Salary AI Book a Demo

Disability Claims Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Disability Claims Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Disability Claims Manager in the United States is $101,541 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.

However, a Disability Claims Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $118,802
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $93,273 to $110,576
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $85,745
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Disability Claims Manager Salaries

A Disability Claims Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Disability Claims Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Disability Claims Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $98,456
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $98,826
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $99,690
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $102,215
  • Expert (over 8 years): $104,912
Levels Salary
Entry Level Disability Claims Manager$98,456
Intermediate Level Disability Claims Manager$98,826
Senior Level Disability Claims Manager$99,690
Specialist Level Disability Claims Manager$102,215
Expert Level Disability Claims Manager$104,912
View as Graph

How Do Disability Claims Managers Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Disability Claims Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $112,426.
  • California: $112,000.
  • Massachusetts: $110,507.

Top Paying Cities for Disability Claims Manager

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $128,074
  • San Francisco: $126,671
  • Oakland: $124,002

What Skills Can Increase a Disability Claims Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Risk Management (Mentioned in 4.71% Job Postings): Risk management is the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of risks (defined in ISO 31000 as the effect of uncertainty on objectives) followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities. Risks can come from various sources including uncertainty in financial markets, threats from project failures (at any phase in design, development, production, or sustainment life-cycles), legal liabilities, credit risk, accidents, natural causes and disasters, deliberate attack from an adversary, or events of uncertain or unpredictable root-cause. There are two types of events i.e. negative events can be classified as risks while positive events are classified as opportunities. Several risk management standards have been developed including the Project Management Institute, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, actuarial societies, and ISO standards. Methods, definitions and goals vary widely according to whether the risk management method is in the context of project management, security, engineering, industrial processes, financial portfolios, actuarial assessments, or public health and safety.
  • Claim Reviews (Mentioned in 2.35% Job Postings): A claims review is the process in which the underwriter reviews a claim to assure that it meets a set of standards.
  • Probability (Mentioned in 2.35% Job Postings): Probability is the branch of mathematics concerning numerical descriptions of how likely an event is to occur, or how likely it is that a proposition is true.
Skills Demand Percentage
Risk Management 4.71%
Claim Reviews 2.35%
Probability 2.35%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Disability Claims Manager's salary.

  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Quality Audit: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Process Improvement $125,911
24%
Quality Audit $120,834
19%
Commitment $117,788
16%
Get Latest Data

Disability Claims Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Disability Claims Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $113,669. While startup companies pay approximate $96,162.

Disability Claims Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $96,162
Growth Stage 51~500 $101,702
Established 501~5000 $109,768
Enterprise 5000+ $113,669

Disability Claims Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Disability Claims Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 10% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 5% above the average. In contrast, Disability Claims Manager positions in Transportation or Software & Networking typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Disability Claims Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Disability Claims Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$106,618$51.05%
Business Services$106,618$51.05%
Construction$106,618$51.05%
Energy & Utilities$106,618$51.05%
Healthcare$106,618$51.05%

Disability Claims Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Disability Claims Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$93,273
Average $101,541/year
$110,576
$7,773
Average $8,462/month
$9,215
$1,794
Average $1,953/week
$2,126
$45
Average $49/hour
$53
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $110,576 $9,215 $2,126 $53
Average $101,541 $8,462 $1,953 $49
25th Percentile $93,273 $7,773 $1,794 $45

Disability Claims Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Disability Claims Manager

Next Role

Advancement

For a Disability Claims Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Claims Manager, Senior role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $148,979 - a projected growth of 47% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Disability Claims Manager

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Disability Claims Manager

Here are companies hiring for Disability Claims Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Disability Claims Manager Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Disability Claims Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Disability Claims Manager

1. Where can a Disability Claims Manager earn the most?

A Disability Claims Manager's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Disability Claims Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Disability Claims Manager is $128,074.

2. What is the highest pay for Disability Claims Manager?

The highest pay for Disability Claims Manager is $118,802.

3. What is the lowest pay for Disability Claims Manager?

The lowest pay for Disability Claims Manager is $85,745.

4. What are the responsibilities of Disability Claims Manager?

Manages the disability claims unit and its supervisory and examiner staff to ensure efficient and compliant claims operations. Oversees the adjudication, management, and resolution of short- and long-term disability claims within established standards. Develops procedures, productivity targets, and quality controls to maintain consistency and regulatory compliance. Reviews complex, high-exposure, or escalated claims and provides technical direction to staff. Monitors caseloads, performance metrics, and reserve accuracy to meet departmental objectives. Ensures compliance with ERISA, state regulations, and company policies. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1-3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Disability Claims Manager?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Disability Claims Manager roles, with salaries approximately 5% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst