Careers · Explore one path
Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage
Appraise automobile or other vehicle damage to determine repair costs for insurance claim settlement. Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost or cost estimates and recommendations. May seek agreement with automotive repair shop on repair costs.
Other titles employers use
Appraiser · Automobile Appraiser (Auto Appraiser) · Automobile Damage Appraiser (Auto Damage Appraiser) · Damage Appraiser · Field Appraiser · Field Inspector · Insurance Appraiser · Material Damage Appraiser
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Evaluate practicality of repair as opposed to payment of market value of vehicle before accident.
- Review repair cost estimates with automobile repair shop to secure agreement on cost of repairs.
- Examine damaged vehicle to determine extent of structural, body, mechanical, electrical, or interior damage.
- Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost estimates and recommendations.
- Estimate parts and labor to repair damage, using standard automotive labor and parts cost manuals and knowledge of automotive repair.
- Determine salvage value on total-loss vehicle.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing, practical and persuading work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Writing
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Time Management
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Mechanical
- Administrative
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.6 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.3 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.3 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 3.5 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a postsecondary certificate. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 59%
- High school or less 24%
- A two-year degree 15%
- A four-year degree 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Electronic mail software
- Document management software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Operating system software
- Word processing software
- Project management software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 1,540
- Job openings each year
- 110
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 4.8%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,540 | 110 | 4.8% |
| New Jersey | 640 | 40 | −9.9% |
| Michigan | 520 | 30 | −1.9% |
| Virginia | 490 | 30 | −3.9% |
| Colorado | 460 | 30 | −6.1% |
| Georgia | 420 | 30 | 7.7% |
| Louisiana | 420 | 30 | −6.7% |
| Illinois | 380 | 20 | −7.3% |
| Arizona | 360 | 30 | 2.9% |
| Ohio | 340 | 20 | −2.9% |
| Puerto Rico | 320 | 20 | 14.3% |
| Washington | 230 | 20 | −4.2% |
| Missouri | 220 | 20 | — |
| Kentucky | 210 | 10 | −4.5% |
| North Carolina | 160 | 10 | 6.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 160 | 10 | — |
| Arkansas | 140 | 10 | — |
| Oregon | 120 | 10 | −7.7% |
| Maryland | 100 | 10 | −9.1% |
| South Carolina | 90 | 10 | 12.5% |
| Iowa | 80 | 10 | −11.1% |
| Massachusetts | 80 | 10 | −11.1% |
| New Hampshire | 80 | 10 | — |
| Wisconsin | 70 | 10 | — |
| Connecticut | 60 | 0 | −14.3% |
| New Mexico | 60 | 0 | — |
| Oklahoma | 50 | 0 | — |
| South Dakota | 50 | 0 | — |
| Alabama | 40 | 0 | −20.0% |
| Idaho | 40 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Maine | 30 | 0 | — |
| North Dakota | 20 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
University of Georgia
- Degrees each year
- 252
- Admit rate
- 37%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Degrees each year
- 109
- Admit rate
- 61%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Florida State University
- Degrees each year
- 97
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Degrees each year
- 94
- Admit rate
- 43%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
Saint Joseph's University
- Degrees each year
- 47
- Admit rate
- 86%
- Annual cost after aid
- $24,000
Appalachian State University
- Degrees each year
- 44
- Admit rate
- 89%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
St. John's University-New York
- Degrees each year
- 42
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $29,000
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 41
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Annual cost after aid
- $22,000
Compare every college offering vehicle maintenance and repair technologies/technicians