SOC 13-2023.00

    Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate

    Appraise real estate, exclusively, and estimate its fair value.

    Median pay
    $67,960
    Growth
    +3.5%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    5,200
    Typical education
    Bachelor's degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections · figures for the broader BLS group "Property appraisers and assessors"

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $40,030
    Median
    $67,960
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $122,660
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    57,070 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Real estate appraisers and assessors estimate the fair value of properties and calculate taxes based on official schedules. The career typically requires a college degree and offers a median annual pay of $67,960.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What appraisers and assessors of real estate do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    Appraise real estate, exclusively, and estimate its fair value. May assess taxes in accordance with prescribed schedules.

    Most need a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

    What the work is like

    Professionals in this field spend their time gathering information, analyzing data, and evaluating properties to determine their market value or tax liabilities. They use computers to process and document their findings, and they must interpret this complex information for clients or government offices. Making decisions and solving problems are daily requirements, which means workers must constantly update their knowledge of local property standards and real estate laws.

    Success in this role requires strong reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, and clear writing skills. Workers need a solid foundation in mathematics, economics, accounting, geography, and building construction. Because they must inspect properties and research public records, they need to be highly detail-oriented, dependable, and cautious. This career strongly appeals to people with conventional interests who enjoy organized, systematic work. They must display high integrity and self-control when dealing with property owners and financial institutions.

    How to get there

    To enter this career, most individuals need a bachelor's degree along with several years of related work experience. Students often prepare by majoring in real estate or real estate development. Because the work involves property valuation and legal standards, some states list a license for this occupation.

    Prospective appraisers can also earn professional certifications to demonstrate their expertise. Available credentials include the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination from The Appraisal Foundation. Other options include the General Accredited Appraiser and Certified International Property Specialist designations from the National Association of Realtors. For specialized property types, workers can pursue the Accredited Rural Appraiser credential from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, the Accredited Land Consultant designation from the Realtors Land Institute, or the Certified in Entity and Intangible Valuations credential from the American Society of Appraisers.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for this occupation is $67,960, though earnings vary significantly by experience and location. The lowest 10% of workers earn less than $40,030, while the highest 10% earn more than $122,660. These wage statistics represent the broader federal group classified as property appraisers and assessors.

    There are 57,070 people employed in this field. Between the years 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 3.5%, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth, combined with normal turnover, is expected to result in approximately 5,200 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    28 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    31 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    10 / 100
    Social (S)
    27 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    65 / 100
    Conventional (C) · strongest
    80 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code CEI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Getting Information
    91
    Working with Computers
    88
    Analyzing Data or Information
    85
    Processing Information
    83
    Documenting/Recording Information
    81
    Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
    75
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    73
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    73
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    68
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    68
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Reading Comprehension
    • Active Listening
    • Critical Thinking
    • Speaking
    • Writing
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Coordination
    • Monitoring
    • Active Learning

    Knowledge

    • English Language
    • Mathematics
    • Building and Construction
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Economics and Accounting
    • Administration and Management
    • Law and Government
    • Geography
    • Administrative

    Abilities

    • Near Vision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Speech Recognition
    • Oral Expression
    • Speech Clarity
    • Written Comprehension
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Written Expression
    • Category Flexibility

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Integrity
    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Self-Confidence
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Perseverance
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Self-Control
    • Tolerance for Ambiguity

    Also called

    Appraisal Manager · Appraisal Reviewer · Appraisal Specialist · Appraiser · Assessor · Bank Appraiser · Certified Real Estate Appraiser · Certified Residential Appraiser · Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser · City Assessor

    Career pathway

    From your interests to appraisers and assessors of real estate

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate$67,960 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      Villanova University

      Villanova, PA · Real Estate · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $86,945
      4 yrs after
      $131,911
      Median debt
      $27,000
    2. 2
      New York University NYU

      New York, NY · Real Estate · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $88,970
      4 yrs after
      $130,716
      Median debt
      $13,598
    3. 3University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus logo
      University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus

      Madison, WI · Real Estate · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $75,375
      4 yrs after
      $120,483
      Median debt
      $15,000
    4. 4University of Southern California USC logo
      University of Southern California USC

      Los Angeles, CA · Real Estate Development · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $80,927
      4 yrs after
      $107,292
      Median debt
      $12,000
    5. 5Texas Christian University TCU logo
      Texas Christian University TCU

      Fort Worth, TX · Real Estate · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $60,524
      4 yrs after
      $103,547
      Median debt
      $21,225
    6. 6
      Marquette University

      Milwaukee, WI · Real Estate · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $73,121
      4 yrs after
      $99,583
      Median debt
      $23,374
    7. 7Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University logo
      Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

      Blacksburg, VA · Real Estate · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $68,467
      4 yrs after
      $95,576
      Median debt
      $19,573
    8. 8
      Ohio State University-Main Campus

      Columbus, OH · Real Estate · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $67,271
      4 yrs after
      $91,213
      Median debt
      $19,500

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What appraisers and assessors of real estate may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Real Estate
    • Real Estate Development

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    52 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about appraisers and assessors of real estate

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some common job titles for this career?

    People in this field are known by several titles, including appraisal manager, appraisal reviewer, and appraisal specialist. They may also be called city assessors, bank appraisers, or certified residential real estate appraisers.

    What college majors are best suited for this occupation?

    Students who want to pursue this career typically major in real estate or real estate development. These programs provide the foundational knowledge in property valuation, economics, and building construction needed for the job.

    What are some related careers I could explore?

    If you are interested in this field, you might also consider becoming an appraiser of personal and business property, a surveyor, or a government property inspector. Other related options include working as a real estate broker, sales agent, or property manager.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 6, 2026.