Evaluates, researches and sells fine art, antiques and collectibles at auction houses, advising consignors and buyers. BLS does not publish separate figures for appraisers of personal and business property; it counts them within appraiser of personal and business property (SOC 13-2022), whose median pay is $67,960 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 13-2022
- Business and Financial Operations
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Auction House Specialist 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: Fine Art Specialist, Auction Specialist, Department Specialist, Fine Art Auctioneer, Senior Specialist.
Pay
How much do Appraisers of Personal and Business Property make?
Every auction house specialist 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 Auction House Specialist 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.
Getting in
How to become an Auction House Specialist
Most specialists have a bachelor's or master's degree in art history, decorative arts or a related field. Programs at the Sotheby's Institute of Art and Christie's Education offer graduate study in art business and connoisseurship. Many start as cataloguers, administrators or interns in a department and develop expertise over years.
Appraisal training through the American Society of Appraisers and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) course supports valuation work. Auctioneer licensing is required in some states, and the National Auctioneers Association offers training.
- 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 Auction House Specialist do?
Auction house specialists are experts in a category such as impressionist paintings, contemporary art, Asian art, jewelry, watches, rare books or wine. They examine objects brought in by collectors and estates, research authenticity, condition and provenance, and set auction estimates based on comparable sales.
Specialists compete to win consignments, then write catalog entries, plan sales, organize exhibitions and build relationships with collectors. Many also take the rostrum as auctioneers, running sales and taking bids from the room, phones and online. They work alongside conservators, registrars and lawyers to check title and export rules, and handle private sales outside the auction calendar.
Day-to-day tasks
- Examine and evaluate consigned objects
- Research authenticity, condition and provenance
- Set auction estimates using comparable sales
- Write catalog descriptions and essays
- Pitch to collectors and estates for consignments
- Organize pre-sale exhibitions
- Conduct auctions and manage private sales
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Specialists work in auction house offices and salerooms, visit collectors' homes and estates, and travel to view collections and attend sales. Sale seasons bring long hours and evening auctions. The job mixes research at a desk with client meetings and public events.
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.
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.
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 Auction House Specialist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code EIA) built on O*NET's Appraiser of Personal and Business Property profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Auction House Specialist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 5 |
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.
- Conventional5.5
- Enterprising5.1
- Realistic3.6
- Investigative3.4
- Artistic2.9
- 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 Auction House Specialist
O*NET related occupations
- Business and Financial Operations
Appraiser of Personal and Business Property
$67,960median a year
Most earn $40K to $123K
+3.5%Bachelor's - Business and Financial Operations
- Sales and Related
- Sales and Related
- Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
Wholesale and Retail Buyer, Except Farm Products
$77,710median a year
Most earn $48K to $129K
+6.0%Bachelor's
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
- Auction House Specialist$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 |
| Auction House Specialist | $67,960 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Auction House Specialist appears on
Questions
Auction House Specialist: frequently asked questions
How much do Appraisers of Personal and Business Property make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for appraisers of personal and business property. It counts them within appraiser of personal and business property, whose median pay is $67,960 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $50,970 and $92,760, and the top 10% earn $122,660 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Auction House Specialist?
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 Auction House Specialist 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 Auction House Specialist do?
Auction house specialists are experts in a category such as impressionist paintings, contemporary art, Asian art, jewelry, watches, rare books or wine. A typical task: examine and evaluate consigned objects. 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 Auction House Specialist?
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.