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What is a vehicle damage appraiser and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a vehicle damage appraiser. For example, did you know that they make an average of $25.21 an hour? That's $52,438 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow -6% and produce -19,000 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreVehicle Damage AppraiserUS Average
Salary
4.1

Avg. Salary $52,438

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.4

Growth rate -6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.50%

Asian 4.52%

Black or African American 10.47%

Hispanic or Latino 17.30%

Unknown 4.42%

White 62.80%

Gender

female 11.49%

male 88.51%

Age - 43
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43
Stress level
8.4

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.9

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a vehicle damage appraiser

  1. Explore vehicle damage appraiser education requirements

    Most common vehicle damage appraiser degrees

    Bachelor's

    41.4 %

    Associate

    27.6 %

    High School Diploma

    20.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific vehicle damage appraiser skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Repair Facilities32.36%
    Repair Process21.00%
    DRP11.50%
    Audatex10.80%
    Damage Appraisals9.77%
  3. Complete relevant vehicle damage appraiser training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New vehicle damage appraisers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a vehicle damage appraiser based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real vehicle damage appraiser resumes.
  4. Research vehicle damage appraiser duties and responsibilities

    • Provide vehicle arbitration inspections for customers as well.
    • Provide insurance companies with total loss auto body damage appraisals using Audatex estimating systems.
    • Perform appraisals on business personal property as well as residential and commercial properties for taxation purposes.
  5. Apply for vehicle damage appraiser jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a vehicle damage appraiser job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first vehicle damage appraiser job

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Average vehicle damage appraiser salary

The average vehicle damage appraiser salary in the United States is $52,438 per year or $25 per hour. Vehicle damage appraiser salaries range between $39,000 and $69,000 per year.

Average vehicle damage appraiser salary
$52,438 Yearly
$25.21 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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