Salary : $65,661.70 Annually
Location : City County Building 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Madison, WI
Job Type: PERMANENT FULL TIME
Job Number: 2026-00157
Department: City Assessor's Office
Opening Date: 05/20/2026
Closing Date: 6/1/2026 11:59 PM Central
Comp. Group/Range: 16/12
General DescriptionThe City of Madison Assessor's Office is seeking a detail-oriented and motivated individual to join our Assessment team as a Hybrid Civil Technician-Property Lister. This is responsible entry level technical and administrative work in the support of City assessment services and land data coordination. The Hybrid Civil Technician-Property Lister maintains parcel information and land records, focusing on the ownership records of real estate and is a "Land Information (Record) Custodian" of the information used to create the assessment rolls that underlie the entire taxation process.
The Hybrid Civil Technician-Property Lister assists with technical work in providing field and office support services to property appraisal and assessment staff. This includes confirming data such as measurements in the field to ensure coded characteristics of property are accurate, maintaining property records, and providing assistance to Property Appraisers as needed.
Work is structured to provide career advancement to Civil Technician 2 as the employee gains the skills necessary to function independently. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Assessment Business Systems Manager and Assessment Operations Manager.
What We're Looking For:- A detail-driven record keeper who can accurately maintain parcel, ownership, and land-information data that support the City's assessment and taxation processes.
- A technically curious learner comfortable working with digital land-record systems, property data, and basic mapping or measurement tools.
- A reliable field and office support partner who can verify property characteristics, assist appraisers, and ensure data accuracy through both onsite and administrative work.
- A strong communicator and collaborator who can work effectively with assessment staff, property owners, and internal partners.
- A motivated professional interested in developing technical skills and progressing to Civil Technician 2 through structured on-the-job learning.
HOURS: Flexible schedule supported between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. within a 38.75-hour work week.
Employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness through the .
Black, Indigenous, people of color, women, trans, nonbinary, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We value the unique blend of lived experiences and diverse perspectives that comes from non-traditional education pathways and the variety of transferrable skills each candidate brings to the table. We value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Even if every item on the job posting doesn't match your experience perfectly, we encourage you to apply and share how your skills and experience can best serve our community.Examples of Duties and ResponsibilitiesResearch and Data Verification - Determine owner's name and mailing address from recorded documents located in the grantee/grantor tract index, Dane County tract database program (Laredo, Lynx).
- Conduct title searches. Process documents. Verify data against previously recorded documents and records and records discrepancies. Update parcel numbers through the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Electronic Transfer Return System (eRETR).
- Learn to write and interpret legal descriptions.
- Assist with reviewing sales of commercial and residential classed properties.
Process and Update Data- Process land divisions: splits, combinations, new plats, certified survey maps, annexations, condominiums and street vacations; compute the square footage of parcels and assign parcel numbers.
- Ascertain statutory classification of assessment based on use, use code type, lot type, school district and Tax Incremental Finance (TIF) district for new parcels.
- Process recorded documents including, but not limited to, condominium documents, leases and other recorded legal documents, to maintain the assessment data for new and existing parcels.
- Create Computer Aided Drawings (CAD) of residential new construction, additions, and alterations to existing drawings.
- Under direction, compute and document partial percentages of buildings that are incomplete at the end of the assessment year.
- Use Geographic Information System (GIS) tools and other available tools to confirm data and update records.
- Process building permits for residential properties in agency software.
Interagency Collaboration- Assist as department liaison for inquiries from Dane County Land Regulations and Records, Dane County Treasury, Dane County Register of Deeds, City of Madison Engineering, Planning and Development and Real Estate Departments.
Perform related work as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications- Minimum qualification is demonstrated either through achieving the Assessment Technician certification with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue by passing their certification exam or through passing the City of Madison Lister written examination (designed to simulate the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Assessment Technician certification exam). The City of Madison Lister exam will be administered online to interested applicants at no cost, following the close of the application period.
Information to register for the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Assessment Technician exam is listed below.
