If you are trying to break into adjusting in 2026 and not getting much traction, you are not the only one.
A lot of people enter this industry expecting that once they get licensed, opportunities will show up quickly. Sometimes they do. But not always. And when the calls are not coming in, it is easy to assume the problem is you.
Usually, it is not that simple.
At AdjusterPro, we work with aspiring adjusters every day, so we want to be clear from the start: we are not going to pretend the market is easy right now, but there is still high opportunity.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment for claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators to decline from 2024 to 2034 (a 5% decline), but it also projects about 21,600 openings each year on average because workers leave the field or retire. (Not to mention the high number of adjusters needed when a big storm hits.)
| So, how can you be one of the 21,600 people hired in the industry? New insurance adjusters can improve their chances of getting hired in 2026 by showing experience beyond a license, making their skills easy to understand, building trust with employers, firms, and TPAs, and using adjacent roles or training opportunities to keep moving forward while the market is slower. |
For this article, we spoke directly with experienced adjusters who are working in the industry right now, including Kathee Colman, Jerry Gardner, and Jim Cresse, to get a clearer picture of the 2026 job market and the steps new adjusters can take to get hired. What they described was not a dead end, but a market that rewards strategy, flexibility, and steady skill building. Colman, a senior specialty adjuster, shared insight shaped by work in medical malpractice, international claims, and construction defect. Gardner, an independent adjuster, brought perspective from years of handling property, liability, large-loss, and complex claims, along with a background in construction, project management, real estate, and other property-related work. Cresse, a national general adjuster at Sedgwick, added practical guidance based on his experience helping adjusters navigate both the day-to-day realities of the job and the business side of the profession.
By the end of this article, you will have a clearer sense of what the 2026 market looks like, how to stand out as a new adjuster, and how to keep moving toward adjusting work even if your first opportunity is not the one you expected.
Table of Contents:
- What Does the 2026 Insurance Adjuster Job Market Look Like?
- How Can New Insurance Adjusters Stand Out in a Competitive 2026 Job Market?
- How Can New Insurance Adjusters Get Hired When The 2026 Job Market Is Slow?
- What Should New Insurance Adjusters Do Next To Get Hired In 2026?
What Does the 2026 Insurance Adjuster Job Market Look Like?
The insurance adjuster job market in 2026 is competitive, but that does not mean it is closed.
Slower storm seasons change the way companies and firms hire. When claim volume is lower or businesses are consolidating, there may be fewer open opportunities for new people. Gardner noted that company consolidation has changed the flow of work in his part of the market, and Cresse said smaller independents and small adjusting companies have declined in recent years, which can make the independent side of the industry feel especially tight for newcomers.
That does not mean opportunities are gone. It means employers, carriers, firms, and TPAs can be more cautious about who they trust with claims. In other words, the bar for standing out is higher than it might be during a heavy catastrophe season or a more open hiring cycle.
How Can New Insurance Adjusters Stand Out in a Competitive 2026 Job Market?
Standing out in 2026 usually means showing more than a license.
Licensing still matters, of course, but one of the clearest themes from the interviews is that being licensed alone is not always enough to make you memorable. Gardner said new adjusters (especially independent adjusters) need to highlight the skill set that applies to the kind of work they want to do. Colman made a similar point, explaining that a related background can make it easier to step into a niche and understand the work more quickly. Even if your goal is not independent work, the same principle applies: employers want to understand what you can actually bring to the role.
How Can New Insurance Adjusters Show More Than a License?
If you want an employer, firm, or third party administrator (TPA) to take you seriously, make it easy for them to see what you offer beyond your license.
That might be construction knowledge, estimating experience, prior field work, customer service, documentation skills, inspection work, or familiarity with the kinds of claims you want to handle. Colman said her construction background and motorsports experience helped her stand out in those areas because she already understood how those worlds worked.
How Can Insurance Adjusters Make Resumes Stand Out?
Many new adjuster resumes are too vague. A strong adjuster resume should quickly show your relevant background, transferable skills, completed training, certifications, and geographic flexibility. If you have experience related to certain property types, industries, or kinds of claims, say so clearly.
Gardner’s resume advice was practical: when you create your resume, highlight the skills that apply to the work you want to do, and include a service area map. That last point is especially relevant for people pursuing independent work, but the broader lesson applies to any adjuster resume: be specific about what you know, what you have done, and where you can work.
The goal is not to make your resume sound impressive in a general way. The goal is to help the person reading it picture where you fit.
Can Certifications Help New Insurance Adjusters Stand Out in 2026?
Extra certifications absolutely help, and IA Firms often look for specific certificates according to their needs. However, any certificates you get should support the kind of work you want to do.
