The median pay for Appraisers of Personal and Business Property is $67,960 a year ($32.67/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.5% through 2035, with about 5,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 13-2022
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Appraiser of Personal and Business Property in four numbers
- Median pay
- $67,960a year, or $32.67/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $40KTop 10% $123K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.5%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 5,20068,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202568.4K
- Projected 203570.7K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 68.4K Projected 2035 70.7K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Some college17.4%
- Associate's17.4%
- Bachelor's39.1%
- Post-bacc certificate8.7%
- Master's8.7%
- Professional degree8.7%
Highest education held by appraisers of personal and business property Segment Value Some college 17.4% Associate's 17.4% Bachelor's 39.1% Post-bacc certificate 8.7% Master's 8.7% Professional degree 8.7%
Also advertised as: Accredited Appraiser, Aircraft Appraiser, Appraiser, Art Appraiser, Certified Appraiser, Gem and Jewelry Appraiser.
Pay
How much do Appraisers of Personal and Business Property make?
Every appraiser of personal and business property in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$67,960
Middle half earn $50,970 to $92,760
- 10th
- $40,030
- 25th
- $50,970
- 75th
- $92,760
- 90th
- $122,660
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $40,030 |
| 25th | $50,970 |
| Median | $67,960 |
| 75th | $92,760 |
| 90th | $122,660 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $67,960
- Median hourly wage
- $32.67/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $75,770
- People employed
- 57,070
Versus all US occupations
At $67,960, Appraisers of Personal and Business Property earn 33% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $16,980 a year.
Versus business and financial operations occupations
Inside the Business and Financial Operations group, where the middle occupation pays $80,730, this is 16% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $122,660 or more while the bottom 10% earn $40,030, a gap of 3.1×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 42% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $107,980, and still leads at $98,252 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Appraisers of Personal and Business Property the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $107,980 | $98,252 | 110 |
| 2New Jersey | $92,390 | $84,913 | 1,190 |
| 3Massachusetts | $91,750 | $86,755 | 1,100 |
| 4California | $88,900 | $80,293 | 6,380 |
| 5Connecticut | $86,050 | $83,052 | 630 |
| 6Washington | $83,710 | $78,224 | 1,150 |
| 7Minnesota | $83,400 | $84,566 | 1,380 |
| 8Maine | $80,930 | $83,390 | 230 |
| 9Alaska | $80,330 | $78,479 | 200 |
| 10Iowa | $80,160 | $91,338 | 630 |
Job outlook
Is Appraiser of Personal and Business Property a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | +3.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Appraisers of Personal and Business Property to change 3.5% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 5,200 openings are projected each year, 7.6% of the 68,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for appraisal services is linked to the real estate market, which may fluctuate in the short term. Over the projections decade, employment growth will be driven by economic expansion; the need for business valuations; and general demand for residential, personal, and other properties. Productivity may rise with greater use of mobile technology and automated valuation models, which enable workers to appraise and assess properties more efficiently.
Getting in
How to become an Appraiser of Personal and Business Property
The requirements to become a fully qualified property appraiser or assessor are complex and vary by state and, sometimes, by the value or type of property. These workers typically need a bachelor’s degree, although some qualify with a high school diploma. Appraisers of real estate also must meet state licensure or certification requirements. Check with your state's licensing board for specific requirements.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as appraisers of personal and business property.
- Bachelor's Degree39.1%
- Some College Courses17.4%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree17.4%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate8.7%
- Master's Degree8.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 39.1% |
| Some College Courses | 17.4% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 17.4% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 8.7% |
| Master's Degree | 8.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Appraiser of Personal and Business Property do?
Appraise and estimate the fair value of tangible personal or business property, such as jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, and equipment. May also appraise land.
Property appraisers and assessors provide a value estimate on real estate and tangible personal and business property.
Day-to-day tasks
- Write descriptions of the property being appraised.
- Determine the appropriate type of valuation to make, such as fair market, replacement, or liquidation, based on the needs of the property owner.
- Document physical characteristics of property such as measurements, quality, and design.
- Calculate the value of property based on comparisons to recent sales, estimated cost to reproduce, and anticipated property income streams.
- Locate and record data on sales of comparable property using specialized software, internet searches, or personal records.
- Write and submit appraisal reports for property, such as jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, and equipment.
- Inspect personal or business property.
- Take photographs of property.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most property appraisers and assessors work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Self-employed appraisers, often called independent fee appraisers, may work more than 40 hours per week.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where appraisers of personal and business property work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Local government, excluding education and hospitals41%
- Real estate21%
- Self-employed workers15%
- Finance and insurance9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Local government, excluding education and hospitals | 41% |
| Real estate | 21% |
| Self-employed workers | 15% |
| Finance and insurance | 9% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Writing3.5
- Active Listening3.4
- Speaking3.4
- Active Learning3.1
- Mathematics2.9
- Monitoring2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Writing | 3.5 |
| Active Listening | 3.4 |
| Speaking | 3.4 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 2.9 |
| Monitoring | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Time Management3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Persuasion2.9
- Negotiation2.9
- Service Orientation2.9
- Coordination2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Persuasion | 2.9 |
| Negotiation | 2.9 |
| Service Orientation | 2.9 |
| Coordination | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Analytical or scientific software
- Financial analysis software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Appraiser of Personal and Business Property?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Appraiser of Personal and Business Property |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional6.0
- Enterprising4.7
- Realistic3.6
- Investigative2.6
- Artistic2.1
- Social1.7
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Appraiser of Personal and Business Property
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More business and financial operations careers
Median annual pay, with appraisers of personal and business property highlighted
- Financial Advisor$105,070
- Accountant$83,680
- Insurance Underwriter$81,370
- Coroner$80,730
- Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator$78,000
- Loan Officer$76,690
- Human Resources Specialist$75,940
- Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate$67,960
- Appraiser of Personal and Business Property$67,960
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Financial Advisor | $105,070 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $81,370 |
| Coroner | $80,730 |
| Claims Adjuster, Examiner, and Investigator | $78,000 |
| Loan Officer | $76,690 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 |
| Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate | $67,960 |
| Appraiser of Personal and Business Property | $67,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within appraiser of personal and business property
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Appraiser of Personal and Business Property appears on
Questions
Appraiser of Personal and Business Property: frequently asked questions
How much do Appraisers of Personal and Business Property make?
Appraisers of Personal and Business Property earn a median of $67,960 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 33% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $32.67/hr. The middle half earn between $50,970 and $92,760. The top 10% earn $122,660 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Appraiser of Personal and Business Property?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Appraisers of Personal and Business Property, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. BLS also lists long-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 39.1% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Appraiser of Personal and Business Property a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.5% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 5,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Appraiser of Personal and Business Property do?
Property appraisers and assessors provide a value estimate on real estate and tangible personal and business property. A core O*NET task: write descriptions of the property being appraised. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Electronic mail software, Office suite software.
Which states pay Appraisers of Personal and Business Property the most?
The highest state medians for Appraisers of Personal and Business Property are District of Columbia ($107,980), New Jersey ($92,390), Massachusetts ($91,750) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Appraiser of Personal and Business Property?
O*NET scores Appraisers of Personal and Business Property highest on the Conventional, Enterprising and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ISTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.