A catastrophe adjuster assesses insurance claims after hurricanes, hail, wildfires and floods. You are paid per closed claim, not a salary — a quiet year is $60–90k, but in an active season experienced independents clear $150–250k. No degree required. The barrier here is not skill, it is the willingness to drop everything and deploy to a disaster zone for weeks. Few people want to, which is exactly why it pays.
Method
- Get a state license2–4 weeks of online coursework plus an exam. A Texas adjuster license is honored in many states.
- Learn XactimateThe industry-standard estimating platform. The course pays for itself immediately — firms will not deploy you without it.
- Join IA firm rostersRegister with independent adjusting firms (Crawford, Sedgwick, Eberl) and wait to be deployed.
- DeployAfter a major storm: 6–12 weeks in the field, 10–14 claims a day, paid per claim.
- ScaleMultiple state licenses plus a reputation let you pick the best seasons and rates.
Watch out:Income is lumpy and seasonal — plan by the year, not the month. Travel, burnout, and self-employment taxes all apply.
Pay, licensing and demand vary by state, city and timing. Figures are averaged and partly approximate. Skill levels are illustrative. Sources: BLS OEWS (claims adjusters); ZipRecruiter / Glassdoor CAT adjuster 2026; industry CAT-adjuster guides 2026.