the class costs like $2,500 to go for like 2 months and then you start work for someone, is it worth it, is their alot of property/realestate to be appraised?
I’ve been a Licensed Appraiser for roughly 9 years [Certified for the past 5 years]. The first few years are typically "brutal" because you must go through anywhere from two to three years of trainee duty. You start by finding a Supervisor that’s willing to act as a mentor during your initial 2,000 hours of experience requisite [most States]. The income during this trainee period is anywhere from $10K to $40K per year, so pretty horrid by most living standards.
The up-side is that once you get established and build your own practice; you have flexibility in your work schedule, the job is very enjoyable (IMO), and there’s six-figure income potential for those willing to work hard and continuously market themselves.
My recommendation is to approach appraisal as a part-time job and keep a primary source of income during the first two years (+/-) as a trainee. If you have a spouse that provides good income, then you may be able to jump in with both feet, but most people come aboard while carrying another job. I made the mistake of coming into the industry with no other income and it drained our hard-earned savings.
Best of luck! Average salary varies by area, but I believe it to be $65K on a National basis [salary.com is way off!]