How to hire a damage appraiser

How to hire a damage appraiser, step by step

Here's a step-by-step damage appraiser hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a damage appraiser job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new damage appraiser
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a damage appraiser, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect damage appraiser also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of damage appraisers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Damage Appraiser	Description	Hourly rate
   Damage Appraiser	Claims adjusters, appraisers, examiners, and investigators evaluate insurance claims. They decide whether an insurance company must pay a claim, and if so, how much... Show more	$15-32
   Claim Processor	A Claims Processor is responsible for processing and verifying insurance claims, in adherence to the policies, laws, and regulations of the company involved. Aside from examining its authenticity, they must also oversee new policies and recommend modifications should it be needed... Show more	$12-29
   Claims Supervisor	A claims supervisor is in charge of overseeing the workflow and the workforce involved in processing insurance claims, ensuring accuracy and smooth progress. Their responsibilities typically revolve around liaising with key clients and third party agencies, assisting staff in negotiating terms, verifying the authenticity and completeness of all applications, monitoring the finances, and resolving complex issues... Show more	$23-56

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Vehicle Repairs
   • Parts Costs
   • Process Claims
   • Customer Service
   • Audatex
   • Repair Process
   • Vehicle Damage
   • Insurance Claims
   • Auto Body Shops
   • Auto Repair Facilities
   • Physical Damage Claims
   • Restore Vehicles
   • Repair-Cost Estimates
   • I-Car

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Greet customers and write complete repair estimates on damage vehicles using different computer programs, CCC and ADP.
   • Coordinate with SIU on fraudulent claims effectively.
   • Investigate claims and report fraud to SIU.
   • Work with DRP shops to maintain and follow company guidelines.
   • Obtain exterior measurements of the home and create a computerize sketch using RapidSketch v2.5.
   • Measure and sketch all floors of home, porches, patios and any other structures.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your damage appraiser job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A damage appraiser salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, damage appraisers' average salary in florida is 22% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level damage appraisers earn 51% less than senior-level damage appraisers.
   • Certifications. A damage appraiser with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a damage appraiser's salary.

   Average damage appraiser salary

   $48,075yearly

   $23.11 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level damage appraiser salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing a damage appraiser job description

   A good damage appraiser job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a damage appraiser job description:

   Damage appraiser job description example

   This is a remote/home-based position that will require travel by car and/or plane frequently. Roughly 50% of your time will be spend traveling. Frequent overnight travel and occasional multi-night travel included.

   Responsibilities

   • Evaluates claims, determines validity of coverage, and conducts investigation. Determines extent of damage through inspection of vehicles and other equipment. Prepares written estimate of repair costs and/or conducts an investigation to determine actual cash value.
   • Negotiates directly with clients and third parties. Obtains and evaluates written and recorded salvage bids in total loss cases. Photographs damaged property as necessary to reflect the scope of the damage and the identity of the damaged property.
   • Documents all investigations conducted and action taken to provide a complete, accurate, and self-sustaining record for future reference.
   • Keeps technical manuals and electronic reference materials updated. Maintains knowledge of industry developments, repair techniques, and procedures.
   • Plans and schedules work itinerary to make the most effective use of travel time.

   Minimum Qualifications

   • Prefer industry experience with heavy trucks & trailers with an interest in deepening industry and estimating knowledge
   • Prefer two years' automotive body experience or vocational training in related field, demonstrating basic understanding of automobile body parts or a four year degree
   • Must demonstrate the ability to proficiently and effectively manage assigned claims with minimum work direction. Prefer two years customer service experience
   • Strong analytical, computer and time management skills
   • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
   • Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record

   Physical Demand / Work Environment

   • Travel by car and/or plane frequently, including overnight and occasional multi-night travel
   • Work indoors and outdoors with exposure to noise, heat and/or cold
   • Occasionally adjust work schedule and/or work extra hours including evenings and weekends.
   • Must have physical mobility, vision, and hearing necessary to traverse and evaluate claims damage

   Salary: $64,500-$78,100 (Starting salary will be determined based on skills and experience.)

   About Us

   At Federated Insurance, we do life-changing work, focused on our clients' success. For our employees, we provide tremendous opportunities for growth. Over 95% of them believe our company has an outstanding future. We make lives better, and we're looking for employees who want to make a difference in others' lives, all while enhancing their own.

   You will have opportunities to grow in your career. Our employees are encouraged to ask questions and learn on the job, and we are committed to promoting from within. We recognize your contributions with an exceptional rewards package that includes competitive pay and bonus programs, incredibly affordable health insurance, generous pension and 401(k) benefits, and gift matching and paid volunteer time to support your involvement in the community. Learn more about our Benefits.

   All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer. Federated will not sponsor candidates for employment visa status, such as an H1-B visa. Federated does not interview or hire students or recent graduates with J-1 or F-1 visas or similar temporary work authorization.

   If California Resident, please review Federated's enhanced Privacy Policy.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right damage appraiser for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your damage appraiser job on Zippia to find and recruit damage appraiser candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit damage appraisers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new damage appraiser

   Once you've found the damage appraiser candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new damage appraiser. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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