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Insurance Investigator Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Surveillance Investigator Job Location : Des Moines, IA - and surrounding area Job Type: Part-Time, ... Minimum Auto Insurance Coverage: $100,000 per person, $300,000 per accident bodily injury, and $50 ...

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Insurance Investigator information

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$12

$24

$36

How much do insurance investigator jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for insurance investigator in Iowa is $24.21, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.53 and $29.81 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What do insurance investigators do?

An insurance investigator works for an insurance company looking into insurance claims, usually when the claim may be fraudulent. As an insurance claims investigator, you gather information from the insurance adjuster, law enforcement, witnesses, and the claimant. You also make investigative inquiries to determine if the claim is valid or fraudulent. Your job is to document all evidence and present the case to your employer so that the insurance company is protected from false claims.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an insurance investigator, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Insurance Investigator, you need strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a background in criminal justice, law, or a related field, often supported by a relevant degree or certification. Familiarity with case management software, database research tools, and surveillance equipment is typically required. Excellent communication, critical thinking, and integrity are crucial soft skills for interviewing witnesses and writing clear, objective reports. These abilities ensure accurate fraud detection, effective investigations, and compliance with legal standards in the insurance industry.

What are some of the common challenges faced by insurance investigators, and how can they be managed effectively?

Insurance Investigators often encounter challenges such as dealing with uncooperative claimants, navigating complex regulations, and managing a heavy caseload. Building strong communication and interpersonal skills can help when interviewing witnesses or claimants. Staying organized and up-to-date with the latest industry regulations ensures compliance and efficiency. Collaborating closely with claims adjusters, law enforcement, and legal teams also helps in resolving complex cases and maintaining workflow balance.

What is the difference between Insurance Investigator vs Claims Adjuster?

AspectInsurance InvestigatorClaims Adjuster
Required CredentialsLicenses, sometimes certifications in investigation or insuranceLicenses, certifications in claims handling or insurance
Work EnvironmentField investigations, interviews, surveillanceOffice-based, claims assessment, site visits
Employer & Industry UsageInsurance companies, private investigation firmsInsurance companies, third-party administrators
Common Search & ComparisonYesNo

Insurance Investigators focus on uncovering fraud and verifying claims through investigations, often working in the field. Claims Adjusters evaluate and settle insurance claims, primarily working in offices or on-site. While both roles require insurance knowledge and sometimes similar certifications, their daily tasks and work environments differ significantly.

What do you need to be an insurance investigator?

To become an insurance investigator, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, with some roles preferring or requiring a college degree in criminal justice, law enforcement, or a related field. Prior experience in law enforcement, claims adjusting, or related investigative work is often beneficial, along with strong analytical skills and knowledge of insurance policies. Licensing or certification may be required depending on the state or employer.

What cities in Iowa are hiring for Insurance Investigator jobs?

Cities in Iowa with the most Insurance Investigator job openings:

What are popular job titles related to Insurance Investigator jobs in IA?

For Insurance Investigator jobs in IA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Insurance Investigator job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 21% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $50,347 per year, or $24.2 per hour.

$57K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

New


Internal Revenue Service rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 129 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

128th of 294 rated public sector bodies


Job description

WHAT IS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION?
A description of the business units can be found at: https://www.jobs.irs.gov/about/who/business-divisions

