Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage
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.
Also called: Appraiser · Automobile Appraiser (Auto Appraiser) · Automobile Damage Appraiser (Auto Damage Appraiser) · Damage Appraiser · Field Appraiser · Field Inspector
Median pay (national)
$76,650
$56,690–$101,800 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
7,790
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-8.2%
~500 openings/yr
Typical entry
Postsecondary nondegree award
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for insurance appraisers, auto damage shows a relatively narrow range: the top 10% earn $101,800 versus $56,690 at the bottom 10% — 1.8x. The median of $76,650 leaves roughly 33% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -8.2% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 35 states with released data, Ohio pays the most for this role (median $100,920, +32% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $37,630 — a 168% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Writing, Speaking, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Disassembler software, Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.
Tailor your resume to Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage
Honest tailoring
See how your resume lines up with Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage
Refit re-angles your real experience toward this role using the skills above — and never invents skills you don't have. A no-fabrication gate checks every change before you see it.
Free. No account needed to see your first re-fit.
Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Writing
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Evaluate practicality of repair as opposed to payment of market value of vehicle before accident.
- Review repair cost estimates with automobile repair shop to secure agreement on cost of repairs.
- Examine damaged vehicle to determine extent of structural, body, mechanical, electrical, or interior damage.
- Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost estimates and recommendations.
- Estimate parts and labor to repair damage, using standard automotive labor and parts cost manuals and knowledge of automotive repair.
- Determine salvage value on total-loss vehicle.
- Arrange to have damage appraised by another appraiser to resolve disagreement with shop on repair cost.
Tools & technology
- Disassembler software
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Windows
- A-T Solutions Easy Street Draw
- App Software Associations AppTrak.net
- Cost estimating software
- Information Services Inc. CCC Pathways Appraisal Solution
- Meridian Technologies SurePoint
- Mitchell International Mitchell WorkCenter
- NCH Software Express Invoice
- Solera Audatex Estimating
- Swan River Software Estimiser Pro
- Vertafore ImageRight
- Web browser software
- Web-Est estimating software
- Adobe Acrobat
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Mechanical
- Administrative
- Education and Training
- Law and Government
- Mathematics