| Location | San Mateo, CA |
| Salary | $86,798.40–$96,969.60 Per Year |
Appraiser I/II (Open and Promotional)
Salary
$86,798.40 - $119,912.00 Annually
Location
County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type
Regular
Job Number
U074V
Department
Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder
Division
Appraisal Services
Opening Date
10/06/2026
Closing Date
10/27/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit
36
Description
The Office of the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer for the County of San Mateo is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Appraiser I/II.
Appraisers determine the value of real estate and personal property for tax assessment purposes. They make site visits to properties and use industry-related databases to obtain, process, and analyze data for the timely completion of the valuations of real and personal property. Appraisers also determine the accessibility of properties upon Change in Ownership, new construction, Exemption, etc., per Property Tax rules and regulations. Appraisers may be required to prepare appraisal cases for assessment appeals and should be willing to attend, and if necessary, present at appeals hearings and testify as expert witnesses.
The Assessors Office is currently involved in the appraisal and assessment of several large-scale commercial, manufacturing, research and development, and mixed-use developments being built throughout San Mateo County. This is an exciting time to join a hard-working, high-functioning team of appraiser and assessor professionals committed to public service.
The County offers a comprehensive training program for those interested in making a career in appraisal and assessment services. A career ladder exists with promotional opportunities from the Appraiser I level to the Appraiser II, Senior Appraiser, and Principal Appraiser levels. Executive management positions include Chief Appraiser and Deputy Assessor-Clerk-Recorder.
Appraiser I is the entry level in the Appraiser series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents are trained in making appraisals of single family residential, modest residential-income, and simple rural properties. As experience is gained, there is greater independence of action and decision making within general guidelines. This class is flexibly staffed with Appraiser II and incumbents are expected to advance to the higher level after gaining experience, demonstrating proficiency, and successfully completing Board of Equalization (BOE)-prescribed courses and obtaining a permanent BOE certification. The salary range for the Appraiser I classification is $86,798.40- $96,969.60 per year.
At the Appraiser II level, a qualified applicant will be fully competent to independently complete appraisals of residential, neighborhood commercial, light industrial properties and interests. While commercial appraisal experience is not required, it is a plus. Appraiser IIs are required to have a good understanding of Property Tax Rules and Regulations as they pertain to assessments due to Change in Ownership, new construction, Exemptions, and Exclusions. The salary range for the Appraiser II classification is $95,929.60- $119,912.00 per year.
Generally, two years of experience completing property appraisals of taxable real property for tax assessment purposes is expected for the advancement from Appraiser I to Appraiser II. However, promotions may occur before two years with the recommendation and approval of managers and the department head.
The ideal candidate for this opportunity will:
In addition, the ideal candidate will be:
The Department
The mission of the Office of the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder and Chief Elections Officer is to ensure equitable treatment of County property owners by accurate and fair valuation of land, improvements, and businesses; to create an accurate public record of recorded transactions relating to people and property within San Mateo County; and to register County citizens to vote and efficiently conduct honest elections.
The Department is responsible for:
The Department is also responsible for a budget of about $23 million, election billing to all jurisdictions, and 16 governmental trust funds.
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
Qualifications
Certification
Under the Revenue and Taxation Code any person performing the duties of an Appraiser for property tax purposes as an employee of the state, any county, or any city and county, must hold a valid appraisers certificate issued by the California State Board of Equalization.
As part of employment with the County, new employees will apply for a temporary appraiser certificate. Possession of a temporary appraiser certificate allows an employee to perform the duties of an appraiser until permanently certified. A temporarily certified appraiser must obtain permanent certification within one-year of employment to continue performing appraisal duties.
As part of the training program for new appraisers, the County will assist new employees with the preparation for permanent certification. However, taking and passing the certification exam is the ultimate responsibility of the employee.
To be eligible for a temporary appraiser certificate, an applicant must be able to meet the employment experience and/or education requirements outlined by the Board of Equalization as described below:
Education and Experience
Per the BOE Government Code, specifically Property Tax Rule 282 governing Temporary Certifications and Rule 283 (a)(3) outlining minimum requirements, "relevant experience" means employment within the last ten years in any of the following occupations:
Additional information about the education and experience requirements can be found at: https://www.boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/pdf/rules/Rule283.pdf (Download PDF reader)
Additional information about the California State Board of Equalization can be found at: https://www.boe.ca.gov/
Additional qualifications include the following:
Knowledge of
Skill/Ability to
Application/Examination
Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/ limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.
Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.
The examination process will consist of an Application Screening (weight: pass/fail) and a Panel Interview (weight: 100%), which may include the evaluation of a brief writing exercise given immediately preceding the interview. Applicants must successfully pass the Application Screening to advance to the Interview. Candidates successfully passing the Panel Interview will be placed on the Eligible (or Hiring) List.
Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or a screening committee may select those applicants whose education and/or experience appear to best meet the needs of the position.
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the Countys website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the Countys website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Panel Interview: Tuesday, November 17 through Thursday, November 19, 2026
About the County
San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.
Analyst: Sarah Huynh (10062026) (Appraiser I/II - U076/U074)
We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)
In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.
As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01
IMPORTANT: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the following supplemental questions. Your responses will give us additional information about your background and experience related to this position and will be used in the selection process. Be concise and specific. Neatness, clarity of expression, grammar, spelling and ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses to these questions.
02
If you have experience as an Appraiser, please indicate in which area you have obtained most of your experience. Appraisal experience is not required for the Appraiser I position.
03
As described briefly in the Qualifications section of the Job Announcement, upon being hired by the Assessors Office, a temporary certification must be issued by the State Board of Equalization. Property Tax Rule 282 governs Temporary Certifications and Rule 283 outlines minimum requirements. If you qualify under Rule 283 (a)(3), please provide details on your relevant or equivalent experience. (If you do not have relevant or equivalent experience, please respond with "n/a". Again, experience is not required for the Appraiser I position.)
04
Strong analytical skills are essential to being successful as an Appraiser. Please describe a challenging assignment or experience in which you had to research a topic, analyze the information, and then write a report explaining the findings. Be sure to indicate the purpose of the assignment and the audience to which the report was directed. If you are an experienced Appraiser, please describe your most challenging appraisal assignment to date.
05
Please describe a time when you had to finish a large amount of work with limited time. How did you ensure you met deadlines in a timely manner while maintaining a high level of accuracy and quality of work?
06
Please convey a time when you had to deal with a difficult customer or colleague at work or school. Describe the situation, how you handled it, and the outcome.
07
How did you learn about this position?
08
How did you learn about this position?
09
If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.
10
If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.
Required Question
Employer County of San Mateo
Address County of San Mateo Human Resources Department
500 County Center, 4th Floor
Redwood City, California, 94063-1663
Phone (650) 363-4343
Website https://jobs.smcgov.org