See Workers’ Compensation Adjudicator 1

In the Department of Labor and Industries; positions at this level are the technical resource responsible for mentoring, coaching or providing formal training to Workers’ Compensation Adjudicators and self-insured employers or third party administrators. Positions at this level independently apply in-depth knowledge to interpret rules and processes for all levels of claim complexity, utilizing supporting materials to accomplish work.

Positions at this level use in-depth knowledge of the program area to independently carry out assignments in one of the following areas:
• Claims Administration: adjudicates, negotiates, and resolves workers’ compensation claims or employer reimbursement applications that are protested or appealed, or performs quality assurance reviews of worker’s compensation claims and pension benefits;
• Crime Victims Compensation: manages, adjudicates, negotiates, and resolves a caseload of injury claims including total permanent disability cases that are catastrophic in nature;
• Fraud Prevention and Labor Standards: monitor and reviews workers’ compensation claim fraud complaints, analyzes claims and other data to detect fraudulent activity;
• Self-Insurance: adjudicates and resolves complex workers’ compensation claims that are protested and involve complex wage issues or presumption claims. Adjudicates claims of bankrupt self-insured employers utilizing State Fund processes;
• Legal Services: Adjudicates, negotiates, and resolves workers’ compensation third party claims including protests and appeals. Reviews claims appealed to the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals and resume jurisdiction of the claim to address new issues or negotiate settlements.

Makes final determinations on contested workers' compensation claims on issues involving coverage, extent of entitlement to benefits, jurisdictional matters and other decisions by lower-level adjudicators which are contested by the worker, beneficiary, employer, care provider or their lay or legal representatives;

Negotiates settlements of disputed issues on behalf of the agency;

Applies tort and case law in making decisions representing the department’s interest in actions while administering Tittle 51 for state fund and self-insured claims;

Reviews and determines appropriate assessment or denial of penalties against self-insured employers and third-party administrators per statute and rules;

Adjudicates requests for reopening on claims that are closed more than seven years or ten years for vision claims;

Approves the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals mediation settlements;

Adjudicates cases involving third party recoveries, voluntary settlements and the issuance of Penalty Orders for non-compliance with laws;

Assists staff from the Office of Attorney General in defense of claims appealed to the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals, Superior Court or a higher court;

Reviews decisions of the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals and judgments from Superior Courts, the Court of Appeals and the Washington State Supreme Court and refers for action by the appropriate work section within the department;

Mentors claims managers to use independent judgment to manage claims using RCWs, WACs, policies, case law and department resource; ensures compliance with established work standards and provide documented feedback regarding employees' performance to supervisor, coach, and employee;

Checks the work of Apprentices and trainees based on Critical Breakout Lists and provide feedback to supervisor, coach, and employee;

Processes complex injury claim employer reimbursements recently reopened with the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals;

Prepares recommendations for the L&I Director’s discretionary authority to grant or deny benefits;

Trains all levels of Workers' Compensation Adjudicators in a formal training program; plans, organizes and develops appropriate course material and presentations;

Participates in one-on-one on the job training sessions to apply principles learned in class;

Coordinates caseload assignments for adjudicative staff during formal training periods or skill enhancement plans;

May lead lower-level workers’ compensation adjudicators or professional staff;

Perform the duties of the lower level in the series;

Performs other related work as required.

Knowledge of: Workers' Compensation and Medical Aid Acts and other statutes, court decisions, Attorney General Opinions, Board of Industrial Appeals rulings, crime victims compensation rules and statues, and departmental regulations applying to industrial accidents and occupational diseases, past and present, or disability insurance provisions of the Old Age and Survivors Insurance Act; medical terminology, human anatomy and physiology, drugs, prosthetic devices and their indications; tort law pertaining to third party actions.

Ability to: review determinations and counterclaims from disabled workers, physicians, employers, third parties and determinations made by others regarding eligibility for benefits under the law; write clear, concise, accurate and informative correspondence and reports; establish and maintain effective customer relations and working relationships with workers, physicians, employers, legal representatives, co-workers and the general public; compare past records, past and present law, rulings of the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals and higher courts, and other information to arrive at lawful and equitable decisions regarding benefit entitlements.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

Successful completion of the Department of Labor and Industries Workers’ Compensation Adjudicator 2 Apprenticeship program.

One year of experience as a Workers’ Compensation Adjudicator 3.


A Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration or closely allied field.


Three years of experience in adjudicating workers’ or crime victims’ compensation insurance claims or adjudication of time loss payments.

Additional experience working with insurance claims, claims/insurance adjusting, claims investigations, disability management, claims risk management/loss control, medical billing, medical insurance, paralegal personal injury services or paramedical occupations will substitute, year for year, for required education.

Equivalent education/experience.

June 26, 1964, Retitled from Disability Claims Adjudicator 5 and spec. amended.
Revised definition, minimum qualifications and general revision October 12, 1979.
Revised definition August 15, 1986.
Revised definition and minimum qualifications September 11, 1987.
Revised definition and minimum qualifications, title change (formerly Disability Claims Adjudicator 3) May 1, 1990.
New class code: (formerly 47900) effective July 1, 2007.
Base range salary adjustment, revised definition, typical work, knowledge and abilities, and desirable qualifications, and new class series concept, distinguishing characteristics, adopted June 22, 2023, effective July 1, 2023.
Revised legal requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.
Revised definition, distinguishing characteristics, typical work, desirable qualifications; base range increase from 56 to 57; adopted June 23, 2025, effective July 1, 2025.