Appraiser - I

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Placer County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees. The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change. Applicants should inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Human Resources Department.

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To properly value taxable properties within Placer County, using various appraisal methods; to establish values for new construction and property transfers; to obtain and analyze data for the appraisal of real property for ad valorem tax purposes; and to make field investigations, studies, and appraisals.

This is the entry level class in the Appraiser series. This class is distinguished from the Appraiser II level by the performance of the more routine and less complex tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series. Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience. Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level. Employees work under general supervision while expanding their experience and learning more complex job tasks.

Receives general supervision from assigned management, professional or supervisory staff.

May exercise technical and functional supervision over assigned clerical and technical staff.

• Analyze for ad valorem purposes residential, commercial, and agricultural properties splits and transfers and determine appropriate value.
• Conduct field investigations and analyze data to arrive at the assessed value of real property.
• Inspect, measure, and classify structures to determine value; inspect land and improvement changes to determine effect on value.
• Analyze and estimate replacement cost, obsolescence, construction cost, resale value and analyze other pertinent factors needed to establish appraised values.
• Establish taxable values for newly constructed real property and properties which have had a change in ownership.
• Establish taxable value for construction in progress, identifying percentage of construction complete.
• Prepare verbal and written reports and make recommendations based on field investigations.
• Communicate with property owners through public counter assistance, correspondence, meetings, and telephone discussions regarding the valuation process, regulations and laws governing assessed values.
• Monitor market changes to measure market-driven value changes in geographic areas of responsibility.
• Perform appraisals of commercial, residential, and industrial property in response to appeals; prepare and present testimony before the Assessment Appeals Board.
• Pro-rate taxable values, as needed, when parcels are split or are combined.
• Conduct appraisals of Timber Preserve Zone and mineral properties, California Land Conservation Act properties, rural properties, and trees and vines.
• Correct errors to the tax roll for assessment roll corrections.
• Prepare various statistical and administrative reports.
• Attend training; read reports, journals, and periodicals to obtain current information on changes in tax laws, procedures, and economic trends.
• Maintain current knowledge of Revenue and Taxation code, methodologies for valuing property and changes to laws and regulations.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Either:

Experience: No experience required.

Training: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

Or:

Experience: Four (4) years experience within the last ten (10) years as an Accountant, Auditor, Real Property Appraiser, Building Cost Estimator, Engineer, Real Estate Loan Agent, Real Estate Loan Underwriter, Right-of-Way Agent, licensed Building Contractor, Real Estate Licensee that is licensed by the California Department of Real Estate and engaged in buying, selling, leasing or managing real estate, Appraiser Aide or Appraiser Trainee in an Assessor's Office of the Board of Equalization's Property Tax Department or performing duties similar to an Appraisal Technician II with Placer County.

Training: Training must be consistent with the requirements of Property Tax Rule 283 of the Revenue and Taxation Code or the Successor section.

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid driver's license.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

• Possession of a valid Appraiser's Certificate issued by the State Board of Equalization must be obtained within six months from date of hire.  Failure to obtain this certificate will be cause for termination of employment in this class. 

Experience as a Substitute

You may substitute relevant, equivalent experience for the required education. The Human Resources Department will evaluate your background to ensure it qualifies as the same knowledge, skills, and abilities as the specified degree or coursework.

International Degrees

If you earned your degree outside the United States, you must provide proof of accreditation from a recognized evaluation agency. Please attach this documentation to your application to ensure your education is verified.

Knowledge of:

• Basic principles of land economics; general knowledge of the principles of property appraisal.
• Analytical techniques.
• Mathematics used for financial and statistical analyses.
• Common word processing and spreadsheet software and the operation of a personal computer.
• Basic methodology of the sales comparison, income and cost approaches to appraisal.

Ability to:

• Intermittently analyze work papers, reports, and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and solve problems in appraisal activities; understand, recall and explain related laws, codes, programs, and procedures; work under time pressure and complete a high volume of tasks; focus on a single task for long periods of time.
• On a continuous basis, sit at a desk for long periods of time and stand for long periods of time in the field. Intermittently, walk, twist, stand, kneel, stoop, climb and bend in the field or to reach office equipment; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation; intermittently write or use a keyboard to communicate; see with sufficient visual acuity to observe and assess property conditions and related information, and lift light weight.
• Learn and apply the principles and techniques of property appraisal.
• Learn, understand and interpret property tax laws and regulations.
• Conduct field examinations of construction sites at varying stages of completion to capture critical appraisal data.
• Assemble and analyze data and make arithmetic calculations.
• Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and County regulations.
• Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with the public and fellow employees.
• Operate a personal computer in an on-line processing environment; utilize software application programs commonly used in the Assessor's Office.
• Communicate effectively in writing and speaking. 

Online Written Examination 100% - Tentatively Scheduled for the Week of November 16, 2026.

Once the filing deadline passes, qualified candidates will receive an email with instructions to begin the online exam.

• Content: Questions may include multiple-choice, true/false, fill-in, or essay types based on the required knowledge for this role.
• Time Limit: You will have 3 calendar daysfrom the date of the email notification to complete the exam.
• Single Attempt: Only one attempt is allowed.

Monitor your inbox and spam folder closely after the filing deadline to ensure you don't miss your testing window.

Pre-Hire Requirements

Candidates must complete the following requirements before their start date if an offer is extended:

• DOJ Criminal Background Clearance: Successfully complete a fingerprint-based background check through the California Department of Justice.
• Medical Evaluation: Pass a pre-employment physical, which may include drug screening and/or a psychological evaluation.
• Oath of Office: Subscribe to the constitutional oath or affirmation as required for all public employees by the California Constitution.
• Employment Eligibility Verification: Provide original documents that establish both identity and the legal right to work in the United States, as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Position-Specific Requirements

In addition to the above, some positions may require one or more of the following:

• Age Verification: Provide documentation verifying that you meet the minimum legal age requirements for this position.
• Background Check: Some positions require a background investigation. This may include a credit check, voice stress analysis, polygraph, and/or proof of bonding.
• Law Enforcement: Applicants for law enforcement functions must complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process.
• Medi-Cal Access/Licensing: Applicants with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification.

Failure to clear all requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

Substitute Lists

• Interviews: If contacted to interview for a similar role, the hiring department will provide the specific job details before the interview.
• No Risk: Choosing not to interview for a different classification will not affect your standing on the original list for which you applied.

Placer County is an equal opportunity employer committed to a workplace free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. All applicants and employees receive fair and equal consideration in every stage of employment. Employment decisions are based on job‑related qualifications and are not influenced by any protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. Refer to our Equal Employment Opportunity Program and Policy Statement (PDF) for detailed information.

Applicants who need an accommodation during the recruitment or examination process should contact Human Resources at least five working days before the scheduled exam.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Hannah Moore, Administrative Technician, at hmoore@placer.ca.gov or (530) 886-4667.