Auto damage appraisers spend much of their work time in driveways, garages, and repair shops. The appraiser estimates the final cost of the repairs - parts, plus labor - to settle an insurance claim. An experienced appraiser can assess the job fairly quickly. He or she relies on labor and parts-costs manuals to come up with a number, then puts haggling skills to work to negotiate the bottom line with the repair shop.

The appraiser often has to decide whether a damaged vehicle is worth fixing at all, and if not, what its salvage value is. The job involves some paperwork. Insurance forms need to be filled out accurately. People skills are a plus, especially when another appraiser has to be called in to resolve a dispute with the repair shop over the cost. The demand for auto damage appraisers is expected to remain steady, because accidents will happen.

Most appraisers start with a bachelor's degree, but some insurance companies also look for vocational training or work-related experience and of course, a valid driver's license.