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Assessors and Appraisers


Overview

Assessors and Appraisers

Introduction

Assessors and appraisers collect and interpret data to make judgments about the value, quality, and use of property. Assessors are government officials who evaluate property for the express purpose of determining how much the real estate owner should pay the city or county government in property taxes. Appraisers evaluate the market value of property to help people make decisions about purchases, sales, investments, mortgages, or loans. Rural districts or small towns may have only a few assessors, while large cities or urban countie...

Quick Facts


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Median Salary

$61,870

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Employment Prospects

Fair

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Minimum Education Level

Associate's Degree


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Experience

Previous experience in the real estate industry will be helpful f
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Skills

Computer
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Personality Traits

Realistic
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Earnings

Income for assessors is influenced by their location and employer; their salaries generally increase as the population of their jurisdiction increases. For example, those working in large counties, such as Los Angeles County, may make up to $100,000 or more annually. Appraisers employed in the private sector tend to earn higher incomes than those in the public sector.

The average fee for...

Work Environment

Appraisers and assessors have a variety of working conditions, from the comfortable offices where they write and edit appraisal reports to outdoor construction sites, which they visit in both the heat of summer and the bitter cold of winter. Many appraisers spend mornings at their desks and afternoons in the field. Growth in computer and wireless Internet technologies is allowing many assessors...

Outlook

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that employment of assessors and appraisers will grow faster than the average for all careers through 2028. In general, assessors work in a fairly secure field. As long as governments levy property taxes, assessors will be needed to provide them with information. The real estate industry, however, is influenced dramatically by the overall health of the eco...