Assessors, Valuators, and Appraisers

(NOC 1314)

in All Business, Finance, and Administration

Assessors, valuators and appraisers determine the value of land, businesses, estates, and other real property for the sale, purchase, taxation or disposal of assets. Appraisers also determine the value of personal and household items. Assessors, valuators and appraisers work for government agencies, real estate firms and other private companies, or they may be self-employed. Assessors may specialize in advising and consulting in a specific field of assessment like residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, or farm lands. Appraisers may specialize in a specific type of appraisal like real estate appraisal.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Moderate growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 50 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Low rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

  • Estimate 3555 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 9370 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

A large portion in this occupation work in real estate services, so changes in bank policies on mortgage lending can affect demand for appraisal services. Government also employs this group, as it provides property valuation services for tax purposes, as well as the auto insurance industry. Specific skills and training as well as professional accreditation are usually required. An academic background in finance or commerce is a strong asset to enter an accreditation program.

Hourly Pay

$20.88

Minimum

$36.06

Median

$48.23

Maximum

Annual Pay

$21,273

Minimum

$59,200

Median

$90,494

Maximum

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$23.00

Median

$38.50

Maximum

Annual Pay

$6,754

Minimum

$36,515

Median

$70,271

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Assessors, valuators and appraisers determine the value of land, businesses, estates, and other real property for the sale, purchase, taxation or disposal of assets. Appraisers also determine the value of personal and household items. Assessors, valuators and appraisers work for government agencies, real estate firms and other private companies, or they may be self-employed. Assessors may specialize in advising and consulting in a specific field of assessment like residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, or farm lands. Appraisers may specialize in a specific type of appraisal like real estate appraisal.

Job duties

Assessors:

  • Assess value of land, building, structures, machinery, equipment and property improvements for taxation, grants and regional planning, and prior to sale or purchase.
  • Review and analyze data like past sales, title searches, engineering and alignment maps, soil maps, subdivision plans, water and sewer plans, leasing cost data and easements.
  • Explain assessment process to ratepayers.

Valuators:

  • Collect and analyze financial records of a business like financial statements, budgets, projections, and sales data to assess its competitiveness or to estimate its market value.
  • Prepare reports for estate planning, matrimonial litigation, insurance and business losses.
  • Appear as an expert witness before courts, security regulators and other regulatory boards and commissions.

Appraisers:

  • Appraise value of property, building, industrial and commercial machinery and equipment and personal and household items.
  • Prepare appraisal reports for lending agencies, insurance companies, government departments, courts, attorneys, creditors, buyers or auctioneers.

Sample job titles

  • appraiser (except customs)
  • assessor (except tax)
  • automobile appraiser
  • business valuation officer
  • chartered appraiser
  • insurance appraiser
  • municipal assessor
  • property appraiser
  • real estate analyst
  • real estate appraiser

Skills

  • You need to be organized and analytical, and must be able to meet deadlines. You must have knowledge of the value of similar businesses or property in the area. Good communication skills are important. A good understanding of business and finance is necessary.

Job requirements

  • Assessors need a college diploma in municipal assessment and accreditation with the municipal assessment association of the province.
  • Valuators usually need a bachelor's degree or college diploma in accounting, business or commerce and accreditation with the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators based on successful completion of its business and security valuation program.
  • Appraisers need a college diploma or vocational training in the field of appraisal or several years of experience in a position related to the field of appraisal.
  • Real estate appraisers usually need several years of experience as a real estate agent, right-of-way agent or property administrator and may need Canadian residential appraiser certification.
  • Appraisers of residential, commercial or industrial property need accreditation with the Appraisal Institute of Canada.

Other considerations

  • Movement to management positions in each field is possible with experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

275

employed in 2016

92.7%

employed full-time

23.6%

self employed

29.1%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
70.9%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
51.5

median age

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

63,775

employed in 2016

78.4%

employed full-time

6.6%

self employed

73.4%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
26.6%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
47.9

median age

Where will I likely work?

54.5%

Halifax

$63,582 median annual income
16.4%

North Shore

$38,393 median annual income
12.7%

Annapolis Valley

N/A
9.1%

Southern

N/A
7.3%

Cape Breton

N/A

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

54.0%

Real estate and rental and leasing

26.0%

Public administration

10.0%

Professional, scientific and technical services

6.0%

Finance and insurance

4.0%

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

What is the age of Employment?

30.0%

55-64

24.0%

45-54

19.0%

25-34

15.0%

35-44

9.0%

65+

4.0%

15-24

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

26.3%

45-54

22.6%

55-64

19.4%

35-44

16.7%

25-34

7.5%

65+

Top levels of education

40.0%

Bachelor

$56,187 median annual income
23.6%

College Diploma

$58,799 median annual income
12.7%

High school

N/A
10.9%

Diploma Below Bachelor

N/A
5.5%

Trade Certification

N/A

Compared to: All Business, Finance, and Administration

33.8%

College Diploma

$36,304 median annual income
23.8%

High school

$32,903 median annual income
22.8%

Bachelor

$41,755 median annual income
5.8%

Trade Certification

$34,807 median annual income
4.9%

Less than high school

$23,174 median annual income

Education & training

Accounting

University Program

These programs prepare students to practice the profession of accounting and to perform related business functions. They include courses in accounting principles and theory, financial accounting, managerial accounting, cost accounting, budget control, tax accounting, legal aspects of accounting, auditing, reporting procedures, statement analysis, planning and consulting, business information systems, accounting research methods, professional standards and ethics, and applications to specific for-profit, public, and non-profit organizations.

Institutions providing this program

CPA Atlantic School of Business Association

Halifax, NS

Acadia University

Wolfville, NS

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

St. Francis Xavier University

Antigonish, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Cape Breton University

Sydney, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Accounting Technology and Bookkeeping

College or Trades Program

These programs prepare students to provide technical administrative support to professional accountants and other financial management personnel. They include courses in posting transactions to accounts, record-keeping systems, accounting software operation, and general accounting principles and practices.

Institutions providing this program

Maritime Business College

Lower Sackville, NS

Eastern College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Academy of Learning Career College - Halifax

Halifax, NS

Centre for Distance Education

Sydney, NS

Mount Saint Vincent University

Halifax, NS

Business/Commerce

College, Trades, or University Program

These programs focus on the general study of business, including the processes of interchanging goods and services (buying, selling and producing), business organization, and accounting as used in profit-making and non-profit public and private institutions and agencies. They prepare students to apply business principles and techniques in various occupational settings.

Institutions providing this program

Dalhousie University

Halifax, NS

University of King's College

Halifax, NS

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Saint Mary's University

Halifax, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

Regulations

Real Estate Appraiser

Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated. The job title is protected, and you may not use it without a professional licence. A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to legally do this work.

Regulating body:
Nova Scotia Real Estate Appraisers Association
Halifax, NS

Contacts

Property Valuation Services Corporation
Dartmouth, NS
Chartered Business Valuators Institute
Toronto, ON

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.