How to hire insurance appraisers, auto damage
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Arrange to have damage appraised by another appraiser to resolve disagreement with shop on repair cost. • Determine salvage value on total-loss vehicle. • Estimate parts and labor to repair damage, using standard automotive labor and parts cost manuals and knowledge of automotive repair. • Evaluate practicality of repair as opposed to payment of market value of vehicle before accident. • Examine damaged vehicle to determine extent of structural, body, mechanical, electrical, or interior damage. • Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost estimates and recommendations. • Review repair cost estimates with automobile repair shop to secure agreement on cost of repairs. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Postsecondary nondegree award] • Strong speaking, writing, active listening, reading comprehension and critical thinking skills • Working knowledge of customer and personal service and English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $37.61 an hour ($78,240 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for insurance appraisers, auto damage
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to arrange to have damage appraised by another appraiser to resolve disagreement with shop on repair cost. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to determine salvage value on total-loss vehicle. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to estimate parts and labor to repair damage, using standard automotive labor and parts cost manuals and knowledge of automotive repair. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to evaluate practicality of repair as opposed to payment of market value of vehicle before accident. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Describe something important you wrote at work, such as a report, notes or an email. Who read it and what happened next?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What insurance appraisers, auto damage do
- Arrange to have damage appraised by another appraiser to resolve disagreement with shop on repair cost.
- Determine salvage value on total-loss vehicle.
- Estimate parts and labor to repair damage, using standard automotive labor and parts cost manuals and knowledge of automotive repair.
- Evaluate practicality of repair as opposed to payment of market value of vehicle before accident.
- Examine damaged vehicle to determine extent of structural, body, mechanical, electrical, or interior damage.
- Prepare insurance forms to indicate repair cost estimates and recommendations.
- Review repair cost estimates with automobile repair shop to secure agreement on cost of repairs.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for insurance appraisers, auto damage
- Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: -8.7% over ten years, declining · about 700 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay insurance appraisers, auto damage
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $79,930 |
| Texas | $79,200 |
| California | $78,930 |
| North Carolina | $74,810 |
| Illinois | $71,510 |
See insurance appraisers, auto damage pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
- Compliance Officers
- Cost Estimators
- Human Resources Specialists
- Farm Labor Contractors
- Labor Relations Specialists
- Logisticians
- Project Management Specialists
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.