Insurance appraisers, auto damage salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $58,360 | $28.06 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $78,240 | $37.61 |
| Mean (average) | $78,900 | $37.93 |
| 90th percentile | $101,590 | $48.84 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Insurance appraisers, auto damage pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 39 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $86,030 | $66,800 | $107,930 | 40 | 0.18 |
| Arkansas | $63,960 | $46,930 | $79,970 | ||
| California | $78,930 | $53,530 | $109,930 | 550 | 0.41 |
| Colorado | $71,600 | $59,300 | $112,700 | 330 | 1.53 |
| Connecticut | $89,740 | $75,630 | $128,110 | 210 | 1.69 |
| Florida | $61,320 | $39,050 | $96,650 | ||
| Georgia | $81,470 | $60,640 | $103,770 | ||
| Idaho | $76,110 | $63,160 | $81,220 | ||
| Illinois | $71,510 | $48,270 | $94,280 | 560 | 1.23 |
| Indiana | $76,750 | $61,680 | $98,280 | 250 | 1.05 |
| Iowa | $79,090 | $44,480 | $81,840 | ||
| Kansas | $75,080 | $66,870 | $101,580 | ||
| Kentucky | $97,950 | $57,200 | $104,050 | ||
| Louisiana | $72,040 | $63,240 | $95,210 | 100 | 0.73 |
| Maine | $79,510 | $53,890 | $132,720 | 50 | 1.06 |
| Maryland | $82,870 | $75,140 | $94,720 | ||
| Massachusetts | $79,930 | $58,130 | $124,640 | 680 | 2.52 |
| Michigan | $77,060 | $62,040 | $81,260 | 310 | 0.95 |
| Minnesota | $76,460 | $67,480 | $101,280 | ||
| Mississippi | $71,550 | $52,550 | $92,550 | 120 | 1.43 |
| Missouri | $67,950 | $60,690 | $96,720 | 190 | 0.87 |
| Nebraska | $62,350 | $60,520 | $102,340 | 90 | 1.19 |
| Nevada | $78,510 | $50,870 | $83,000 | 80 | 0.73 |
| New Jersey | $94,280 | $81,590 | $99,670 | ||
| New Mexico | $78,310 | $65,280 | $82,480 | ||
| New York | $81,150 | $63,080 | $104,080 | 360 | 0.5 |
| North Carolina | $74,810 | $59,540 | $104,480 | 520 | 1.43 |
| Ohio | $63,470 | $49,000 | $101,920 | 820 | 1.98 |
| Oklahoma | $82,340 | $64,270 | $99,640 | ||
| Oregon | $83,270 | $74,750 | $102,460 | 170 | 1.18 |
| Pennsylvania | $95,720 | $76,610 | $112,710 | 310 | 0.69 |
| Puerto Rico | $46,520 | $36,940 | $47,860 | 300 | 4.34 |
| South Carolina | $86,680 | $75,960 | $96,100 | 220 | 1.31 |
| Tennessee | $67,080 | $51,090 | $100,030 | 420 | 1.74 |
| Texas | $79,200 | $49,340 | $101,500 | 910 | 0.87 |
| Utah | $82,570 | $67,010 | $122,580 | 50 | 0.42 |
| Virginia | $81,470 | $65,710 | $94,830 | ||
| Washington | $78,450 | $72,230 | $100,140 | 190 | 0.7 |
| Wisconsin | $75,260 | $66,530 | $78,380 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for insurance appraisers, auto damage
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for insurance appraisers, auto damage
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician CIP 47.0603
- Insurance CIP 52.1701
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Evaluate practicality of repair as opposed to payment of market value of vehicle before accident.
- Review repair cost estimates with automobile repair shop to secure agreement on cost of repairs.
- Examine damaged vehicle to determine extent of structural, body, mechanical, electrical, or interior damage.
- Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost estimates and recommendations.
- Estimate parts and labor to repair damage, using standard automotive labor and parts cost manuals and knowledge of automotive repair.
- Determine salvage value on total-loss vehicle.
- Arrange to have damage appraised by another appraiser to resolve disagreement with shop on repair cost.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Disassembler software (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- A-T Solutions Easy Street Draw
- App Software Associations AppTrak.net
- Cost estimating software
- Email software
- Information Services Inc. CCC Pathways Appraisal Solution
- Meridian Technologies SurePoint
- Mitchell International Mitchell WorkCenter
- NCH Software Express Invoice
Transferable skills for career changers: Time Management, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Coordination, Persuasion.
Common job titles: Appraiser, Automobile Appraiser (Auto Appraiser), Automobile Damage Appraiser (Auto Damage Appraiser), Damage Appraiser, Field Appraiser, Field Inspector, Insurance Appraiser, Material Damage Appraiser, Outside Physical Damage Appraiser, Physical Damage Appraiser.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do insurance appraisers, auto damage make?
The national median annual wage for insurance appraisers, auto damage was $78,240 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $58,360 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $101,590. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do insurance appraisers, auto damage need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is insurance appraisers, auto damage a growing career?
BLS projects employment of insurance appraisers, auto damage to change -8.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay insurance appraisers, auto damage the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Kentucky ($97,950), Pennsylvania ($95,720), New Jersey ($94,280). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.