Real Estate Appraiser Jobs in Tucson, AZ

Real estate appraisers in Tucson work two very different tracks: valuing homes and commercial buildings for lenders and investors, and valuing every parcel in Pima County for the property tax roll. The county's entry appraiser class starts at $23.94 an hour. Current openings are below, followed by who hires and how licensing works.

Real Estate Appraiser Work in Tucson

A large share of Tucson's appraisal work is public. The Pima County Assessor's Office values property from Marana to Green Valley, and its Property Appraiser classes are split into field inspections, deeds, splits and mapping, personal property, and valuation relief and audit. Those jobs run on Arizona Department of Revenue certification rather than a state appraiser license, so the county is a way for someone with real estate, construction or banking experience to start appraising without first finding a trainee supervisor.

The private side splits between residential fee appraisal for mortgage lenders and commercial valuation. CBRE runs a Valuation and Advisory office on East River Road in the Catalina Foothills, and Newmark's Valuation and Advisory group covers Phoenix and Tucson, with multifamily a big part of the work. Commercial assignments, from apartment complexes to retail centers, go to appraisers who hold Arizona's certified general credential.

Top Tucson Employers for Real Estate Appraisers

These Tucson employers hire appraisers on the county and commercial sides:

• Pima County Assessor's Office - Property Appraiser I through III positions in field services, deeds and mapping, personal property, and valuation relief and audit.
• CBRE - Valuation and Advisory office on East River Road, staffed by state-certified general appraisers covering Tucson and southern Arizona.
• Newmark - Valuation and Advisory team working the Phoenix and Tucson markets, with a strong multifamily practice.

Real Estate Appraiser Salaries in Tucson

• Entry level (registered trainee or county Property Appraiser I): roughly $22 to $29 an hour.
• Experienced (licensed or certified residential, county Appraiser II and III): roughly $55,000 to $75,000 per year.
• Senior (certified general, commercial, MAI): roughly $85,000 to $120,000 per year.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted about 100 property appraisers and assessors in the Tucson metro in May 2023, with a mean of $25.19 an hour, a figure that leans on county staff. Pima County posts its Property Appraiser I hiring range at $23.94 to $28.73 an hour, with a full range to $33.52. The certified general credential and commercial work are the biggest levers on the private side. These are estimates that vary by employer and experience.

How to Become a Real Estate Appraiser in Tucson

Arizona licenses appraisers through the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. The first step is the Trainee Real Property Appraiser registration: 75 hours of qualifying education (30 hours of Basic Appraisal Principles, 30 of Basic Appraisal Procedures and the 15-hour National USPAP course), a 4-hour trainee and supervisory appraiser course, a DPS fingerprint clearance card and a $300 application. A trainee earns experience only while working under a state-certified supervisory appraiser, who can supervise no more than three trainees at once. Licensed residential, certified residential and certified general credentials each add more education, logged experience and a national exam.

Locally, Hogan School of Real Estate on East Grant Road has taught appraisal licensing courses for more than four decades. The county track works differently: Pima County asks for two years of related experience in construction, surveying, real estate, banking or appraisal, and new Property Appraiser I hires complete Arizona Department of Revenue Level I Basic Certification within their first year.

What the Job Involves

An appraisal starts with an inspection: measuring the house or building, noting condition, upgrades and anything that hurts value. Back at the desk, the appraiser pulls comparable sales, adjusts for differences, and writes a report that has to survive a lender's or reviewer's questions. County appraisers do the same work at scale, updating records, verifying sales, sketching properties in CAD and defending values when owners appeal.

Skills Employers Look For

• Knowledge of USPAP and the three approaches to value
• Comfort reading deeds, plats and recorded documents
• Appraisal and sketching software, plus CAD for county work
• Careful measurement and field note-taking
• Clear report writing that holds up under review
• A reliable vehicle and a clean driving record for field days

Career Path and Advancement

On the private side, the ladder runs registered trainee, licensed residential, certified residential, then certified general for commercial work, with the Appraisal Institute's MAI designation at the top; the commercial appraisers at CBRE and Newmark in Tucson hold both. At Pima County, appraisers climb from Property Appraiser I to II and III, gaining experience in deeds, field inspections and valuation appeals along the way.

Related Careers in Tucson

These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for appraisers:

• Real Estate Agent
• Loan Officer
• Building Inspector
• Property Manager

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a license to be a real estate appraiser in Tucson?

To appraise for lenders, yes: Arizona requires a trainee registration, license or certification from the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. Pima County's Property Appraiser jobs are the exception, since they run on Arizona Department of Revenue certification that new hires complete within a year.

How do you start as a trainee appraiser in Arizona?

Complete 75 hours of qualifying education, the 4-hour trainee and supervisory appraiser course, and get a DPS fingerprint clearance card, then register with the state. Line up a state-certified supervisory appraiser to train under first, because each one can take only three trainees.

What does a Pima County appraiser earn?

Pima County lists its Property Appraiser I hiring range at $23.94 to $28.73 an hour, with the full range reaching $33.52.

Who hires real estate appraisers in Tucson?

The Pima County Assessor's Office employs appraisers across several divisions, from field inspections to valuation relief and audit. On the commercial side, CBRE and Newmark both run valuation teams that work the Tucson market.

What does MAI mean after a Tucson appraiser's name?

MAI is a designation from the Appraisal Institute for commercial and income-property appraisers. It sits on top of Arizona's certified general credential, and it is common among senior appraisers at commercial valuation firms in Tucson.

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