Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers Salary
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers earn a median $58,650 a year nationally. Legal Occupations
What title examiners, abstractors, and searchers do
Search real estate records, examine titles, or summarize pertinent legal or insurance documents or details for a variety of purposes. May compile lists of mortgages, contracts, and other instruments pertaining to titles by searching public and private records for law firms, real estate agencies, or title insurance companies.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.1% (about average)
- Openings per year
- 5,300
- Self-employed
- 12%
Employment of title examiners, abstractors, and searchers is projected to grow 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 5,300 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,858
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,636
- Medicare (1.45%)$850
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$49,305
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,170 | $18.35 | $32,850 |
| 25th percentile | $47,420 | $22.80 | $40,282 |
| Median (50th) | $58,650 | $28.20 | $49,305 |
| 75th percentile | $74,810 | $35.97 | $61,459 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $90,830 | $43.67 | $72,729 |
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $77,600 | +20.9% | $60,716 | $50,080 – $106,640 | 1,400 |
| West Virginia | $77,230 | +16.9% | $60,374 | $50,620 – $98,530 | 350 |
| Oregon | $76,930 | +0.9% | $57,049 | $60,940 – $110,660 | 640 |
| Alaska | $75,960 | +29.7% | $62,268 | $46,710 – $100,320 | 100 |
| Nevada | $71,050 | +18.0% | $58,814 | $47,160 – $94,320 | 620 |
| Massachusetts | $69,100 | −8.0% | $54,207 | $52,990 – $95,690 | — |
| California | $67,230 | −13.6% | $53,086 | $51,500 – $115,040 | — |
| Washington | $66,440 | +9.4% | $55,565 | $48,830 – $97,280 | 930 |
| Delaware | $65,270 | +24.7% | $51,658 | $49,060 – $82,090 | 140 |
| Rhode Island | $63,300 | +5.4% | $51,285 | $48,650 – $84,410 | 120 |
| Connecticut | $62,940 | +18.1% | $50,845 | $46,790 – $97,390 | 90 |
| Utah | $62,210 | +4.9% | $50,332 | $40,830 – $86,430 | 1,160 |
| New Hampshire | $62,090 | +0.0% | $52,069 | $48,580 – $82,390 | — |
| New Jersey | $61,930 | +4.9% | $50,067 | $48,640 – $90,930 | 550 |
| Idaho | $61,730 | +30.4% | $49,617 | $45,460 – $91,720 | 640 |
| New York | $61,380 | −6.3% | $48,781 | $50,640 – $93,890 | 2,130 |
| Alabama | $61,330 | +24.0% | $48,657 | $45,360 – $87,440 | — |
| Texas | $60,120 | +6.5% | $50,486 | $38,320 – $96,480 | 6,770 |
| North Dakota | $59,980 | +24.5% | $50,374 | $48,760 – $99,820 | 140 |
| South Dakota | $59,300 | +19.9% | $49,828 | $45,760 – $97,610 | 180 |
| Florida | $58,450 | +12.9% | $49,145 | $40,190 – $79,210 | 4,800 |
| Minnesota | $58,250 | +13.6% | $46,546 | $49,240 – $77,530 | 560 |
| New Mexico | $57,940 | +12.4% | $47,177 | $40,730 – $82,780 | 480 |
| Ohio | $56,680 | +1.0% | $46,946 | $40,680 – $78,830 | 1,860 |
| Maryland | $55,460 | +10.1% | $44,471 | $37,730 – $74,380 | 420 |
| Kansas | $54,640 | +12.4% | $43,834 | $33,790 – $91,270 | 710 |
| Virginia | $54,230 | +7.8% | $43,450 | $39,090 – $80,830 | 1,340 |
| Kentucky | $52,860 | +11.7% | $42,921 | $38,180 – $82,300 | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,220 | +10.9% | $42,536 | $33,980 – $95,610 | 2,220 |
| North Carolina | $50,500 | −12.8% | $41,251 | $33,280 – $78,210 | 400 |
| Oklahoma | $50,270 | +7.4% | $40,855 | $35,760 – $94,330 | 1,500 |
| Tennessee | $50,240 | +4.6% | $42,548 | $35,880 – $78,300 | 1,160 |
| Illinois | $49,990 | −6.7% | $40,017 | $38,150 – $74,640 | 1,290 |
| Arizona | $49,580 | −17.0% | $40,987 | $39,780 – $83,900 | 1,210 |
| Michigan | $49,540 | +3.6% | $40,131 | $34,240 – $72,500 | — |
| Maine | $48,900 | — | $39,352 | $32,620 – $62,400 | 70 |
| Nebraska | $48,880 | +5.5% | $40,111 | $43,910 – $68,460 | 360 |
| Wyoming | $48,710 | +2.7% | $41,318 | $36,580 – $77,920 | 200 |
| Georgia | $48,320 | +26.2% | $39,120 | $24,590 – $84,040 | 660 |
| Missouri | $48,190 | +5.2% | $39,573 | $36,520 – $76,510 | 1,470 |
| Wisconsin | $48,070 | −13.4% | $39,470 | $39,050 – $72,220 | 700 |
| Arkansas | $47,510 | +16.2% | $38,714 | $34,060 – $71,470 | 650 |
| Mississippi | $47,060 | +14.9% | $38,842 | $33,800 – $58,200 | 150 |
| South Carolina | $46,740 | — | $38,088 | $36,300 – $77,400 | — |
| Iowa | $46,330 | +11.5% | $38,297 | $28,440 – $60,620 | 400 |
| Indiana | $46,150 | −1.3% | $37,930 | $35,570 – $71,260 | — |
| Louisiana | $38,470 | +4.6% | $32,323 | $32,990 – $70,940 | 390 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $72,110 | Associate's degree | -0.3% |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $62,890 | Associate's degree | -0.3% |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $64,920 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.8% |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $75,530 | Bachelor's degree | +4.7% |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $117,860 | Doctoral or professional degree | 0.0% |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $153,990 | Doctoral or professional degree | +2.8% |
| Lawyer | $159,670 | Doctoral or professional degree | +4.7% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a title examiners, abstractors, and searchers make?
The national median salary for title examiners, abstractors, and searchers is $58,650 a year ($28.20 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,170 and the top 10% earn over $90,830. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays title examiners, abstractors, and searchers the most?
Colorado has the highest median pay at $77,600.
How many title examiners, abstractors, and searchers are there in the U.S.?
About 48,580 people work as title examiners, abstractors, and searchers nationwide.