Real Estate Appraiser I

Salary : $70,149.87 - $122,762.22 Annually
Location : FX. CTY. GOVERNMENT CENTER, 12000 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY., FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 26-01703
Department: Tax Administration
Opening Date: 11/07/2026
Closing Date: 11/20/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S24
Posting Type: Open to General Public

Job Announcement

This position is responsible for residential real estate property appraisal, i.e., the determination of value for assessment of Fairfax County properties. Makes appraisals of residential classes of real estate (single family detached houses, condominiums, attached and townhouse dwellings). Appraises noncomplex vacant residential sites and subdivisions, as well as special purpose properties such as churches and schools. Performs office research on and inspects real property to gather data required for appraisals. Defends assessments in the administrative appeal process and at the Board of Equalization level. Meets with taxpayers, property tax representatives, attorneys and County officials to explain the assessment process. Prepares special reports and analyses of economic data. This position works under direction and supervision.

Note: This announcement may be used to fill multiple positions.

Position may be underfilled as a Real Estate Appraiser Trainee; the underfill requirements are stated below in the Employment Standards section.
Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)
Inspects properties and meets with citizens, builders, brokers, and other government agencies to collect data for the appraisal of residential properties;
Collects and maintains data for appraisal analysis of residential properties using multi-listing information to check sales information and update building characteristics;
Analyzes data and applies traditional mass appraisal approaches in determining residential property values while using individual judgment;
Provides information to the public on real property legal requirements, appraisal procedures, and current market activity;
Prepares charts and graphic presentations for the Board of Equalization using GIS (geographic information system) to illustrate uniformity and sales comparable properties;
Presents oral, visual (charts and graphics), and written presentations, and defends assessments in the administrative appeal process and before the Board of Equalization;
Researches the County Comprehensive Plan to evaluate the effect of adopted land use plans on property valuations;
Measures, classifies, and values new construction, including custom houses;
Maintains information for assigned subdivisions, including model types and sales data;
Analyzes grantor/grantee transactions, including financial details, property characteristics, zoning/development issues, and buyer/seller motivations to develop an inventory of bona fide sales for market analysis.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)
Knowledge of Fairfax County ad valorem principles, policies, and procedures;

Knowledge of the political, economic, social, and legal factors affecting the valuation of residential property in Fairfax County;

Skill in applying the principles and practices of appraising residential properties;

Skill in the use of personal computer applications, including electronic mail, the Internet, word processing, spreadsheet, multiple listing, digital photography, building diagramming, GIS (geographic information system), sales and uniformity query, and other relevant software;

Ability to compute residential real estate values using the cost and market sales appraisal methods;

Ability to employ accepted mass appraisal techniques when calculating and interpreting

statistical data to insure uniformity and equitability of residential real property assessments;

Ability to organize and summarize facts related to appeal/Board of Equalization cases;

Ability to understand architectural, subdivision, and rezoning plans;

Ability to communicate accurately and effectively, both orally and in writing;

Ability to develop and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with County officials, staff, the professional real estate community, and citizens.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree; plus two years field experience in the appraisal of real property.

UNDERFILL REQUIREMENTS:
This vacancy may be underfilled at the level of Real Estate Appraiser Trainee (S21, $60,894.29 - $106,565.06). The employment standards for the Real Estate Appraiser Trainee are:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree.
Upon completion of the underfill agreement incumbents are either promoted to the class of Real Estate Appraiser I or are separated.

Click to view the complete details and KSAs for the Real Estate Appraiser Trainee. Upon completion of an underfill agreement (which will require that the employee meet the employment standards stated above in addition to obtaining competencies and licensures defined by the hiring agency) the employee will be elevated to the level of Real Estate Appraiser I.

Underfill candidates must be able to meet the minimum qualifications of the Real Estate Appraiser I within two years of the job announcement's closing date of 11/20/26.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Possession of a valid motor vehicle driver's license.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and a driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies.)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in mass appraisal for assessment purposes.
• Licensed Residential Appraiser.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Excel and Word.
• Real estate appraisal experience, including fee appraisal and assessment experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Must be able to physically measure non-residential and residential property in the field. Visual acuity is required to read data on a computer monitor. Ability to operate keyboard driven equipment and computer. Position frequently communicates and must be able to exchange accurate information with others verbally and in writing. Ability to drive a motor vehicle. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home () We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.

#LI-NW1
Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click for a summary of our benefits.

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:

For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

How many years of full-time equivalent professional level field experience in the appraisal of real property do you possess?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six or more years

04

Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

05

How many years of full-time equivalent professional real estate appraisal experience do you have, to include fee appraisal and assessment experience?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

06

How many years of full-time equivalent professional experience do you have in mass appraisal for assessment purposes?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

07

Please indicate which of the following credentials you currently possess. Check all that apply.

• Appraisal Trainee
• Licensed Residential Appraiser
• Certified Residential Appraiser
• Certified General Appraiser
• Real Estate Appraiser License
• None of the above

08

Please indicate which of the following you have experience with. Check all that apply.

• Real estate data collection
• Residential condominium valuation
• Residential townhome valuation
• Residential single family home valuation
• Commercial property valuation
• None of the above

09

Please indicate your level of proficiency with Microsoft Word.

• Beginner (Basic knowledge of creating, editing, formatting, and saving simple documents; inserting simple tables; and proofreading documents for accuracy)
• Intermediate (Knowledge of common commands such as creating a title; using, modifying, and creating styles; setting up the ruler; indenting paragraphs, using tabs and tables; inserting captions, footnotes, endnotes, special characters, or hard page breaks; using page numbering; creating headers and footers; inserting graphics; inserting an equation, adding comments and tracking changes.)
• Advanced (Extensive knowledge of almost all function of program including mail merge, macros, creating a table of contents, creating bookmarks and cross-referencing.)
• No experience

10

Please indicate your level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel.

• Beginner (Basic knowledge of creating a worksheet; performing calculations in a worksheet; modifying and formatting a worksheet; printing workbook contents)
• Intermediate (Knowledge of inserting and modifying graphic objects in a worksheet; customizing and enhancing workbooks; analyzing data using Pivot Tables, Slicers, and Pivot Charts)
• Advanced (Extensive knowledge of increasing productivity and improving efficiency by streamlining workflow; collaborating with others using workbooks; auditing worksheets; analyzing data; working with multiple workbooks; importing and exporting data, using Excel with the web)
• No experience

Required Question