Real estate appraisers have many possible working arrangements, license types and potential employers. As a result, it can be challenging to determine how much an average appraiser makes. Even so, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this field is expected to grow by 7% over the next decade.
Real estate appraisers’ salaries vary greatly by the nature of their duties. Appraisers can have part-time or full-time hours, work independently, with other appraisers or for a firm. Some government lending agencies hire appraisers as do private lending institutions. While all of these can affect an appraiser’s earnings, perhaps the most significant factor is the type of license an appraiser possesses.
Introduction
The average annual pay for a Commercial Real Estate Appraiser in California is $59,537 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $28.62 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,145/week or $4,961/month.
While is seeing salaries as high as $98,830 and as low as $38,738, the majority of Commercial Real Estate Appraiser salaries currently range between $48,670 (25th percentile) to $74,495 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $93,367 annually in California.
The average pay range for a Commercial Real Estate Appraiser varies greatly (as much as $25,825), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.
Based on recent job posting activity on the Commercial Real Estate Appraiser job market in California is not very active as few companies are currently hiring.
California ranks number 16 out of 50 states nationwide for Commercial Real Estate Appraiser salaries.
Real Estate Jobs Salary Distribution in California
The median, the maximum, the minimum, and the range
- Salary RangeReal Estate salaries in California range from 46,500 USD per year (minimum average salary) to 216,000 USD per year (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
- Median SalaryThe median salary is 134,000 USD per year, which means that half (50%) of people working in Real Estate are earning less than 134,000 USD while the other half are earning more than 134,000 USD. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
- PercentilesClosely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of people working in Real Estate are earning less than 81,200 USD while 75% of them are earning more than 81,200 USD. Also from the diagram, 75% of people working in Real Estate are earning less than 186,000 USD while 25% are earning more than 186,000 USD.
Real Estate Bonus and Incentive Rates in United States
Real Estate is considered to be a moderate bonus-based field due to the generally limited involvement in direct revenue generation, with exceptions of course. The people who get the highest bonuses are usually somehow involved in the revenue generation cycle.47% of surveyed staff in Real Estate reported that they haven’t received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while 53% said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from 3% to 6% of their annual salary.Received Bonus53%No Bonus47%Types of Bonuses ConsideredIndividual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
| The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
| Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
| Example: A graphics designer working for a graphics designing company. | Example: A graphic designer in the marketing department of a hospital. |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Commercial Real Estate Appraiser Jobs in California
We’ve identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Commercial Real Estate Appraiser job is above the average in California. Topping the list is San Mateo, with Daly City and Berkeley close behind in second and third. Berkeley beats the California average by 20.6%, and San Mateo furthers that trend with another $13,713 (23.0%) above the $59,537.
With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for California, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Commercial Real Estate Appraiser appears to be exceedingly fruitful.
Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 6% between San Mateo and Rialto, reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Commercial Real Estate Appraiser role.
| City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Mateo | $73,251 | $6,104 | $1,409 | $35.22 |
| Daly City | $71,842 | $5,987 | $1,382 | $34.54 |
| Berkeley | $71,803 | $5,984 | $1,381 | $34.52 |
| Santa Monica | $71,217 | $5,935 | $1,370 | $34.24 |
| Westminster | $69,505 | $5,792 | $1,337 | $33.42 |
| Gilroy | $69,399 | $5,783 | $1,335 | $33.36 |
| Downey | $69,374 | $5,781 | $1,334 | $33.35 |
| Irvine | $69,195 | $5,766 | $1,331 | $33.27 |
| Richmond | $68,763 | $5,730 | $1,322 | $33.06 |
| Rialto | $68,428 | $5,702 | $1,316 | $32.90 |
What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Commercial Real Estate Appraiser Jobs in California
We found at least 5 jobs related to the Commercial Real Estate Appraiser job category that pay more per year than a typical Commercial Real Estate Appraiser salary in California. Top examples of these roles include: Real Estate Professionals, VP Real Estate, and Vice President Commercial Real Estate.
Importantly, all of these jobs are paid between $50,487 (84.8%) and $105,467 (177.1%) more than the average Commercial Real Estate Appraiser salary of $59,537. If you’re qualified, getting hired for one of these related Commercial Real Estate Appraiser jobs may help you make more money than that of the average Commercial Real Estate Appraiser position.
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Professionals | $165,004 | $13,750 | $3,173 | $79.33 |
| VP Real Estate | $120,785 | $10,065 | $2,323 | $58.07 |
| Vice President Commercial Real Estate | $116,246 | $9,687 | $2,236 | $55.89 |
| Commercial Real Estate Agent | $112,091 | $9,341 | $2,156 | $53.89 |
| Real Estate Director | $110,025 | $9,169 | $2,116 | $52.90 |
Conclusion
If you are in the market for a real estate appraiser, make sure that you know what you can afford and stick to your budget. Do not let anyone talk you into doing anything that is out of line with your real estate appraiser salary. Representing yourself as a buyer or seller will get you the best results with an appraiser or appraisers who have the same values as you do, which is why it is important to do adequate research before hiring an appraiser or multiple real estate appraisers.
