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All About Assessors

Position Description Appraise real and personal property to determine its fair value. May assess taxes in accordance with prescribed schedules.

Daily Life Of an Assessor

  • Calculate tax bills for properties by multiplying assessed values by jurisdiction tax rates.
  • 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.
  • Supervise staff members.
  • Conduct regular reviews of property within jurisdictions to determine changes in property due to construction or demolition.
  • Explain assessed values to property owners and defend appealed assessments at public hearings.
  • Maintain familiarity with aspects of local real estate markets.

Things an Assessor Should Know How to Do

When polled, Assessors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

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.

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

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.

Other Assessor Job Titles

  • Field Inspector
  • County Tax Assessor
  • Property Appraiser
  • Personal Property Assessor
  • Certified General Mass Real Estate Appraiser

Is There Job Demand for Assessors?

In the United States, there were 80,800 jobs for Assessor in 2016. 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.

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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.

Average Assessors Salary

The average yearly salary of an Assessor ranges between $29,690 and $102,590.

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Assessors who work in District of Columbia, Nevada, or California, make the highest salaries.

How much do Assessors make in different U.S. states?

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?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Assessors:

  • 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
  • Softree Technical Systems Terrain Tools
  • Wilson’s Computer Applications RealEasy Appraisals
  • a la mode WinTOTAL
  • Greenbrier Graphics Deed Plotter
  • HP 49G+ Appraiser Fee Calculator
  • Howard and Friends Computer CMA Plus
  • RPIS Silent CMA
  • Real Edge
  • Realty Tools Toolkit for Market Share

How to Become an Assessor

What education is needed to be an Assessor?

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How Long Does it Take to Become an Assessor?

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Who Employs Assessors?

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The table below shows the approximate number of Assessors employed by various industries.

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Similar Careers

Those thinking about becoming an Assessor might also be interested in the following careers:

Are you already one of the many Assessor in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

References:

Image Credit: Godrej Mamurdi Pune via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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