Appraisers: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of appraisers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for appraisers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of appraisers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for appraisers.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Appraisers?
Do appraisers need a degree? What kind of experience do appraisers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for appraisers to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Appraisers
Jobs Postings for Appraisers By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 3,525 (45%)
- No Education Listed: 1,907 (24%)
- High School or GED: 1,467 (19%)
- Master's degree: 835 (11%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 102 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of appraisers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 45% of positions. In 24% of job listings no education level was listed and in 19% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Appraisers
Jobs Postings for Appraisers By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 934 (22%)
- 2-3 Years: 1,610 (38%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,174 (28%)
- 7-9 Years: 261 (6%)
- 10+ Years: 234 (6%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for appraisers. In 38% of job postings for Appraisers, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 22% of job postings for appraisers.
What Kind of Degree Do Appraisers Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for appraisers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective appraisers, and in 2023 a total of 59,110 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective appraisers.
Top Degree Programs for Appraisers
Top 5 Degree Programs for Appraisers (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Real Estate. | 7,782 |
| Real Estate Development. | 549 |
What Skills Do Appraisers Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by appraisers to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for appraisers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Appraisers
Based on 6,906 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Appraisers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Real Property | 1,453 | 21% |
| Real Estate Appraisal | 1,401 | 20% |
| Appraisals | 1,230 | 18% |
| Market Value | 984 | 14% |
| Accounting | 887 | 13% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Appraisers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 2,799 | 41% |
| Real Estate | 2,330 | 34% |
| Sales | 1,672 | 24% |
| Research | 1,628 | 24% |
| Management | 1,565 | 23% |
Based on 6,906 job postings related to appraisers, real property was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 21% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for real estate appraisal, appraisals, market value, accounting and auditing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for appraisers, followed by real estate, sales, research, management and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Real Property | 1,453 | 21% |
| Real Estate Appraisal | 1,401 | 20% |
| Appraisals | 1,230 | 18% |
| Market Value | 984 | 14% |
| Accounting | 887 | 13% |
| Auditing | 851 | 12% |
| Property Tax | 822 | 12% |
| Data Collection | 768 | 11% |
| Finance | 718 | 10% |
| Construction | 705 | 10% |
| Property Inspection | 680 | 10% |
| Economics | 572 | 8% |
| Project Management | 546 | 8% |
| Commercial Real Estate | 507 | 7% |
| Roofing | 506 | 7% |
| Legal Hearings | 486 | 7% |
| Office Equipment | 486 | 7% |
| Uniform Standards Of Professional Appraisal Practices | 485 | 7% |
| Site Inspection | 465 | 7% |
| Calculations | 449 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 2,799 | 41% |
| Real Estate | 2,330 | 34% |
| Sales | 1,672 | 24% |
| Research | 1,628 | 24% |
| Management | 1,565 | 23% |
| Writing | 1,549 | 22% |
| Microsoft Excel | 1,405 | 20% |
| Microsoft Office | 1,401 | 20% |
| Customer Service | 1,389 | 20% |
| Detail Oriented | 1,164 | 17% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 997 | 14% |
| Operations | 900 | 13% |
| Mathematics | 886 | 13% |
| Microsoft Outlook | 864 | 13% |
| Organizational Skills | 722 | 10% |
| Planning | 684 | 10% |
| Time Management | 678 | 10% |
| Problem Solving | 658 | 10% |
| Report Writing | 643 | 9% |
| Consulting | 638 | 9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about appraisers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for appraisers.
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