  • Position(s) are to be filled in the following area(s):
    • CI - Criminal Investigation
  • Consider each location carefully when applying. If you are selected for a location, that location will become your official post of duty.
REVIEW THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BELOW FOR FURTHER DETAILSQualifications:Federal experience is not required. The experience may have been gained in the public sector, private sector or Volunteer Service. One year of experience refers to full-time work; part-timework is considered on a prorated basis. To ensure full credit for your work experience, please indicate dates of employment by month/day/year, and indicate number of hours worked per week, on your resume.
You must meet the following requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADE 07 AND 09:
  • EXPERIENCE - Must have been acquired in investigative work related to the ACCOUNTING OR AUDITING OF BUSINESS OR COMMERCIAL PRACTICES OF SUBJECTS INVESTIGATED. For examples of specialized experience, click here.
  • EDUCATION - If substituting education for specialized experience for the grade 7 or 9, education must be supplemented by at least 15 semester/23 quarter hours in accounting plus an additional 9 semester/14 quarter hours from among the following fields: business law, economics, finance, tax law or money and banking. You may qualify by a combination of experience and education. Combinations of education and experience are qualifying.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADE 07:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GL-05 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes experience in or related to investigation of criminal violations that provided the experience to successfully perform the duties of the IRS Special Agent. Experience must have required:
  1. The exercise of tact, initiative, ingenuity, resourcefulness and judgment in collecting, assembling, and developing facts, evidence and other pertinent data through investigative techniques which included personal interview;
  2. Making oral and written reports and presentations of personally conducted or personally directed investigations, examinations, or inspections; AND
  3. Analyzing and evaluating evidence and arrive at sound conclusions.
OR
EDUCATION: You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows:
  • One full year of progressively higher-level graduate education OR
  • Superior Academic Achievement - A bachelor's degree, with one of the following: A GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses or those completed in the last 2 years of study, or a GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all courses in the major field of study or those courses in the major completed in the last 2 years of study, or rank in the upper one third of the class in the college, university, or major subdivision, or membership in a national scholastic honor society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. If substituting Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) for experience at the GS-7 level, please note that grade-point averages are rounded to one decimal place. For example, 2.95 will round to 3.0 and 2.94 will round to 2.9.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADE 09:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GL-07 grade level in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position includes, experience in or related to investigation of criminal violations that provided the specific experience needed to successfully perform the duties of this position. Experience must be sufficient to demonstrate the ability to gather intelligence, analyze and evaluate raw investigative data, prepare comprehensive written investigative reports, and investigate complex claims involving suspected crimes or alleged fraud. Examples of qualifying experience include:
  1. Investigating criminal cases requiring the use of recognized investigative methods and techniques and that may have included appearing in court to present evidence;
  2. Supervising or conducting interviews or interrogations that involved eliciting evidence, data, or surveillance information;
  3. Investigating computerized business and/or accounting systems and forming sound conclusions as to related criminal business practices and compliance with Federal laws and regulations.
OR
EDUCATION:
You may substitute education for specialized experience as follows:
  • Two full years of progressively higher-level graduate education; OR a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree (i.e., LL.B. or J.D.)
You must meet the following special requirements:
  • MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT: Generally, applicants for most Federal jobs must be at least 18 years old. For additional information refer to:Is there an age limit for Federal employment? - OPM.gov
    • In addition, provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, Federal, State, and local laws that relate to the employment of minors in positions requiring the use of firearms must be observed.
  • MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE: Provisions of Public Law 93-950 and Public Law 100-238 allow the imposition of a maximum age for original appointments to a law enforcement officer position within the Federal government. The date immediately preceding your 37th birthday is the final date of referral for selection. This age restriction does not apply to preference eligible veterans or land management eligibles. Applicants who are age 37 or over may subtract any of their prior federal service that is in approved position and that is creditable for retirement from their current age to meet this age requirement. This is to ensure you will be able to complete a total of 20 years of special retirement service by the time you reach the mandatory retirement age of 57. Applicants must provide proof of veterans' preference, land management eligibility, or prior creditable Federal service as listed in the announcement.

  • PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: You must pass a medical examination prior to being appointed. This position requires moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather. Manual dexterity with free motion of fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, hips, and knee joints is required. Arms, hands, legs, and feet must function sufficiently in order for applicants to perform the duties satisfactorily. All of the medical requirements MUST be met at the time of initial examination/test. Applicants failing to meet the medical requirements at the time of their initial examination/test will be considered ineligible for the position.
    • Vision: For all positions, near vision, corrected or uncorrected, must be sufficient to read Jaeger type 2 at 14 inches. Normal depth perception and peripheral vision are required, as is the ability to distinguish shades of color by color plate tests. For all positions covered by this standard, applicants who have undergone refractive surgery (i.e., surgery to improve distant visual acuity) must meet Treasury-approved requirements which include documentation that they have passed specific exam and protocol testing. Uncorrected distant vision must test 20/200, and corrected distant vision must test 20/20 in one eye, and 20/30 in the other.
    • Hearing: Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 30 decibels (A.S.A. or equivalent I.S.O.) in either ear in the 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz ranges. You must be able to hear the whispered voice at 15 feet with each ear without the use of a hearing aid.
    • Other Medical Requirements: You must possess emotional and mental stability. Any condition that would hinder full, efficient performance of the duties of this position or that would cause an individual to be a hazard to himself/herself or to others is disqualifying.

For more information on qualifications please refer to OPM's Qualifications Standards.Education:A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. Click here (Section 3, Explanation of Terms) or here for Foreign Education Credentialing instructions.
We recommend choosing an evaluator from a member organization of one of the following national associations of credential evaluation services: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credentials Evaluators (AICE).Employment Type: OTHER

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