Appraise automobile or other vehicle damage to determine repair costs for insurance claim settlement. Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost or cost estimates and recommendations. May seek agreement with automotive repair shop on repair costs.
Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage
SOC: 13-1032 O*NET: 13-1032.00
Median Salary
$76,650
per year
Job Growth
📉 -8.2%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
0.5
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Job Zone 3
Appraise automobile or other vehicle damage to determine repair costs for insurance claim settlement. Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost or cost estimates and recommendations. May seek agreement with automotive repair shop on repair costs.
What does a Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$56,690
10th percentile
Early Career
$64,280
25th percentile
Median
$76,650
50th percentile
Experienced
$86,430
75th percentile
Top Earners
$101,800
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$56,690
25th
$64,280
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$76,650
Mean: $77,050
75th
$86,430
90th
$101,800
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $45,110 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $64,280 and $86,430
- •Salary spread is 28.9% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 7,790 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:9,200
Top Industries
Finance and Insurance93.6%
Insurance Carriers and Related Activities93.3%
Insurance Carriers48.9%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-8.2%
Annual Openings:500
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)9,200
Current
2034 (Projected)8,400
-8.2%
-800
Employment Change
-8.2%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: Decline
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 34 locations
Texas
710 jobs$64,7301.01x
Colorado
590 jobs$69,5604.06x
North Carolina
540 jobs$67,4902.17x
California
510 jobs$78,8700.56x
Florida
460 jobs$65,9000.92x
South Carolina
380 jobs$91,9603.35x
New York
380 jobs$79,0500.79x
Massachusetts
340 jobs$73,1001.83x
Georgia
320 jobs$77,9501.31x
New Jersey
300 jobs$87,2401.37x
Pennsylvania
220 jobs$83,4800.74x
Maryland
180 jobs$88,7001.32x
Michigan
140 jobs$73,3700.62x
Ohio
120 jobs$100,9200.44x
Washington
120 jobs$97,5500.69x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Writing
100%
#2
Speaking
92%
#3
Active Listening
86%
#4
Reading Comprehension
78%
#5
Critical Thinking
70%
#6
Time Management
62%
#7
Judgment and Decision Making
56%
#8
Service Orientation
48%
#9
Social Perceptiveness
40%
Skills Overview
Writing
advanced5.0
100%
Speaking
advanced4.6
92%
Active Listening
intermediate4.3
86%
Reading Comprehension
basic3.9
78%
Critical Thinking
intermediate3.5
70%
Time Management
intermediate3.1
62%
Judgment and Decision Making
basic2.8
56%
Service Orientation
basic2.4
48%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Writing
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Speaking
advancedImportance92%
skills
4.6/5.0
Active Listening
intermediateImportance86%
skills
4.3/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance78%
abilities
3.9/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance70%
abilities
3.5/5.0
Time Management
intermediateImportance62%
skills
3.1/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
basicImportance56%
abilities
2.8/5.0
Service Orientation
basicImportance48%
skills
2.4/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Correspondence Clerks100%
5 shared skills
Animal Control Workers90%
5 shared skills
Physical Therapists90%
5 shared skills
File Clerks80%
5 shared skills
Office Clerks, General80%
5 shared skills
Couriers and Messengers78%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Writing
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
Learn on the Job:
- →Time Management
- →Judgment and Decision Making
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Writing
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Writing
- ★Speaking
- ★Active Listening
- ★Reading Comprehension
- ★Critical Thinking
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage
Technology Intensity
High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires advanced digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Proficiency with specialized softwareTechnical documentationData analysis toolsSystem integration
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Adobe Acrobat
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Windows
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Adobe Acrobat
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🌤️
Location
MOSTLY OUTDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
SOME TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly outdoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy some team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
7
Core Tasks
7
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (5)Analysis & Evaluation (1)Documentation & Record-Keeping (1)
1
Estimate parts and labor to repair damage, using standard automotive labor and parts cost manuals and knowledge of automotive repair.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Review repair cost estimates with automobile repair shop to secure agreement on cost of repairs.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Examine damaged vehicle to determine extent of structural, body, mechanical, electrical, or interior damage.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Evaluate practicality of repair as opposed to payment of market value of vehicle before accident.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Analysis & Evaluation91% perform94%
5
Determine salvage value on total-loss vehicle.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost estimates and recommendations.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping85% perform90%
7
Arrange to have damage appraised by another appraiser to resolve disagreement with shop on repair cost.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •100% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage professionals typically have a CRE Holland code and highly value support
CConventional
RRealistic
EEnterprising
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage
Integrity
CriticalIntegrity
Importance Level4.56
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.19
Initiative
Very ImportantInitiative
Importance Level4.03
Self-Control
ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level3.98
Concern for Others
ImportantConcern for Others
Importance Level3.95
Dependability
ImportantDependability
Importance Level3.89
Complete Work Styles Profile
Integrity
4.6
Attention to Detail
4.2
Initiative
4.0
Self-Control
4.0
Concern for Others
4.0
Dependability
3.9
Independence
3.9
Stress Tolerance
3.9
Achievement/Effort
3.7
Persistence
3.7
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Typical duration: Varies
Preparation Level
Job Zone 3
Medium Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training:
Training of more than one year
💼 Experience Requirement
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Associate degree programs
- • Apprenticeships (1-2 years)
- • Vocational training with related experience
3
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Associate degree programsApprenticeships (1-2 years)Vocational training with related experience
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