Property Appraisers and Assessors salary in California
Property Appraisers and Assessors in California earn a median of $88,900 a year ($42.74 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $141,610 for the top 10%. That is 31% higher than the national median of $67,960. California ranks 4th of 50 states for property appraisers and assessors pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.35 property appraisers and assessors per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $96,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for property appraisers and assessors in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,750 | $27.28 |
| 25th percentile | $70,310 | $33.81 |
| Median | $88,900 | $42.74 |
| 75th percentile | $121,530 | $58.43 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $141,610 | $68.08 |
| Average (mean) | $96,360 | $46.33 |
Half of property appraisers and assessors 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 | $7,408.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,704.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,419.23 |
| Weekly | $1,709.62 |
| Hourly | $42.74 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Property Appraisers and Assessors salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $105,580 | 650 |
| Vallejo, CA | $103,510 | 30 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $102,840 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $99,850 | 440 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $96,220 | 370 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $95,730 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $91,600 | 2,240 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $91,230 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $86,260 | 550 |
| Redding, CA | $85,240 | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | $82,310 | 140 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $81,760 | n/a |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $78,690 | 140 |
| Visalia, CA | $77,020 | 70 |
| Modesto, CA | $76,500 | 60 |
| Chico, CA | $62,760 | 50 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $60,960 | 100 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $59,180 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for property appraisers and assessors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $107,980 |
| New Jersey | $92,390 |
| Massachusetts | $91,750 |
| California | $88,900 |
| Connecticut | $86,050 |
| Washington | $83,710 |
| Minnesota | $83,400 |
| Maine | $80,930 |
| Alaska | $80,330 |
| Iowa | $80,160 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $97,050 | $46.66 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $109,110 | $52.46 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $130,330 | $62.66 |
| Loan Officer | $81,770 | $39.31 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $80,810 | $38.85 |
| Tax Preparer | $70,030 | $33.67 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $74,110 | $35.63 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $95,320 | $45.83 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $129,110 | $62.07 |
| Credit Analyst | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| Financial Examiner | $106,000 | $50.96 |
| Budget Analyst | $99,520 | $47.84 |
| Credit Counselor | $67,120 | $32.27 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $87,570 | $42.10 |
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 13-2020. 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 property appraisers and assessors make in California?
The median salary for property appraisers and assessors in California is $88,900 a year, or $42.74 an hour. Pay ranges from $56,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $141,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid property appraisers and assessors make in California?
The top 10% of property appraisers and assessors in California earn at least $141,610 a year. The top 25% earn $121,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for property appraisers and assessors in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,750 a year, and a quarter of property appraisers and assessors earn $70,310 or less.
How many property appraisers and assessors work in California?
About 6,380 property appraisers and assessors are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.