SOC 13-2022.00

    Appraisers of Personal and Business Property

    Appraise and estimate the fair value of tangible personal or business property, such as jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, and equipment.

    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

    Appraisers of personal and business property estimate the fair value of items like art, jewelry, and equipment. The career offers a median annual pay of $67,960, with opportunities expected to grow as fast as average.

    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 of personal and business property do

    Job Zone 4: Considerable preparation

    Appraise and estimate the fair value of tangible personal or business property, such as jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, and equipment. May also appraise land.

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

    What the work is like

    People in this career evaluate tangible items such as antiques, collectibles, fine art, and business equipment to determine their monetary value. On a daily basis, appraisers gather information, identify specific objects, and analyze data to judge the quality of these items. They must process information carefully, document their findings, and use computers to record their evaluations.

    Success in this field requires strong skills in reading comprehension, active listening, critical thinking, and mathematics. Appraisers must possess knowledge of the English language, customer service, economics, accounting, and fine arts. This work fits people with conventional interests who value order and detail. Important work styles include attention to detail, integrity, cautiousness, dependability, and self-confidence.

    How to get there

    Entering this career typically requires a bachelor's degree along with several years of related work experience. Students often prepare by majoring in fields such as business, finance, accounting, taxation, real estate, insurance, or fine and studio arts.

    To demonstrate professional standards, appraisers can pursue certifications such as the Personal Property Appraiser credential or take the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination, both offered by The Appraisal Foundation. Additionally, some states list licensing requirements for individuals performing this type of valuation work.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for this occupation is $67,960. The lowest 10% of earners make less than $40,030, while the highest 10% earn more than $122,660. These wage figures represent the broader federal group of property appraisers and assessors.

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

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    43 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    26 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    18 / 100
    Social (S)
    11 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    61 / 100
    Conventional (C) · strongest
    83 / 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 CER. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Getting Information
    96
    Analyzing Data or Information
    91
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    91
    Processing Information
    90
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    90
    Documenting/Recording Information
    87
    Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
    85
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    85
    Working with Computers
    85
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    78
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Reading Comprehension
    • Critical Thinking
    • Writing
    • Active Listening
    • Speaking
    • Active Learning
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Time Management
    • Mathematics

    Knowledge

    • English Language
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Mathematics
    • Administrative
    • Administration and Management
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Economics and Accounting
    • Law and Government
    • Sales and Marketing
    • Fine Arts

    Abilities

    • Near Vision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Speech Recognition
    • Written Comprehension
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Speech Clarity
    • Information Ordering
    • Written Expression

    Work styles

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

    Also called

    Accredited Appraiser · Aircraft Appraiser · Appraiser · Appraiser Analyst · Art Appraiser · Certified Appraiser · Certified Commercial Appraiser · Commercial Appraiser · Commercial Property Appraiser · Estate Appraiser

    Career pathway

    From your interests to appraisers of personal and business property

    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 of Personal and Business Property$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. 1Washington University in St Louis WUSTL logo
      Washington University in St Louis WUSTL

      Saint Louis, MO · Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $108,590
      4 yrs after
      $185,551
      Median debt
      $20,750
    2. 2University of Notre Dame-South Bend IN logo
      University of Notre Dame-South Bend IN

      Notre Dame, IN · Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $141,543
      4 yrs after
      $160,313
      Median debt
      $19,500
    3. 3Georgetown University-DC logo
      Georgetown University-DC

      Washington, DC · Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $126,622
      4 yrs after
      $152,744
      Median debt
      $13,088
    4. 4Boston College logo
      Boston College

      Chestnut Hill, MA · Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $92,127
      4 yrs after
      $147,746
      Median debt
      $18,650
    5. 5Wake Forest University logo
      Wake Forest University

      Winston-Salem, NC · Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $116,242
      4 yrs after
      $145,996
      Median debt
      $19,500
    6. 6American University logo
      American University

      Washington, DC · Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $76,317
      4 yrs after
      $134,332
      Median debt
      $20,633
    7. 7Southern Methodist University SMU logo
      Southern Methodist University SMU

      Dallas, TX · Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $93,440
      4 yrs after
      $133,852
      Median debt
      $17,250
    8. 8The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus logo
      The University of Texas at Austin Main Campus

      Austin, TX · Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $81,536
      4 yrs after
      $132,075
      Median debt
      $18,975

    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 of personal and business property 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.

    • Accounting
    • Accounting and Business/Management
    • Accounting and Finance
    • Art History, Criticism and Conservation
    • Business/Commerce, General
    • Finance, General
    • Insurance
    • Real Estate
    • Taxation

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    48 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 of personal and business property

    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 alternative job titles for this career?

    Professionals in this field are also known as accredited appraisers, art appraisers, estate appraisers, commercial property appraisers, and aircraft appraisers.

    What college majors are relevant for becoming an appraiser?

    Useful college majors include fine and studio arts, business, finance, accounting, taxation, real estate, and insurance.

    Are there professional certifications available for appraisers?

    Yes. Appraisers can earn the Personal Property Appraiser certification or take the National Uniform Licensing and Certification Examination through The Appraisal Foundation.

    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.