Your job as an insurance claims specialist can take you into many different fields, including working in the medical industry as well as working with traditional insurance companies. The skills set needed for this area of expertise is largely based on technology but you may also work in the field, as well.
Your Career
Many of the tasks associated with working as an insurance claims specialists require a good knowledge of computers and computer programs such as Excel. Your training and education will provide the background education that you need for the job, but you will also learn how to use software for billing and other tasks in the office once you are on the job.
You will also need to have excellent communication skills in your work as an insurance claims specialist. You will work with a diverse range of clients who may be experiencing a wide variety of life events. Your ability to understand and work with clients is an important part of the job.
Career Outlook
As an insurance claims specialist you will have many different job opportunities. The outlook for this career is positive even though there have been some decreases in the insurance industry over the past few years. Competition within the insurance industry is relatively weak, allowing new claims specialists to find rewarding careers in many different fields.
The salary for an insurance claims specialist will vary but most new employees will earn an average of $32,000 to $34,000. As time passes you can expect to earn up to $65,000. With the many different positions within the career there are also slight variations in pay depending on which field you choose for your career.
Getting Started
To become an insurance claims specialist you will need to have education and training. The minimal requirements for the career are a high school diploma and strong computer skills. Some companies also require you have a Bachelors degree or higher to work as a specialist.
To determine which educational requirements you need, you may want to begin by researching the positions for companies that you are interested in working for in the future. You will also typically receive on the job training to learn how to use company-specific software.
Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
The salary range for Insurance Claims begins around $34,140 and usually tops out around $70,860, with a mean in the neighborhood of $52,500. This is about 21% higher than the national average for annual salaries.
In order to qualify for most Insurance Claims positions, you typically need to have a High School Diploma or higher.
Data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
The growth outlook for Insurance Claims careers is estimated at about 7% while the estimated growth for all career fields over that same span is at about 10.12%. Over the next six years, Insurance Claims jobs are expected to grow at a 45% lower rate than the national average for annual salaries.