	92.8	$72,114	93.4
44	New Mexico	$67,930	$2,079	92.2	$71,413	92.5
45	Virginia	$74,240	$3,469	101.1	$69,998	90.7
46	Delaware	$72,370	$3,435	99.8	$69,067	89.5
47	Hawaii	$79,080	$4,480	110.0	$67,848	87.9
48	Utah	$69,000	$3,140	98.9	$66,617	86.3
49	Montana	$63,860	$2,630	94.6	$64,695	83.8
50	Arizona	$65,110	$1,153	100.7	$63,527	82.3
51	Nevada	$62,730	—	100.0	$62,743	81.3

"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In South Dakota, a $78,900 salary is worth about $89,066 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $0 (no state income tax) · take-home $78,900 · BEA cost of living 88.6 (US = 100).

That makes South Dakota the state where this salary goes furthest.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$89,066	88.6
2	Arkansas	$87,216	86.9
3	Louisiana	$86,765	88.2
4	Mississippi	$86,746	87.0
5	Iowa	$86,486	87.8
6	North Dakota	$86,475	89.0
7	Tennessee	$85,882	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$85,553	87.8
9	Wyoming	$85,122	92.7
10	Alabama	$84,387	88.8
11	Kentucky	$84,012	90.2
12	West Virginia	$83,910	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — real pay FAQ

What is the best state to be a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators?: By the Gera US Real Pay Index, South Dakota is the best state for a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators: a BLS median of $78,900 is worth $89,066 after the 2025 state income tax ($0) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 88.6), an index of 115.4 where the average state is 100.
Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?: Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators at $101,150, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #3 of 51 on real pay (index 112.5). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
Where does a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators salary go least far?: Nevada ranks last of 51 states for a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators: a $62,730 BLS median is worth only $62,743 after tax and cost of living (index 81.3). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.