Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage Career, Salary and Skills
Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $78,240 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 11,560. Wage data is published for 80 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
13-1032.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Some College Courses
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$78,240
Hourly median
$37.61
Employment
11,560
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Writing | 3.75 | 3.25 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.50 | 3.62 |
| Active Listening | 3.50 | 3.88 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.38 | 3.75 |
| Time Management | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Service Orientation | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Persuasion | 2.88 | 2.88 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology
- A-T Solutions Easy Street Draw
- Adobe Acrobat
- App Software Associations AppTrak.net
- Cost estimating software
- Disassembler software
- Email software
- Information Services Inc. CCC Pathways Appraisal Solution
- Meridian Technologies SurePoint
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Word
Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage Salary in TXMedian $79,200 · Employment 910
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage Salary in OHMedian $63,470 · Employment 820
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage Salary in MAMedian $79,930 · Employment 680
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage Salary in ILMedian $71,510 · Employment 560
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage Salary in CAMedian $78,930 · Employment 550
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage Salary in NCMedian $74,810 · Employment 520
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage Salary in Dallas, TXMedian $79,810 · Employment 470
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage Salary in TNMedian $67,080 · Employment 420
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $75,730 · Employment 370
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage Salary in NYMedian $81,150 · Employment 360
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage Salary in Boston, MAMedian $74,760 · Employment 350
- Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage Salary in COMedian $71,600 · Employment 330
Related careers
- Transportation InspectorsNational median $92,100
- Parts SalespersonsNational median $38,630
- Rail Car RepairersNational median $67,530
- Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor VehiclesNational median $48,420
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related RepairersNational median $56,210
- Aviation InspectorsNational median $92,100
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersNational median $48,570
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentNational median $74,090
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.