Assessors: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Assessors value properties for property tax assessments. Most work for local governments. Unlike appraisers, who generally focus on one property at a time, assessors often value an entire neighborhood of homes at once by using mass appraisal techniques and computer-assisted appraisal systems.
Assessors must be up to date on tax assessment procedures. Taxpayers sometimes challenge the assessed value because they feel they are being charged too much for property tax. Assessors must be able to defend the accuracy of their property assessments, either to the owner directly or at a public hearing.
Assessors also keep a database of every property in their jurisdiction, identifying the property owner, assessment history, and characteristics of the property, as well as property maps detailing the property distribution of the jurisdiction.
- Education Required
- Although requirements may vary by state, certified appraisers and assessors of residential or commercial property usually need at least a bachelors degree.
- Training Required
- Employers generally require candidates to take basic appraisal courses, complete long-term on-the-job training, and work enough hours to meet the requirements for licenses or certificates.
- Job Outlook
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The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 14% (Faster than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Licenses/Certifications
- Federal law requires appraisers to have a state license or certification when working on federally related transactions, such as appraisals for loans made by federally insured banks and financial institutions. The Appraisal Foundation (TAF) offers information on appraisal licensing. There is no such federal requirement for assessors, although some states require certification. For state-specific requirements, applicants should contact their state board.
- Median pay: How much do Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate make?
- $51,850 Annual Salary
- $24.93 per hour
Careers for Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate
- Appraisers
- City assessors
- County assessors
- Land appraisers
- Personal property assessors
- Property appraisers
- Real estate appraisers
- Real estate assessors
- Real property evaluators
- Residential fee appraisers
- Tax assessors