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Real Estate Appraiser: Occupations in Alberta - alis
Can you figure out what something’s worth? Are you good at collecting the details needed to make a decision? Can you handle math and estimating space? Then you may want to calculate your career success as a real estate appraiser.
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Occupations in Alberta
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Real Estate Appraiser

Real estate appraisers estimate the value of vacant and improved residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and other real estate properties.

Contents Expand All
Also Known As

Appraiser, Property Appraiser, Real Property Appraiser, Residential Appraiser

NOC Codes

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

  • 1235.3: Appraisers

2006 NOC-S

  • B115: Assessors, Valuators and Appraisers

2011 NOC

  • 1314: Assessors, valuators and appraisers

2016 NOC

  • 1314: Assessors, valuators and appraisers

2021 NOC

  • 12203: Assessors, business valuators and appraisers

2023 OaSIS

  • 12203.03: Appraisers
Duties
Updated Mar 31, 2022

A real estate appraisal may be required when property is bought, sold, financed, insured, damaged, expropriated, divided by court settlement, or assessed for taxation.

Real estate appraisers thoroughly investigate and inspect a property before preparing an appraisal report. Real estate appraisers:

  • Read blueprints, mechanical drawings, and real estate data
  • Research public records, technical documents, and court documents
  • Check legal descriptions of properties, land use bylaws, and building codes
  • Review the type and location of area services such as roads, public transportation, shopping, schools, parks, municipal infrastructure like gas and sewer lines, and other neighbourhood features
  • Recognize the age, quality, and type of construction materials and workmanship
  • Estimate property value through sales comparisons, replacement costs, and income potential
  • Consider the general value of area real estate, property taxes, and special assessments
  • Consider current market trends in the various real estate sectors

Real estate appraisers may specialize in the valuation of residential, commercial, or industrial properties, or raw land. They may work as consultants or as expert witnesses in real-estate-related court cases.

Working Conditions
Updated Mar 31, 2022
  • Strength Required Lift up to 5 kg

Appraisal work is generally done during weekday office hours, but evening and weekend work is often required. Self-employed appraisers set their own hours.

Some property appraisals involve a certain amount of physical activity in the inspection phase, for example, when inspecting foundations. Travel may be required to view rural properties, industrial sites or timberland.

Work Personalities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

How This Occupation Compares to Your Work Personalities

Fit
Fit Guide
An occupation can be a great, good, fair, weak, or poor fit for you.
E
Enterprising
This occupation
You
C
Conventional
R
Realistic
This occupation
You

To find out how well this occupation fits your work personality types, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities

Appraisers
2023 OaSIS: 12203.03

Click or tap a personality type for its description.

  • 1
    Enterprising

    Enterprising jobs are about leading, selling, or starting new projects. People in these jobs like to take charge, make decisions, and reach goals. They often work in business or politics. These jobs may involve some risk and require strong people skills. Examples include managers, salespeople, and entrepreneurs.

  • 2
    Conventional

    Conventional jobs involve following rules and working with information. People in these jobs like to keep things organized and follow clear steps. They often work with numbers, files, or data. These jobs usually happen in offices and involve working with data and details more than ideas. Examples include clerks, accountants, and data entry workers.

  • 3
    Realistic

    Realistic jobs focus on working with your hands, tools, machines, or animals. People in these jobs often fix, build, or take care of things. They like clear tasks and working in a physical way. These jobs usually don’t need much paperwork or teamwork. Examples include mechanics, farmers, and builders.

Find other alis occupations that match this occupation’s work personalities.

Your Work Personalities

To identify or change your work personalities, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Quick Guide

Alis work personalities are based on Holland’s theory. It identifies 6 personality types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. People with similar personalities and interests will tend to pursue similar careers. They are likely to create work environments that are favourable to their type.

Most people will identify with 2 or 3 dominant personalities. If the occupation’s personalities match your more dominant types, this occupation is more likely to be satisfying and rewarding to you.

This Occupation’s Work Personalities lists the personalities most likely to be found in that occupation. They are listed in order of importance, with 1 as the most important.

Your Work Personalities shows where the occupation’s personalities rank within your test results. Rank 1 is your most dominant type and 6 is your least dominant.

