Auctioneers value items, including antiques, paintings, cars, property and livestock, and then sell them in a public space. The people in the audience offer ever-increasing prices and the auctioneer sells the item to the person offering the highest price.

The Work

You are likely to specialise in one particular area, broadly categorised as; moveable items, such as antiques, cars and machinery; livestock; property and land.

You could be:

• examining each item and judging its value
• agreeing a price which will profit both the seller and the auction house
• producing and distributing brochures describing items, particularly for a big specialist sale
• booking a venue and arranging advertising for the sale
• organising insurance and transport for goods
• presenting and describing each item in turn to the audience
• watching the audience, calling out their bids and taking bids on the phone and internet
• ending the sale when the highest offer is accepted
• working out commission earned on sold items and completing paperwork.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work
• the size of company or organisation you work for
• the demand for the job.

Salaries might start at around £20,000 a year for new entrants, rising to £24,000 or more. Senior managers can earn up to £50,000, sometimes more. Self-employed auctioneers depend on commission for their income.

Conditions

• You will work in an office and in salerooms, but may travel about visiting clients and sites.
• If you are selling farm goods you may work outdoors in all weathers.
• You will sometimes work in the evening and at weekends.

Getting In

You can get in by various ways and entry is very competitive.

• Knowledge of, experience in and contacts within the specialist field are more important than paper qualifications.
• You usually need a degree (SCQF Level 9-10) relevant to your area of expertise to work in a major auction house, such as fine art or property management.
• You could start as an assistant in an auction house, getting experience and on the job training — you do not usually need qualifications.
• After your degree you may get onto a graduate training scheme such as those run by Christie's or Sotheby's.
• Livestock auctioneers generally come from an agricultural background.

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland

2022

5919

3.2 %

RISE

2027

6111

  United Kingdom

2022

69086

1.8 %

RISE

2027

70364

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

What Does it Take?

You need to have:

• a strong clear voice
• a good knowledge of the items to be auctioned
• confidence and the ability to make decisions
• sound judgement
• a good memory to identify items and remember how much similar items have sold for
• an eye for detail
• good communication skills
• business awareness
• good concentration and observation skills.

You need to be able to:

• work under pressure
• be alert and think quickly
• do calculations quickly.

Training

• If working in the area of property sales, you can study for the professional exams of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
• The RICS website gives details of recognised part time and distance learning courses.
• Sotheby's Institute of Art in London offers a range of courses from masters' degrees (SCQF Level 11) to one-day specialist seminars. Some short courses are available online.

Getting On

• To be successful you have to develop contacts in the auctioneering business. You might then be able to move from a smaller firm into a large, prestigious auction house.
• As a fine arts auctioneer in a larger auction house, you could become a specialist in a particular area — perhaps furniture, books, works of art or ceramics.
• You could move into management or become self-employed.

Video

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.