Assessors measure value on all types of property, from houses to industrial facilities, from shopping centers to oil and gas pipelines and farmland. Assessors place a value on property for taxation purposes and their work, therefore, has an effect on people who own property. Assessors must consistently work to ensure that property taxes are equitably allocated among all property owners based on the value of their property.

Assessors can work in various employment positions:  management, administration, legislation, data collection and/or data management. Assessors typically handle both administrative and data collection functions; as a result work can be in both an office setting and in the field. While many assessors are generalists working on all types of property in a municipality, many specialized positions also exist that allow assessors to focus on areas that interest the individual the most.

How Much Education Do I Need?

After completion of Grade 12, you will need post-secondary education plus field experience before you can be a fully qualified assessor eligible for accreditation. 

The Accredited Municipal Assessor of Alberta (AMAA) designation is awarded to people who have earned the designation through a combination of work experience and education.  (See Education Requirements)  It typically takes between four and six years after you have been working in the assessment field to become accredited.

Students interested in a career in assessment in Alberta may fulfill their core education requirements: 

• From Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alberta's two-year Business Administration diploma with a major in   Appraisal and Assessment.  

• Via distance learning through the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business diploma in Urban Land Economics with a specialization in assessment.  

Where Will I Work?

Assessors generally have job opportunities in the following areas:

• Municipalities including Cities, Towns, Counties, Municipal Districts, Villages and Summer Villages
• Private Assessment Firms
• Industry - consulting or managing property
• Provincial Government, Alberta Municipal Affairs
• Federal Government

What are the Job Prospects?

There are many promising job prospects in the field of assessment. In a 2004 survey, the Alberta Assessors' Association found that nearly 45 percent of its members expect to be retiring in ten years or less. The survey also indicated that 30-35 staff will be required through 2010 with an additional 6-8 jobs per year required to 2015.

How Much Money Will I Make?

Recent estimates show that the starting salary for an accredited assessor (one with an AMAA designation) is just over $60,000. After working for some time, the average assessor's salary can range anywhere between $65,000 and $75,000 per annum.

Assessors who are not accredited or who are just coming out of school can often receive a starting salary of between $54,000 and $60,000.

These salary numbers do not include the benefits that most employers provide to their employees. Benefits often include vacation, health, pension and sometimes much more.