Learn about work personalities

Abilities

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Appraisers
2023 OaSIS: 12203.03

How This Occupation Compares to Your Abilities

The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.

The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.

The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities

To find out how well this occupation fits your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Abilities Sets

The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.

Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.

To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.

This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Inductive Reasoning
Verbal Ability
Information Ordering
Categorization Flexibility
Deductive Reasoning
Fluency of Ideas
Problem Identification
Written Comprehension
Written Expression

Numbers and Patterns

Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.

This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Memorizing
Perceptual Speed
Pattern Organization Speed
Numerical Ability
Mathematical Reasoning
Multitasking
Pattern Identification
Spatial Orientation
Spatial Visualization
Selective Attention

Physical Activity

Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Stamina
Static Strength
Trunk Strength
Explosive Strength
Body Flexibility
Dynamic Strength
Gross Body Coordination
Gross Body Equilibrium
Multi-Limb Coordination

Mind-Body Coordination

Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Finger-Hand-Wrist Motion
Rate Control
Arm-Hand Steadiness
Control of Settings
Finger Dexterity
Manual Dexterity
Multi-Signal Response
Reaction Time
Speed of Limb Movement

Senses

Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking. 

This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:

lower
a match
higher
Typical ability expectations for this NOC group
Your abilities
Individual Abilities

Compare this occupation's score with yours for each ability in the set.

Hearing Sensitivity
Speech Clarity
Peripheral Vision
Auditory Attention
Depth Perception
Far Vision
Glare Tolerance
Near Vision
Night Vision
Speech Recognition
Sound Localization
Colour Perception

Quick Guide

The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).

The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.

Occupations use different combinations and levels of these abilities. The Abilities Quiz helps you learn more about your ability levels and which occupations match your strengths.

If you have completed the Abilities Quiz, you can compare the occupation’s ability expectations to your own ability scores. Your scores may be lower than, a match to, or higher than the occupation’s expected abilities.

Learn about abilities

Traits & Skills
Updated Mar 31, 2022

Real estate appraisers need:

  • Patience and flexibility in working with a variety of people
  • Honesty and integrity
  • Confidence in their judgment and decisions
  • Spatial and mathematical perception to judge property size and layout
  • Oral and written communication skills
  • The ability to methodically gather and analyze data to arrive at a valuation
  • The ability to research and organize relevant property documentation
  • The ability to work irregular hours under pressure and within tight timelines

They should enjoy analyzing information and taking a methodical approach to their work, making decisions, and dealing with people.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Top 10 Skills Employers Are Looking For

Assessors, valuators and appraisers

2016 NOC: 1314

This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 13 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between May 13, 2022 and Nov 04, 2025.

Review these skills to learn:

  • Whether or not this occupation matches your skill set
  • What training you may need to get these skills
  • What skills to highlight in your resumé, cover letter, and interview.
Attention to detail
Client focus
Reliability
Team player
Flexibility
Work under pressure
Tasks: Appraise value of property and buildings
Tasks: Prepare appraisal reports for lending agencies and insurance companies
Tasks: Prepare appraisal reports for buyers or auctioneers
Tasks: Prepare appraisal reports for government departments
Attention to detail 12
Construction Specialization: Client focus 11
Construction Specialization: Reliability 11
Construction Specialization: Team player 10
Construction Specialization: Flexibility 10
Work under pressure 9
Tasks: Appraise value of property and buildings 9
Tasks: Prepare appraisal reports for lending agencies and insurance companies 8
Tasks: Prepare appraisal reports for buyers or auctioneers 8
Tasks: Prepare appraisal reports for government departments 8
Educational Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2022
  • Minimum Education 4 years post-secondary

Post-secondary schools throughout Alberta offer related programs in business administration and assessment. Prior to enrolling in an education program, prospective real estate appraisers should contact associations and employers in this field to explore education and employment options.

Related Education

The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.

Lakeland College

To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:

Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.

Certification Requirements
Updated Mar 31, 2022
  • Certification Not regulated

In Alberta, real estate appraisers do not need a license. They do need to have certified membership in good standing of one of the following institutes or associations:

Appraisal Institute of Canada - Alberta. The AIC-AB offers 2 professional designations for real estate appraisers:

  • The Canadian Residential Appraisers (CRA) designation, which qualifies an appraiser to appraise individual undeveloped residential dwelling sites and dwellings containing no more than 4 self-contained family housing units.
  • The Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute (AACI) designation, which allows appraisers to appraise a wide range of real property.

