All About Assessors
Job Description: Appraise real and personal property to determine its fair value. May assess taxes in accordance with prescribed schedules.
A Day in the Life of an Assessor
- Issue notices of assessments and taxes.
- Conduct regular reviews of property within jurisdictions to determine changes in property due to construction or demolition.
- Determine taxability and value of properties, using methods such as field inspection, structural measurement, calculation, sales analysis, market trend studies, and income and expense analysis.
- Approve applications for property tax exemptions or deductions.
- Identify the ownership of each piece of taxable property.
- Analyze trends in sales prices, construction costs, and rents, to assess property values or determine the accuracy of assessments.
What an Assessor Should Know
Assessors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Types of Assessor Jobs
- Farm Appraiser
- Personal Property Appraiser
- Real Property Appraiser
- County Assessor
- Commercial Real Estate Appraiser
Is There Going to be Demand for Assessors?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 80,800 jobs in the United States for Assessor. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 14.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 11,600 new jobs for Assessor by 2026. The BLS estimates 6,700 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Assessor are Utah, Nevada, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maryland, Alaska, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Assessor Salary
Assessors make between $29,690 and $102,590 a year.
Assessors who work in District of Columbia, Nevada, or California, make the highest salaries.
How much do Assessors make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $54,340 |
| Alaska | $76,080 |
| Arizona | $49,330 |
| Arkansas | $45,180 |
| California | $84,130 |
| Colorado | $79,390 |
| Connecticut | $70,610 |
| District of Columbia | $93,730 |
| Florida | $53,900 |
| Georgia | $54,550 |
| Hawaii | $67,870 |
| Idaho | $53,090 |
| Illinois | $56,520 |
| Indiana | $48,740 |
| Iowa | $78,680 |
| Kansas | $56,800 |
| Kentucky | $46,740 |
| Louisiana | $52,310 |
| Maine | $60,120 |
| Maryland | $63,590 |
| Massachusetts | $70,150 |
| Michigan | $52,730 |
| Minnesota | $69,200 |
| Mississippi | $57,120 |
| Missouri | $55,190 |
| Montana | $46,490 |
| Nebraska | $71,370 |
| Nevada | $94,400 |
| New Hampshire | $70,840 |
| New Jersey | $73,200 |
| New Mexico | $44,710 |
| New York | $63,100 |
| North Carolina | $57,230 |
| North Dakota | $53,840 |
| Ohio | $69,650 |
| Oklahoma | $49,050 |
| Oregon | $69,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,830 |
| South Carolina | $54,130 |
| South Dakota | $49,100 |
| Tennessee | $57,320 |
| Texas | $59,310 |
| Utah | $52,280 |
| Vermont | $55,870 |
| Virginia | $60,420 |
| Washington | $69,770 |
| West Virginia | $40,710 |
| Wisconsin | $66,030 |
| Wyoming | $58,600 |
What Tools do Assessors Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Assessors may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Database software
- Geomechanical design analysis GDA software
- RealData Comparative Lease Analysis
- Wilson’s Computer Applications RealEasy Appraisals
- Softree Technical Systems Terrain Tools
- Greenbrier Graphics Deed Plotter
- a la mode WinTOTAL
- Realty Tools Toolkit for Market Share
- Govern Software Land and Permits Management System
- Ascend Property Assessment
- ValueTech Report Builder
- Business Management Systems Municipal Geographic Management System MGMS
How to Become an Assessor
Education needed to be an Assessor:
How Long Does it Take to Become an Assessor?
Who Employs Assessors?
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
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References:
Image Credit: Godrej Mamurdi Pune via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
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