What are typical residential real estate appraiser salaries?

Do some companies pay a lot more for this position than others? What does a top earner make in this field?

What skills should you learn to increase your salary?

Recent stringent requirements imposed by lenders and appraisal management companies have made starting salaries for real estate appraisal assistants - trainees, very low. Normally a trainee will be paid a percentage on each job completed. On average in the northeast, this is between 15% to 25% of an appraisal fee. Average appraisal fees for residential work range between $50.00 for a quick property inspection report, to $175.00 for a exterior drive-by report, to $200.00 to $300.00 for a full single family appraisal, to $375.00 to $500.00 for a multi-family appraisal. Commercial appraisal work fees are normally quoted per job. A appraisal trainee can expect to be in his/her position for between 2 to 5 years to gain enough experience points to qualify to sit for the full licensure exam.

Once an appraiser is fully licensed / certified in residential appraisal, an individual can expect to move upwards of 45% to 60% fee split on completed appraisal work. This fee percentage is usually contigent on experience, professional certifications, and quality and speed of work completed.

Within 5 years of becoming a fully licensed appraiser, an individual should expect to make an annual income of $40k to $60k. After 10 + years as a fully licensed appraiser, an individual should expect to make an annual income of $50k to $70k.

Top earners in the appraisal field are generally self employed in their own appraisal practice / businees with signigicant professional credentials and more than 10 years of experience. These individuals can attain incomes in excess of $100k annually. However, it should be noted that these individuals normally work a 7-day work week, 12+ hours per day on average, and are producing an average of 80 appraisals personally per month.

The skills that a person should learn to increase their pay are: FHA certification, VA certification, ERC certification. NADA certification, training in expert testimony, construction, home inspection, software program

What are the career prospects for someone interested in doing commercial real estate appraisal ?

It seems like the residential appraisal business is slowly disappearing, with the Internet and appraisals being waived.

How much do you think the average commercial appraiser (employee) might earn in a year, compared with someone who owns a commercial real estate appraisal company ?

I used to live in the Tri-County area, about 15 years ago. (Draper-Mohonasen). Is N.Y. one of the tougher states to get licensed in ? ---THANKS