Prevailing Wage for Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate
Prevailing wages for Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate are set by the DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data, giving every sponsored Appraiser or Assessor a federally defined minimum salary floor. DOL assigns four experience levels, and the floor shifts considerably by city, so the same Certified Real Estate Appraiser role can carry very different minimums depending on the worksite.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level candidates with limited professional appraisal experience, typically recent graduates or those new to the occupation. Work is closely supervised, assignments are routine, and independent judgment is minimal. Most employers filing for new-graduate hires or trainees use this level.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for appraisers and assessors. It covers qualified professionals with a few years of field experience who work with moderate supervision, handle standard assignments independently, and hold or are pursuing a state appraisal license.
Level 3 applies to experienced professionals who regularly handle complex valuations, supervise junior appraisers, or manage a portfolio of assessment work with significant independence. Candidates at this level typically hold a certified appraiser credential and have substantial field experience.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior appraisers and assessors who function as technical authorities, lead appraisal teams, or oversee large assessment programs. They set standards, mentor others, and handle high-value or specialized property types without supervision.
Prevailing Wage for Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate
Verify your appraiser credential tier matches your level
State appraiser credentials, trainee, licensed, certified residential, and certified general, often align with DOL wage levels. Employers filing at Level 2 for a certified appraiser may underpay; confirm the credential tier reflects the correct floor before signing.
Watch California metro variation for appraisal roles
San Jose, San Francisco, and Vallejo carry significantly higher prevailing wage floors than Midwest metros like Rockford or Huntington. If your offer is in a high-cost California market, confirm the LCA lists your actual worksite city, not a lower-wage headquarter address.
Exclude per-diem and mileage from your prevailing wage count
Appraisers commonly receive per-diem reimbursements and mileage allowances for field inspections. DOL does not count these as wages for prevailing wage compliance; only guaranteed base salary satisfies the floor, so verify the offered base alone clears the threshold.
Find employers who have sponsored assessors before
Appraisal and assessment roles see relatively few visa sponsorships compared to tech. Migrate Mate shows which employers have a documented history of sponsoring appraisers and assessors, letting you prioritize outreach to firms that have already navigated the process.
Jobs for Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 13-2023.00 alongside Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Appraiser positions fall under SOC 13-2023.00 (Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Assessor Prevailing Wage
Assessor Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Assessor for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-2023.00 (Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Certified Real Estate Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Certified Real Estate Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Certified Real Estate Appraiser is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-2023.00 (Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Certified Residential Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Certified Residential Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Certified Residential Appraiser positions fall under SOC 13-2023.00 (Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Commercial Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Commercial Appraiser Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Commercial Appraiser for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-2023.00 (Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
County Assessor Prevailing Wage
County Assessor Prevailing Wage
County Assessor is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-2023.00 (Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Field Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Field Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Field Appraiser positions fall under SOC 13-2023.00 (Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Real Estate Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Real Estate Appraiser Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Real Estate Appraiser for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 13-2023.00 (Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Real Property Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Real Property Appraiser Prevailing Wage
Real Property Appraiser is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 13-2023.00 (Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Tax Assessor Prevailing Wage
Tax Assessor Prevailing Wage
Tax Assessor positions fall under SOC 13-2023.00 (Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for appraisers and assessors?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 13-2023, BLS surveys employers across hundreds of metro areas and reports wage distributions. OFLC converts those distributions into four level cutpoints. Employers sponsoring an appraiser or assessor must certify on the LCA that the offered wage meets or exceeds the applicable level for the worksite area.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL's four levels reflect experience and responsibility. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision. Level 2 is a qualified professional working independently on standard assignments, and it is the most common filing level for licensed appraisers. Level 3 covers experienced professionals handling complex work. Level 4 is fully competent, senior-scope work. Your level should match your credential tier, years of field experience, and the complexity of assignments in the offered role.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same appraisal role vary so much by city?
DOL computes a separate wage for each metropolitan statistical area using local OES survey responses. Labor markets for appraisers differ sharply: California metros like San Jose show much higher floors than Appalachian markets like Huntington, West Virginia, because local employer competition, cost of living, and appraisal volume differ. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, and OFLC applies the wage for that specific metro, not the employer's home office location.
What happens if an employer offers a salary below the prevailing wage for a sponsored role?
An LCA will not be certified by DOL if the offered wage is below the prevailing wage for the worksite and level. Without a certified LCA, the visa petition cannot proceed. If the underpayment is discovered after approval, USCIS or DOL can investigate, and the employer may face back-pay obligations and debarment from future sponsorships. Candidates should compare their offer to the OFLC Wage Search before accepting.
How can I look up the prevailing wage for an appraisal or assessment role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you enter SOC code 13-2023 and select a metro area to retrieve the four-level wage floors. Cross-check results against the O*NET profile for this occupation to confirm the job description aligns with the SOC. For identifying which employers have historically sponsored appraisers and assessors, Migrate Mate filters sponsorship history by role and location so you can target companies with a proven track record.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate right now.
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