How Much Do Real Estate Appraisers Make?

If you’re thinking about starting or advancing your appraisal career, you probably want to know: How much do real estate appraisers make? A recent survey reported in the 2020-2021 Appraisal Income Guide shows that an appraiser’s annual earnings depends on many different factors. Here is a snapshot of the average real estate appraiser salary, broken down across license level, years of experience, and other key factors affecting income potential.

Income rises with license level
One of the largest factors impacting potential income for appraisers is license level. The higher the license level, the more appraisers earn. On average, certified residential appraisers earn $2,500 more annually than licensed appraisers. Certified general appraisers earn nearly $18,000 more than certified residential appraisers. That’s a big jump in annual income.

Want more in-depth insights into the question, “How much do real estate appraisers make?” Download the 2020-2021 Appraisal Income Guide.

Income rises with experience
Average earnings tend to increase the longer an appraiser is in the profession, with the greatest jump being from 2-10 years of experience to 11-20 years of experience.

Income is greatest for appraisers working 61+ hours a week
For appraisers who want to maximize their earnings, they’ll need to put in the time. Those reaching the highest earning potential are working over 60 hours per week. On average, appraisers who work more than 60 hours per week earn over $33,000 more per year than appraisers working a 21–40 hour work week.

So, how much do real estate appraisers make? The answer varies depending on license level, experience, and number of hours worked, to name a few. To dig deeper into all the different factors that impact appraiser salary, download the 2020-2021 Appraisal Income Guide. The guide looks at number of assignments completed per month, employer type, level of expertise in key areas—and more—in relation to appraiser income.
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new survey data from 2020.