SOC 13-1032.00

    Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage

    Appraise automobile or other vehicle damage to determine repair costs for insurance claim settlement.

    Median pay
    $78,240
    Growth
    -8.7%
    Decline
    Openings a year
    700
    Typical education
    Postsecondary certificate

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $58,360
    Median
    $78,240
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $101,590
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    11,560 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Auto damage insurance appraisers evaluate vehicle damage to estimate repair costs for insurance claims. The career offers a median annual pay of $78,240, with opportunities for those trained in vehicle repair or insurance.

    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 insurance appraisers, auto damage do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

    Appraise automobile or other vehicle damage to determine repair costs for insurance claim settlement. Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost or cost estimates and recommendations. May seek agreement with automotive repair shop on repair costs.

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    People in this career spend their days evaluating vehicle damage to calculate accurate repair costs for settling insurance claims. They prepare official forms detailing their cost estimates and recommendations, often negotiating directly with automotive repair shops to reach an agreement on the final pricing. The daily routine involves working with computers, gathering information, and documenting details carefully.

    This role requires strong conventional interests, meaning workers thrive in structured environments where they can organize and prioritize tasks. To succeed, appraisers must use critical thinking, active listening, and reading comprehension to solve problems and make sound judgments. They communicate constantly with supervisors, repair technicians, and the public, which demands high levels of customer service knowledge, social perceptiveness, and clear speaking skills. Because they handle disputes and financial decisions, appraisers must display integrity, dependability, self-control, and stress tolerance. They also need a solid understanding of mechanical systems, transportation, and administrative procedures to assess vehicle damage accurately.

    How to get there

    To enter this field, candidates typically need a postsecondary certificate, which represents a medium level of preparation. Many individuals prepare by earning an associate degree, completing vocational training, or gaining relevant hands-on experience. Useful college majors that align with this career path include insurance as well as vehicle maintenance and repair technologies or techniques.

    While specific requirements vary by location, some states list a professional license for this work. Additionally, professionals can earn voluntary industry credentials to demonstrate their expertise. One such certification is the Associate in Claims - Management, which is offered by The Institutes.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for auto damage insurance appraisers was $78,240. The lowest 10 percent of earners in this field made less than $58,360, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $101,590.

    There were 11,560 people employed in this occupation. Looking ahead, employment is projected to decline by -8.7% from 2025 to 2035. Despite this projected decrease in total jobs, the field is still expected to generate 700 job openings each year over the decade.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    70 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    34 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    3 / 100
    Social (S)
    11 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    42 / 100
    Conventional (C) · strongest
    74 / 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 CRE. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Working with Computers
    92
    Documenting/Recording Information
    88
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    88
    Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
    85
    Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
    85
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    83
    Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    82
    Getting Information
    81
    Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    77
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    76
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Speaking
    • Writing
    • Active Listening
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Critical Thinking
    • Time Management
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Service Orientation
    • Social Perceptiveness
    • Active Learning

    Knowledge

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • English Language
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Mechanical
    • Administrative
    • Education and Training
    • Law and Government
    • Mathematics
    • Transportation
    • Administration and Management

    Abilities

    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Comprehension
    • Written Expression
    • Speech Clarity
    • Speech Recognition
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Near Vision

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Integrity
    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Self-Confidence
    • Self-Control
    • Perseverance
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Social Orientation

    Also called

    Appraisal Specialist · Appraiser · Auto Body Appraiser · Auto Body Repair Estimator · Auto Collision Estimator · Auto Damage Insurance Appraiser · Automobile Appraiser (Auto Appraiser) · Automobile Body Estimator (Auto Body Estimator) · Automobile Damage Appraiser (Auto Damage Appraiser) · Automobile Damage Estimator (Auto Damage Estimator)

    Career pathway

    From your interests to insurance appraisers, auto damage

    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

      • Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage$78,240 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. 1University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus logo
      University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus

      Madison, WI · Insurance · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $80,508
      4 yrs after
      $105,992
      Median debt
      $15,000
    2. 2St. John's University-New York logo
      St. John's University-New York

      Queens, NY · Insurance · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $73,673
      4 yrs after
      $105,688
      Median debt
      $19,500
    3. 3Saint Joseph's University logo
      Saint Joseph's University

      Philadelphia, PA · Insurance · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $70,669
      4 yrs after
      $101,930
      Median debt
      $22,375
    4. 4
      Georgia State University

      Atlanta, GA · Insurance · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $70,639
      4 yrs after
      $101,040
      Median debt
      $22,875
    5. 5University of Houston-Downtown logo
      University of Houston-Downtown

      Houston, TX · Insurance · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $70,256
      4 yrs after
      $98,510
      Median debt
      $24,500
    6. 6
      University of South Carolina-Columbia Main Campus

      Columbia, SC · Insurance · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $69,288
      4 yrs after
      $96,539
      Median debt
      $21,000
    7. 7
      University of Georgia

      Athens, GA · Insurance · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $69,528
      4 yrs after
      $94,729
      Median debt
      $16,236
    8. 8Illinois State University logo
      Illinois State University

      Normal, IL · Insurance · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $68,692
      4 yrs after
      $94,124
      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 insurance appraisers, auto damage 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.

    • Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician
    • Insurance

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    43 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 6, 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 insurance appraisers, auto damage

    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?

    Workers in this field are also known as auto body repair estimators, auto collision estimators, automobile damage appraisers, and appraisal specialists.

    What college majors are most relevant to this job?

    Students interested in this career often major in vehicle maintenance and repair technologies/technicians or study insurance.

    Are there professional certifications available for appraisers?

    Yes, professionals can obtain the Associate in Claims - Management credential from The Institutes. Additionally, some states list a license for this work.

    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 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.