Gardner specifically recommended building expertise through courses and certifications, mentioning examples like OSHA training, earthquake-related education, and fire loss certification. He said one fire loss certification he completed helped boost his experience level and support the work he wanted to do.
That is the real value of certifications in a tighter market. They show that you are not just interested in adjusting. You are actively preparing for the realities of the job.
You do not need endless credentials. You need training that makes sense for your market, your geography, and the claim path you want to pursue.
| For more information about certifications, check out our article: What Certifications Do Independent Adjusting Firms Look For? |
How Can New Insurance Adjusters Build Trust With Employers, Firms, and TPAs?
If you want to build trust, carry yourself with integrity in every step of the communication process.
Employers, firms, and TPAs do not want to send out someone new who is going to mishandle a file, overstate their experience, or damage the relationship with the carrier or insured. Gardner said new independents are often assessed carefully because TPAs do not want newbies out there embarrassing them. That point is especially relevant on the independent side, but the broader lesson applies across the industry: people want to know they can trust you with the work.
Gardner also emphasized transparency about your experience level and being willing to ask for direction when needed. Trust and integrity matter early, and they matter more than ever in a competitive market. If you want IA Firms to take chances on you, be straightforward about what you know, be professional in how you communicate, follow through on what you say you will do, and show that you can take guidance well.
Colman added another strong piece of advice here: find a mentor as soon as you can, even if it is not someone at the company you work for.
How Can New Insurance Adjusters Get Hired When the 2026 Job Market Is Slow?
When the market is slower, the path in may look more gradual than people expect.
That is not a bad sign. It is just a different starting point.
What Adjacent Roles Can Help New Insurance Adjusters Build Experience?
If you’re having trouble finding work, try knocking on new doors and getting creative with your job search. Don’t wait for the ideal job to open up; seize every opportunity to gain entry into the industry as quickly as possible.
Cresse advised that larger corporations and service companies may offer promising entry pathways as alternatives to starting from scratch as an independent adjuster on day one. In those kinds of roles, people can build experience, relationships, and a bridge into future opportunities.
Also consider adjacent roles that help you get closer to the work, such as underwriting, estimating-focused roles, restoration-related work, and other jobs that expose you to claims, property damage, documentation, or the tools adjusters use every day. Cresse noted that people with estimating skills may find opportunities with companies that support the insurance industry, even if the position is not a traditional adjuster role.
Your first job does not have to be your forever job. It just has to move you closer to your goals.
Are Staff and Training Focused Roles Worth Considering in 2026?
Training-heavy roles can be especially valuable in a competitive market.
Cresse said staff type roles and larger service companies can provide network building, experience, and bridge employment while you wait for storm season or carrier opportunities to open up.
Colman’s interview helps explain why that matters. She described how earlier in her career she got a strong foundation through broader training and mentoring, and she contrasted that with what happens today when people are handed a desk and expected to just figure it out. She advised new adjusters to find mentorship, since it won’t be guaranteed when you get started.
If you can find real training, support, and exposure to the basics, that can be a real advantage as you gain experience.
Underwriting Inspections: a First Step for New Adjusters
Gardner recommended that new adjusters start doing underwriting inspections while they are waiting for opportunities. He explained that inspections help people start thinking like underwriters, get field experience, and build relevant examples they can later use with firms and TPAs.
| Inspections help you: 1. Stop waiting passively. 2. Start building real experience you can talk about credibly. |
For some people, that kind of adjacent work can become the bridge to landing the next opportunity.
Why Do Mentorship and Flexibility Matter for New Insurance Adjusters?
When competition rises, support systems matter more.
Colman’s advice to new adjusters was direct and action-oriented: find yourself a mentor as soon as you can. Gardner added that success often comes down to communication, willingness, and flexibility (not pretending you know more than you do). In a slower market, those traits can make a real difference.
That does not mean saying yes to everything blindly. It means being open to learning, taking guidance, and building momentum through roles and experiences that make you easier to trust.
What Should New Insurance Adjusters Do Next to Get Hired in 2026?
If you are serious about breaking in, focus first on the things you can control:
- Tighten your resume, add relevant training, and highlight the background that actually applies to the work you want.
- Get certifications that support your goals.
- Look at adjacent roles, inspections, staff opportunities, or training-focused paths that can help you keep moving.
- Reach out professionally.
- Find a mentor.
- Stay visible. Stay flexible.
The market may be slower at times, but slower does not mean impossible.
It just means you need a strategy.
Ready to start applying and get hired? Check out “What Certifications Do Independent Adjusting Firms Look For?”
