Real Estate Appraiser job description: duties, skills and qualifications.

Core duties

16

O*NET task statements

Preparation

Job Zone 4 of 5

considerable preparation

Typical entry education

Bachelor's degree

BLS 2025–35 · broader occupation

Data Government data groups this job as Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate (O*NET-SOC 13-2023.00). O*NET figures on this page are for that occupation; BLS pay and projections are for the broader BLS occupation, labelled where shown.

1. Compute final estimation of property values, taking into account such factors as depreciation, replacement costs, value comparisons of similar properties, and income potential. importance 4.7 of 5
2. Prepare written reports that estimate property values, outline methods by which the estimations were made, and meet appraisal standards. importance 4.7 of 5
3. Photograph interiors and exteriors of properties to assist in estimating property value, substantiate findings, and complete appraisal reports. importance 4.7 of 5
4. Search public records for transactions such as sales, leases, and assessments. importance 4.7 of 5
5. Obtain county land values and sales information about nearby properties to aid in establishment of property values. importance 4.6 of 5
6. Maintain familiarity with aspects of local real estate markets. importance 4.6 of 5
7. Inspect properties, considering factors such as market value, location, and building or replacement costs to determine appraisal value. importance 4.4 of 5
8. Collect and analyze relevant data to identify real estate market trends. importance 4.4 of 5
9. Review information about transfers of property to ensure its accuracy, checking basic information on buyers, sellers, and sales prices and making corrections as necessary. importance 4.3 of 5
10. Analyze trends in sales prices, construction costs, and rents, to assess property values or determine the accuracy of assessments. importance 4.2 of 5
11. Inspect new construction and major improvements to existing structures to determine values. importance 4.2 of 5
12. Check building codes and zoning bylaws to determine any effects on the properties being appraised. importance 4.2 of 5
13. Interview persons familiar with properties and immediate surroundings, such as contractors, home owners, and realtors, to obtain pertinent information. importance 4.1 of 5
14. Verify legal descriptions of properties by comparing them to county records. importance 4.1 of 5
15. Evaluate land and neighborhoods where properties are situated, considering locations and trends or impending changes that could influence future values. importance 3.9 of 5
16. Examine the type and location of nearby services, such as shopping centers, schools, parks, and other neighborhood features, to evaluate their impact on property values. importance 3.9 of 5

Work activities O*NET rates most important here: Getting Information, Working with Computers, Analyzing Data or Information, Processing Information and Documenting/Recording Information.

Also part of the job

Supplemental tasks O*NET lists for this occupation: less central than the core duties above, and not done in every job.

• Identify the ownership of each piece of taxable property.
• Prepare and maintain current data on each parcel assessed, including maps of boundaries, inventories of land and structures, property characteristics, and any applicable exemptions.
• Establish uniform and equitable systems for assessing all classes and kinds of property.
• Calculate tax bills for properties by multiplying assessed values by jurisdiction tax rates.
• Determine taxability of properties, using methods such as field inspection, structural measurement, calculation, sales analysis, market trend studies, and income and expense analysis.
• Explain assessed values to property owners and defend appealed assessments at public hearings.

Knowledge areas: English Language, Mathematics, Building and Construction, Customer and Personal Service and Economics and Accounting.

Software O*NET lists for this occupation: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Apple iOS. These are examples O*NET records for the job, not a list of tools every employer uses or a checklist of what you must know.

• Education: BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for the broader occupation.
• Experience: BLS lists no work experience in a related occupation as typical to enter.
• Training on the job: BLS lists long-term on-the-job training as typical once hired.
• Preparation: O*NET places the job in Job Zone 4 of 5 (considerable preparation). A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.
• Licenses and certifications: not listed here. A license is a legal requirement set by a state; a certification is a credential from a private or professional body. Rules vary by state and employer, and a missing entry on this page does not mean none is required: check with your state's licensing board and see how to become a real estate appraiser.

Most O*NET's occupation experts for this occupation (55%) name a bachelor's degree as the education the job requires.

Job title: Real Estate Appraiser
[Company] · [City, State] · [Full-time or part-time] · [Pay range, where your state requires one]

About the role
[Company] is hiring a Real Estate Appraiser to appraise real estate, exclusively, and estimate its fair value.
[One sentence on your team and why this role matters.]

What you will do
- Compute final estimation of property values, taking into account such factors as depreciation, replacement costs, value comparisons of similar properties, and income potential.
- Prepare written reports that estimate property values, outline methods by which the estimations were made, and meet appraisal standards.
- Photograph interiors and exteriors of properties to assist in estimating property value, substantiate findings, and complete appraisal reports.
- Search public records for transactions such as sales, leases, and assessments.
- Obtain county land values and sales information about nearby properties to aid in establishment of property values.
- Maintain familiarity with aspects of local real estate markets.
- Inspect properties, considering factors such as market value, location, and building or replacement costs to determine appraisal value.
- Collect and analyze relevant data to identify real estate market trends.

What we are looking for
- [Education: BLS lists a bachelor's degree as typical for this occupation; set the level this role truly needs]
- [Experience: BLS lists no related work experience as typical to enter; set what this role needs]
- Strength in reading comprehension, active listening and critical thinking
- Working knowledge of English Language and Mathematics
- [Software your team uses, e.g. Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Office software]
- [Any license or certification your state or company requires]

[Schedule, benefits and how to apply]

Illustrative: every name, employer, school, date and number in these samples is fictional or a bracketed placeholder. Replace each bracket with your own true details; never copy a result you did not achieve.

Not a real job posting. This template is TryHired's illustration built from government occupational data. It is not an opening at any employer, and no employer wrote it.

BLS projects employment in the broader occupation Property appraisers and assessors to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035, with about 5,200 openings a year over that period, including openings to replace workers who leave.

See the full real estate appraiser salary breakdown by percentile, state and metro.

• Read a real real estate appraiser posting next to the core duties above. Duties it repeats, such as “Compute final estimation of property values, taking into account such…”, tell you what that employer weighs most; anything it adds is specific to that team.
• Tailor your resume to the posting, not to this page: describe only real estate appraiser work you have actually done, with your own results.
• Prepare a story for each of the top-rated skills (reading comprehension and active listening).