All study materials listed and linked are relevant for the City of Madison Lister exam as well.
-OR-
- Any Wisconsin assessor certification gained prior to this posting.
All applicants who meet the above certification requirements will be considered for this position. Online testing details will be sent following the application closing date for those who choose to take the City of Madison Lister examination.Wisconsin Department of Revenue - Assessment Technician Certification Exam This is a 50-question multiple choice exam provided in an electronic format. There is time before the exam to interact with the testing system for ease of use. Duration of the exam is one hour. A passing score is correctly answering 70 percent or more of the questions. The fee for this exam is $50.
Topics on the exam include:
- Basic Math (20 Questions)
- Legal Descriptions (10 Questions)
- Construction Terms (8 Questions)
- Assessment Law Questions (12 Questions)
Registration for the ExamRegister for the exam at :
- On the right side of the web page, click "Create Account"
- Click "View Exams" and then select "Wisconsin Assessor Certification - DOR"
- Select "WI DOR A Tech" and then click "Schedule this Exam"
- You are asked for pre-licensing training information, this is not applicable to assessors. Leave both areas blank and click "Next."
- Select desired testing center; then select the date and time
- Click "Proceed to Checkout" to pay exam fee ($50) and confirm exam registration.
Study for the Exam- Wisconsin Department of Revenue has created study materials for all levels of assessor certifications. Please click to find their study guide. The Assessment Technician exam will be listed by that title.
- Quizlet - a free interactive study website contains specific material for the Assessor Technician exam. Please find that information The following options are relevant for the exam:
- Assessment Technician: Legal Description
- Assessment Technician: Construction
- Assessment Technician: Assessment Law
The City of Madison strives to provide exceptional customer service to all its residents and visitors. Therefore successful candidates will have demonstrated ability to effectively work with multicultural communities.Special Requirements- Possession of a valid driver's license. Employees in this position who provide their own vehicle to work in the field will be reimbursed for mileage.
- Permanent certification as an Assessment Technician with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue is required within six (6) months of hire. Failure to obtain the necessary certification during the probation/trial period may result in forfeiture of the position, absent extenuating circumstances.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to sit/stand for prolonged periods of time and perform work at computer terminal.
- Ability to frequently move around on uneven terrain in order to take measurements and pictures of property.
*Payroll title is Civil Technician 1.
The City of Madison offers excellent pay and benefits for employees. City Ordinances, handbooks, and labor contracts provide specifics; the description here is not to be considered a binding statement but offers an informal summary.
CompensationThe City of Madison strives to pay competitive wages. View the current for pay for all classifications. Employees receive increases based on tenure with the City.
Benefits The City offers a competitive benefits package, including a generous leave package, a variety of insurance options, and non-traditional benefits such as optional pet insurance, a bus pass for all employees, and the possibility of flexible work schedules. A brief summary of benefits is listed below. Please visit our for more information.
LeaveVacation is earned upon starting employment and can be used after completion of probation. The general vacation schedule is below.
0-3 years 10 work days of vacation
After 3 years 12-1/2 days
After 7 years 15 days
After 11 years 17-1/2 days
After 15 years 20 days
After 19 years 25 days
After 27 years 27 days
Employees earn 3.5 personal days in addition to vacation.
Employees receive eight official paid holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day), as well as 3 paid leave days (the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve).
Employees also earn 13 sick days annually that may accrue to a total of 150 days.
RetirementThe City of Madison participates in the Wisconsin Retirement System through the State of Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds.
InsuranceThe City of Madison offers a variety of optional insurance programs including:
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Pet Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Income Continuation Insurance (for short and long-term disability)
- Long Term Care Insurance
Other Benefits The City offers numerous other benefits and programs for employees, including:
• 457(b) deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Bus Pass on Madison Metro
• Flexible Work Schedules
• Employer-paid Training
01
Do you currently possess the Wisconsin Department of Revenue's Assessment Technician certification?
02
Please list any other Wisconsin assessor certification you currently possess.
Required Question