How to hire a material damage appraiser

How to hire a material damage appraiser, step by step

Here's a step-by-step material 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 material damage appraiser job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new material damage appraiser
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The material damage appraiser hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   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 material 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.

   Here's a comparison of material damage appraiser salaries for various roles:

   Type of Material Damage Appraiser	Description	Hourly rate
   Material 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	$16-34
   Auto Damage Estimator	Accounting Clerk Leads are professionals who are responsible for leading a team of junior-level clerks to maintain a record of a wide range of financial transactions for an organization. These clerks are required to settle and update general ledger accounts by reviewing the month-end process... Show more	$19-32
   Appraiser	An appraiser is someone who assesses the monetary value of a property such as an automobile, real property, and personal claim. His/Her or her responsibilities include resolving disparities between a property's monetary values and preparing narrative reports for projects... Show more	$13-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Repair Costs
   • Damage Estimates
   • Claims System
   • Damage Appraisals
   • Vehicle Repairs
   • Auto Body Repair
   • Commercial Vehicles
   • Customer Service
   • Motor Vehicle
   • CCC
   • Body Shop Estimates
   • Repair Estimates
   • Repair Process
   • Property Damage

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Provide detailed written reviews of residential properties ensuring USPAP guidelines, federal regulatory requirements and lender appraisal guidelines are met.
   • Handle all problems including arbitration, responses to the DOI, and small claims suits.
   • Analyze damages of automobiles, rv, atv, snowmobiles, jet ski, campers and property damages.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your material damage appraiser job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A material damage appraiser can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, material damage appraisers' average salary in florida is 19% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level material damage appraisers 51% less than senior-level material damage appraisers.
   • Certifications. A material damage appraiser with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a material damage appraiser's salary.

   Average material damage appraiser salary

   $50,261yearly

   $24.16 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level material damage appraiser salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 5, 2025

4. Writing a material damage appraiser job description

   A material damage appraiser job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a material damage appraiser job description:

   Material damage appraiser job description example

   Are You Driven?®We Are.
   
   We are a company of driven, enthusiastic and determined people. We celebrate achievement and success.We foster innovation, determination and recognition. Because of that, our employees feel recognized and rewarded for the contributions they make on a daily basis. At GAINSCO, it is our people that set us apart.
   
   If you are looking for a place where you can make a difference, perceive how your work impacts the company, and be recognized for your efforts and passion, then GAINSCO is the company for you.
   
   Why JoinGAINSCO?
   
   By joining GAINSCO, you become part of a dynamic and growing organization that has been recognized as aTop Workplacein both our Dallas and Miami offices.
   
   GAINSCO's work environment rewards engaged individuals who have a desire to contribute and succeed. That's because our culture encourages individuals to grow their skills as they build their careers. Come join us and become a champion with GAINSCO.
   
   What does a MATERIAL DAMAGE APPRAISER do at GAINSCO?
   
   

   • Schedule, inspect, and effectively appraise loss damage to assigned vehicles
   • Utilize estimating software to properly evaluate, document, and estimate damages
   • Negotiate with the customer's shop of choice to achieve a proper and compliant outcome for the repair
   • Effectively guide the customer through the repair and rental process
   • Deliver a superior level of customer service
   • Prioritize and efficiently plan the timely completion of all assignments
   • Demonstrate a consistent standard of performance by following company guidelines, policies, and applicable insurance regulations
   • Other duties as assigned that support the success of the Material Damage operation

   
   
   What is required?
   
   Licenses/Certifications
   
   

   • Requirement to successfully complete state adjuster licensing in all assigned states
   • Pass required Material Damage training, reviews, and calibration exercises
   • I-Car training or ASE Certification is a plus
   • Valid driver's license

   
   
   Experience
   
   

   • Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in writing auto damage appraisals
   • Ability to demonstrate a high level of auto appraisal technical skills
   • Experienced user of software estimating systems

   
   
   Other Skills And Abilities
   
   

   • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
   • Ability to prioritize, manage time, and work efficiently
   • Effective negotiation skills
   • Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus
   • CCC ONE estimating experience is a plus

   
   
   What else do you need to know?
   
   

   • Competitive salary based on experience
   • Excellent benefits package: medical & dental (Basic plan FREE), vision insurance, life insurance, short term and long term disability insurance
   • Parental Leave Policy
   • 401K + Company Match
   • Paid Vacation + Sick days + Floating Holidays + Company determined Holidays

   
   
   All offers are contingent upon a background investigation (including employment, education, criminal and DMV verification- when applicable) and a pre-employment drug test with results satisfactory to GAINSCO.
   
   GAINSCO is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right material 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 material damage appraiser job on Zippia to find and recruit material damage appraiser candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with material damage appraiser candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 material damage appraiser

   Once you've found the material 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 good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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