Property appraisers and assessors salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40,030 | $19.25 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $67,960 | $32.67 |
| Mean (average) | $75,770 | $36.43 |
| 90th percentile | $122,660 | $58.97 |
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
Property appraisers and assessors pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 51 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,370 | $22,880 | $102,650 | 600 | 0.77 |
| Alaska | $80,330 | $58,300 | $107,570 | 200 | 1.63 |
| Arizona | $51,250 | $37,300 | $83,340 | 1,670 | 1.41 |
| Arkansas | $50,840 | $34,750 | $89,400 | 810 | 1.68 |
| California | $88,900 | $56,750 | $141,610 | 6,380 | 0.95 |
| Colorado | $75,150 | $49,730 | $130,890 | 1,060 | 1.01 |
| Connecticut | $86,050 | $56,490 | $135,240 | 630 | 1.01 |
| Delaware | $57,610 | $46,000 | $157,130 | 130 | 0.71 |
| District of Columbia | $107,980 | $63,710 | $144,680 | 110 | 0.43 |
| Florida | $65,620 | $37,840 | $108,240 | 2,830 | 0.78 |
| Georgia | $62,460 | $36,300 | $118,750 | 2,490 | 1.39 |
| Hawaii | $79,860 | $50,280 | $103,280 | 130 | 0.57 |
| Idaho | $63,410 | $39,640 | $126,760 | 500 | 1.58 |
| Illinois | $60,150 | $36,320 | $119,430 | 1,700 | 0.76 |
| Indiana | $60,350 | $37,220 | $104,970 | 1,940 | 1.65 |
| Iowa | $80,160 | $45,950 | $129,790 | 630 | 1.1 |
| Kansas | $51,390 | $21,720 | $98,190 | 780 | 1.48 |
| Kentucky | $58,850 | $43,240 | $96,600 | 140 | 0.19 |
| Louisiana | $62,910 | $45,300 | $105,190 | 600 | 0.85 |
| Maine | $80,930 | $53,340 | $118,590 | 230 | 0.96 |
| Maryland | $77,610 | $47,280 | $128,990 | 660 | 0.65 |
| Massachusetts | $91,750 | $57,850 | $135,180 | 1,100 | 0.82 |
| Michigan | $64,270 | $38,920 | $98,150 | 1,960 | 1.21 |
| Minnesota | $83,400 | $53,970 | $158,750 | 1,380 | 1.27 |
| Mississippi | $54,530 | $35,430 | $90,400 | 520 | 1.22 |
| Missouri | $57,380 | $38,340 | $115,470 | 1,560 | 1.45 |
| Montana | $62,250 | $46,700 | $80,180 | 250 | 1.34 |
| Nebraska | $64,770 | $45,390 | $93,420 | 400 | 1.07 |
| Nevada | $57,960 | $48,340 | $97,300 | 600 | 1.06 |
| New Hampshire | $74,670 | $46,310 | $118,440 | 250 | 0.98 |
| New Jersey | $92,390 | $41,040 | $140,400 | 1,190 | 0.76 |
| New Mexico | $50,550 | $37,180 | $77,720 | 530 | 1.67 |
| New York | $78,060 | $52,540 | $133,150 | 2,860 | 0.81 |
| North Carolina | $66,700 | $46,080 | $118,670 | 2,210 | 1.22 |
| North Dakota | $65,210 | $48,040 | $110,510 | 240 | 1.5 |
| Ohio | $63,410 | $40,740 | $104,160 | 1,220 | 0.6 |
| Oklahoma | $49,990 | $36,090 | $117,840 | 920 | 1.47 |
| Oregon | $54,460 | $33,650 | $102,960 | 810 | 1.13 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,920 | $38,810 | $96,130 | 1,430 | 0.64 |
| Puerto Rico | $33,370 | $23,210 | $94,740 | 290 | 0.83 |
| Rhode Island | $75,900 | $40,970 | $108,370 | 280 | 1.51 |
| South Carolina | $59,110 | $45,710 | $89,990 | 1,000 | 1.19 |
| South Dakota | $63,350 | $46,740 | $79,640 | 510 | 3.03 |
| Tennessee | $62,350 | $38,710 | $119,430 | 1,060 | 0.88 |
| Texas | $65,840 | $47,110 | $108,410 | 5,240 | 1.01 |
| Utah | $56,100 | $21,080 | $99,840 | 760 | 1.2 |
| Virginia | $76,080 | $47,260 | $109,930 | 1,540 | 1.02 |
| Washington | $83,710 | $53,310 | $121,680 | 1,150 | 0.88 |
| West Virginia | $44,940 | $30,600 | $64,100 | 470 | 1.81 |
| Wisconsin | $68,660 | $47,570 | $116,930 | 820 | 0.76 |
| Wyoming | $60,860 | $39,150 | $83,480 | 260 | 2.57 |
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 property appraisers and assessors
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 5,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 14.6%.
- 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 property appraisers and assessors
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Data unavailable No academic program is mapped to this occupation in the official crosswalk. Entry is usually through work experience, training, or apprenticeship.
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
BLS groups this occupation differently from O*NET. Skills and tasks below come from the closest O*NET occupation, Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate (13-2023.00).
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Compute final estimation of property values, taking into account such factors as depreciation, replacement costs, value comparisons of similar properties, and income potential.
- Prepare written reports that estimate property values, outline methods by which the estimations were made, and meet appraisal standards.
- Photograph interiors and exteriors of properties to assist in estimating property value, substantiate findings, and complete appraisal reports.
- Search public records for transactions such as sales, leases, and assessments.
- Obtain county land values and sales information about nearby properties to aid in establishment of property values.
- Maintain familiarity with aspects of local real estate markets.
- Inspect properties, considering factors such as market value, location, and building or replacement costs to determine appraisal value.
- Collect and analyze relevant data to identify real estate market trends.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Apple iOS (hot technology)
- Google Workspace software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Yardi software (hot technology)
- ACI Appraiser's Choice
- Apex IV Assessor
- Apex IV Fee Appraiser
- Apex MobileSketch
- Ascend Property Assessment
- Bradford ClickFORMS
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Appraiser, Assessor, Certified Real Estate Appraiser, Certified Residential Appraiser, Commercial Appraiser, County Assessor, Field Appraiser, Real Estate Appraiser, Real Property Appraiser, Tax Assessor.
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 property appraisers and assessors make?
The national median annual wage for property appraisers and assessors was $67,960 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $40,030 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $122,660. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do property appraisers and assessors need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and long-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is property appraisers and assessors a growing career?
BLS projects employment of property appraisers and assessors to change +3.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 5,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay property appraisers and assessors the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($107,980), New Jersey ($92,390), Massachusetts ($91,750). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.