How much does a insurance appraiser make?
The median insurance appraiser in the United States earns $78,240 per year, about $37.61 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all insurance appraisers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 13-1032.
Insurance appraiser salary range
Pay for insurance appraisers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $58,360 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $101,590. The average (mean) wage of $78,900 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $58,360 | $28.06 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $65,050 | $31.28 | |
| Median (50th) | $78,240 | $37.61 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $91,880 | $44.17 | |
| 90th percentile | $101,590 | $48.84 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for insurance appraisers, auto damage (SOC 13-1032), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Insurance appraiser salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Insurance appraisers earn the most in Kentucky at $97,950 a year, and the least in Florida at $61,320. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $97,950 | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $95,720 | 310 |
| New Jersey | $94,280 | N/A |
| Connecticut | $89,740 | 210 |
| South Carolina | $86,680 | 220 |
| Arizona | $86,030 | 40 |
| Oregon | $83,270 | 170 |
| Maryland | $82,870 | N/A |
| Utah | $82,570 | 50 |
| Oklahoma | $82,340 | N/A |
| Georgia | $81,470 | N/A |
| Virginia | $81,470 | N/A |
| New York | $81,150 | 360 |
| Massachusetts | $79,930 | 680 |
| Maine | $79,510 | 50 |
| Texas | $79,200 | 910 |
| Iowa | $79,090 | N/A |
| California | $78,930 | 550 |
| Nevada | $78,510 | 80 |
| Washington | $78,450 | 190 |
| New Mexico | $78,310 | N/A |
| Michigan | $77,060 | 310 |
| Indiana | $76,750 | 250 |
| Minnesota | $76,460 | N/A |
| Idaho | $76,110 | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $75,260 | N/A |
| Kansas | $75,080 | N/A |
| North Carolina | $74,810 | 520 |
| Louisiana | $72,040 | 100 |
| Colorado | $71,600 | 330 |
| Mississippi | $71,550 | 120 |
| Illinois | $71,510 | 560 |
| Missouri | $67,950 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $67,080 | 420 |
| Arkansas | $63,960 | N/A |
| Ohio | $63,470 | 820 |
| Nebraska | $62,350 | 90 |
| Florida | $61,320 | N/A |
State median wages for insurance appraisers, auto damage (SOC 13-1032), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for insurance appraisers
The BLS projects employment of insurance appraisers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 8.7%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 13,500 jobs in 2025 moving toward 12,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 700 openings a year for insurance appraisers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an insurance appraiser
The typical entry-level education for insurance appraisers is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete moderate-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an insurance appraiser earns
Firm size, industry, certifications, and years of experience drive the spread. Large firms and major financial centers pay well above small-town or entry-level roles.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Kentucky, $97,950) and the lowest (Florida, $61,320) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 11,560 people work as insurance appraisers in the United States. At $78,240 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Insurance appraiser salary FAQ
How much does an insurance appraiser make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an insurance appraiser is $37.61. The middle half of insurance appraisers earn between $31.28 and $44.17 per hour.
What is the highest insurance appraiser salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of insurance appraisers earn more than $101,590 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an insurance appraiser make a year?
The median annual salary for an insurance appraiser is $78,240. The average (mean) wage of $78,900 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being an insurance appraiser a well paid job?
At $78,240 a year, an insurance appraiser earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 11,560 people work as insurance appraisers in the United States.
Which state pays insurance appraisers the most?
Kentucky has the highest median salary for insurance appraisers at $97,950 a year. Pennsylvania ($95,720) and New Jersey ($94,280) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being an insurance appraiser a good career?
Employment of insurance appraisers is projected to shrink 8.7% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 700 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an insurance appraiser?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for insurance appraisers as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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