Appraisers and assessors of real estate
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate: Appraise real property to determine its fair value. May assess taxes in accordance with prescribed schedules.
In 2004, appraisers and assessors of real estate held about 102,000 jobs. Most appraisers and assessors work full-time. Nearly 4 out of 10 are self-employed; virtually all are appraisers. Employment is concentrated in areas with high levels of real estate activity, such as major metropolitan areas. Assessors are more uniformly spread throughout the country than appraisers because every locality has at least one assessor.
About 1 out of 4 worked in local government; almost all were assessors. Another 1 out of 4, mainly appraisers, worked for real estate firms, while a relatively small number worked for financial institutions, such as banks and credit unions.
Most independent fee appraisers’ offices are relatively small, consisting of either just themselves or a small staff. However, private institutions such as banks and mortgage broker offices may employ several appraisers in one office. The size of the office employing assessors depends on the size of the local government; in some States assessments are by counties whereas in other States assessments are made by municipalities or other local governments. Therefore a county assessor’s office probably would employ more assessors than a small town, which may only employ a single assessor.
Median annual earnings of appraisers and assessors of real estate were $43,390 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $30,820 and $60,110. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,300 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $81,240. Median annual earnings of those working for local governments were $38,940. Median annual earnings of those working for real estate firms were $46,330. Generally, those working in urban and coastal regions earned more than those working in rural locations.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Appraisers and assessors of real estate | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Utilities employment: 50 mean earnings: $69,370 (EC) (def) (IG) | $37,150 | $53,330 | $75,850 | $87,020 | $93,850 |
| Utilities employment: 50 mean earnings: $69,370 | $37,150 | $53,330 | $75,850 | $87,020 | $93,850 |
| Construction employment: 220 mean earnings: $71,560 (EC) (def) (IG) | $29,920 | $47,090 | $74,450 | $89,230 | $125,330 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employment: 210 mean earnings: $71,830 | $29,880 | $47,030 | $74,890 | $89,470 | $125,740 |
| Transportation and Warehousing employment: 80 mean earnings: $82,680 (EC) (def) (IG) | $66,230 | $75,230 | $83,110 | $91,000 | $105,600 |
| Postal Service employment: 70 mean earnings: $84,440 | $72,190 | $76,680 | $84,160 | $92,930 | $106,440 |
| Information employment: 90 mean earnings: $53,770 (EC) (def) (IG) | $36,090 | $40,010 | $49,210 | $65,410 | $75,400 |
| Telecommunications employment: n.a. mean earnings: $46,060 | $37,360 | $39,440 | $42,920 | $49,940 | $65,450 |
| Internet Service Providers, Web Search Portals, and Data Processing Service employment: 50 mean earnings: $58,270 | $32,570 | $40,590 | $57,610 | $70,120 | $87,030 |
| Finance and Insurance employment: 4,860 mean earnings: $57,580 (EC) (def) (IG) | $21,880 | $35,540 | $54,550 | $73,930 | $90,120 |
| Credit Intermediation and Related Activities employment: 3,440 mean earnings: $62,090 | $31,250 | $40,920 | $58,440 | $75,880 | $90,790 |
| Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities employment: 90 mean earnings: $64,740 | $28,560 | $41,310 | $66,080 | $84,380 | $94,620 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities employment: 1,110 mean earnings: n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. | n.a. |
| Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles employment: 230 mean earnings: $77,960 | $50,810 | $63,380 | $75,480 | $90,800 | $108,940 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing employment: 27,270 mean earnings: $55,770 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,230 | $32,840 | $46,710 | $69,470 | $93,560 |
| Real Estate employment: 27,270 mean earnings: $55,770 | $24,230 | $32,840 | $46,710 | $69,470 | $93,560 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 2,380 mean earnings: $47,380 (EC) (def) (IG) | $23,000 | $26,610 | $37,430 | $63,100 | $83,650 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services employment: 2,380 mean earnings: $47,380 | $23,000 | $26,610 | $37,430 | $63,100 | $83,650 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 310 mean earnings: $68,760 (EC) (def) (IG) | $38,370 | $49,490 | $65,450 | $84,010 | $105,550 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises employment: 310 mean earnings: $68,760 | $38,370 | $49,490 | $65,450 | $84,010 | $105,550 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services employment: 210 mean earnings: $46,830 (EC) (def) (IG) | $24,230 | $33,100 | $43,630 | $57,300 | $73,540 |
| Administrative and Support Services employment: 210 mean earnings: $46,830 | $24,230 | $33,100 | $43,630 | $57,300 | $73,540 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 28,270 mean earnings: $42,460 (def) (IG) | $22,040 | $29,050 | $40,040 | $53,770 | $68,530 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation) employment: 28,270 mean earnings: $42,460 | $22,040 | $29,050 | $40,040 | $53,770 | $68,530 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.