Canadian National Association of Real Estate Appraisers. CNAREA offers 4 categories of membership, including:

  • The Designated Appraiser Residential (DAR) designation, which qualifies appraisers to perform appraisal and consultation assignments on residential properties of no more than 4 housing units.
  • The Designated Appraiser Commercial (DAC) designation, which qualifies appraisers to perform appraisal and consultation assignments on all types of real property (residential, commercial, industrial, and investment).

The Alberta Assessors’ Association (AAA) offers an Accredited Municipal Assessor of Alberta (AMAA) designation.

Employment & Advancement
Updated Mar 31, 2022

Real estate appraisers work for:

  • Private appraisal companies
  • Mortgage investment firms
  • Banks and other lending institutions
  • Real estate and insurance companies
  • Government agencies
  • Municipal assessment offices
  • Development companies

Real estate appraisers often begin as trainees with private appraisal firms, lending institutions, or government agencies. Many real estate appraisers work in private practice, either alone or with other appraisers.

Experienced appraisers may advance to supervisory and management positions, or they may start their own businesses. Alternately, they may move into mortgage lending, corporate real estate, property assessment, or real estate investment analysis.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Assessors, valuators and appraisers
2016 NOC: 1314

86.7% of people in this occupational group work in:

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Look for Work

Think Industries and Sectors When Planning Your Career

Jobs and occupations are changing every day. It can be hard to know what the future of work looks like—but not impossible. Look at industries and sectors for possible inspiration, insights, and opportunities.
3-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Assessors, business valuators and appraisers
2021 NOC: 12203
Balanced
Job Market
2,500
Employed in AB

Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.

5-Year Job Market Forecast

This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

  • Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
  • Location in Alberta
  • Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
  • Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
  • Size of the occupation
  • Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list
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iStock.com/filadendron
OCCinfo

Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors. Learn how these factors can affect your career decisions.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

Assessors, valuators and appraisers
2016 NOC: 1314
1.9%
Annual Growth
(Below average)
14
New Positions

Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.

NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Related Alberta Job Postings
Wage & Salary
Updated Mar 31, 2022

Appraisers’ earnings vary depending on their experience and qualifications. Self-employed appraisers charge a fee for each appraisal based on time spent, distance travelled, and type of report required.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.

Assessors, business valuators and appraisers

2021 NOC: 12203
Average Wage
$48.50
Per Hour
Average Salary
$94,402.00
Per Year
Average Hours
37.6
Per Week
Average Months on Payroll
12
Survey Methodology Survey Analysis

Source
 2023 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey

NOC 12203 Wage Profile

Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.

All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.

To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.

Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources to supplement this data.

A: High Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition

High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
  • Low
  • High
  • Average
  • Median
Starting
Overall
Top

Hourly Wage

For full-time and part-time employees
Wages* Low (5th percentile) High (95th percentile) Average Median
Starting $20.19 $53.91 $37.99 $37.94
Overall $28.85 $61.10 $48.50 $51.28
Top $36.06 $109.62 $61.65 $55.29

Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.

* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.

Pay brackets for hourly wages

  • Starting pay: average pay offered for entry-level positions
  • Overall pay: average pay across all employees in this occupation
  • Top pay: average pay offered to top-paid employees

Industry Information

ALL INDUSTRIES
Public Administration
ALL INDUSTRIES $94,402
Public Administration $95,776

Skills Shortage

Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
32%
32%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
50%
50%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
2%
2%
Vacancy Rate
2%
Related High School Subjects
  • Business, Administration, Finance and IT
    • Financial Management
    • Information Processing
    • Management and Marketing
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
  • Business, Management and Administrative Studies
Other Sources of Information
Updated Mar 31, 2022

Alberta Assessors’ Association website: www.assessor.ab.ca

Appraisal Institute of Canada Alberta (AIC-AB) website: www.aicanada.ca/province-alberta/alberta

Canadian National Association of Real Estate Appraisers (CNAREA) website: cnarea.ca

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.

Updated Mar 31, 2022. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.

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