I’ve been an a licensed adjuster/estimator for 6 years. I am one of the best in my area, I am in a very difficult area and I am woman, which made things a lot harder for me. I get offered many jobs throughout the year, everyone wants a quality estimator. I started with geico from a totally unrelated field. Worked the insurance side for 2 and a half years. Worked as an independent for a year and then went to the shops. You won’t ever get paid your worth from the insurance side.

As a shop estimator, I get paid 1500 a week cash and then take a percentage of the tickets I write depending on how the shop did that month and how much of a percentage we took in on the ticket (also cash). I also do side work at other shops where I make higher percentages depending. Because everything is a negotiation! You really have to be good and show your worth. Any one can write a good ticket, getting paid on that ticket is not the same. Everyone thinks it is an easy job, however, when they try to do what I do, they fail. I’ve increased shops bottom lines by 400-600% wherever I worked.

You have to understand damage and how it travels. If you want to PM me you can. I can give you some personal advice.