Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage salary in California
Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage in California earn a median of $78,930 a year ($37.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 550 workers.
Pay ranges from $53,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,930 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $78,240. California ranks 18th of 38 states for insurance appraisers, auto damage pay. There are 0.03 insurance appraisers, auto damage per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.41). The average (mean) salary is $82,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for insurance appraisers, auto damage in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,530 | $25.74 |
| 25th percentile | $74,450 | $35.80 |
| Median | $78,930 | $37.95 |
| 75th percentile | $101,120 | $48.61 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,930 | $52.85 |
| Average (mean) | $82,530 | $39.68 |
Half of insurance appraisers, auto damage earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,577.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,288.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,035.77 |
| Weekly | $1,517.88 |
| Hourly | $37.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $89,760 | 30 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $82,750 | 100 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $78,970 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $78,930 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for insurance appraisers, auto damage
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | $97,950 |
| Pennsylvania | $95,720 |
| New Jersey | $94,280 |
| Connecticut | $89,740 |
| South Carolina | $86,680 |
| Arizona | $86,030 |
| Oregon | $83,270 |
| Maryland | $82,870 |
| Utah | $82,570 |
| Oklahoma | $82,340 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $87,570 | $42.10 |
| Management Analyst | $101,460 | $48.78 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $94,700 | $45.53 |
| Project Management Specialist | $120,910 | $58.13 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $83,500 | $40.14 |
| Compliance Officer | $96,980 | $46.63 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $82,720 | $39.77 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $75,790 | $36.44 |
| Logistician | $92,890 | $44.66 |
| Cost Estimator | $85,460 | $41.09 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $91,790 | $44.13 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $71,120 | $34.19 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $91,410 | $43.95 |
| Fundraiser | $79,710 | $38.32 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1032. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a insurance appraisers, auto damage make in California?
The median salary for insurance appraisers, auto damage in California is $78,930 a year, or $37.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $53,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,930 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid insurance appraisers, auto damage make in California?
The top 10% of insurance appraisers, auto damage in California earn at least $109,930 a year. The top 25% earn $101,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for insurance appraisers, auto damage in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $53,530 a year, and a quarter of insurance appraisers, auto damage earn $74,450 or less.
How many insurance appraisers, auto damage work in California?
About 550 insurance appraisers, auto damage are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.