Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers earn a median of $58,650 per year ($28.20/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 2.1% through 2035, with about 5,300 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
- SOC 23-2093
- Legal
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Title Examiner, Abstractor, and Searcher in four numbers
- Median pay
- $58,650a year, or $28.20/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $38KTop 10% $91K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +2.1%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+2.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +2.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 5,30059,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202559.8K
- Projected 203561.1K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 59.8K Projected 2035 61.1K - Typical education
- High schoolneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school3.5%
- High school54.5%
- Certificate10.2%
- Some college13.4%
- Bachelor's13.6%
- Professional degree4%
Highest education held by title examiners, abstractors, and searchers Segment Value Less than high school 3.5% High school 54.5% Certificate 10.2% Some college 13.4% Bachelor's 13.6% Professional degree 4%
Also advertised as: Abstractor, Advisory Title Officer, Commercial Examiner, Commercial Title Examiner, Examiner, Title Abstractor.
Pay
How much do Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers make?
Every title examiner, abstractor, and searcher in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$58,650
Middle half earn $47,420 to $74,810
- 10th
- $38,170
- 25th
- $47,420
- 75th
- $74,810
- 90th
- $90,830
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $38,170 |
| 25th | $47,420 |
| Median | $58,650 |
| 75th | $74,810 |
| 90th | $90,830 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $58,650
- Median hourly wage
- $28.20/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $62,350
- People employed
- 48,580
Versus all US occupations
At $58,650, Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers earn 15% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $7,670 a year.
Versus legal occupations
Inside the Legal group, where the middle occupation pays $159,670, this is 63% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $90,830 or more while the bottom 10% earn $38,170, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 31% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Colorado posts the highest raw median ($77,600), but once local prices are taken into account West Virginia leads at $86,293 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Colorado | $77,600 | $75,302 | 1,400 |
| 2West Virginia | $77,230 | $86,293 | 350 |
| 3Oregon | $76,930 | $74,428 | 640 |
| 4Alaska | $75,960 | $74,209 | 100 |
| 5Nevada | $71,050 | $71,065 | 620 |
| 6Massachusetts | $69,100 | $65,338 | N/A |
| 7California | $67,230 | $60,721 | N/A |
| 8Washington | $66,440 | $62,086 | 930 |
| 9Delaware | $65,270 | $65,396 | 140 |
| 10Rhode Island | $63,300 | $61,889 | 120 |
Job outlook
Is Title Examiner, Abstractor, and Searcher a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +2.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | +2.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers to change 2.1% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 5,300 openings are projected each year, 8.9% of the 59,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Title Examiner, Abstractor, and Searcher
- 1
Typical entry-level education
High school diploma or equivalent
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as title examiners, abstractors, and searchers.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)54.5%
- Bachelor's Degree13.6%
- Some College Courses13.4%
- Post-Secondary Certificate10.2%
- First Professional Degree4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 54.5% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 13.6% |
| Some College Courses | 13.4% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 10.2% |
| First Professional Degree | 4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Title Examiner, Abstractor, and Searcher 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.
Day-to-day tasks
- Examine documentation such as mortgages, liens, judgments, easements, plat books, maps, contracts, and agreements to verify factors such as properties' legal descriptions, ownership, or restrictions.
- Copy or summarize recorded documents, such as mortgages, trust deeds, and contracts, that affect property titles.
- Read search requests to ascertain types of title evidence required and to obtain descriptions of properties and names of involved parties.
- Obtain maps or drawings delineating properties from company title plants, county surveyors, or assessors' offices.
- Enter into record-keeping systems appropriate data needed to create new title records or to update existing ones.
- Prepare lists of all legal instruments applying to a specific piece of land and the buildings on it.
- Examine individual titles to determine if restrictions, such as delinquent taxes, will affect titles and limit property use.
- Confer with realtors, lending institution personnel, buyers, sellers, contractors, surveyors, and courthouse personnel to exchange title-related information or to resolve problems.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening3.8
- Speaking3.6
- Critical Thinking3.6
- Writing3.3
- Monitoring3.0
- Active Learning2.9
- Learning Strategies2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.6 |
| Writing | 3.3 |
| Monitoring | 3.0 |
| Active Learning | 2.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Time Management3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.0
- Service Orientation2.9
- Social Perceptiveness2.8
- Persuasion2.5
- Instructing2.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Time Management | 3.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 2.9 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.8 |
| Persuasion | 2.5 |
| Instructing | 2.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Geographic information system
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Title Examiner, Abstractor, and Searcher?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Title Examiner, Abstractor, and Searcher |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 7 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional6.7
- Enterprising3.4
- Investigative2.6
- Realistic2.4
- Social2.3
- Artistic1.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
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More legal careers
Median annual pay, with title examiners, abstractors, and searchers highlighted
- Lawyer$159,670
- BigLaw Equity Partner$159,670
- Non-Equity Partner$159,670
- BigLaw Senior Associate$159,670
- Public Company General Counsel$159,670
- Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney$159,670
- Judge$153,990
- Paralegal$62,890
- Title Examiner, Abstractor, and Searcher$58,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Lawyer | $159,670 |
| BigLaw Equity Partner | $159,670 |
| Non-Equity Partner | $159,670 |
| BigLaw Senior Associate | $159,670 |
| Public Company General Counsel | $159,670 |
| Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney | $159,670 |
| Judge | $153,990 |
| Paralegal | $62,890 |
| Title Examiner, Abstractor, and Searcher | $58,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within title examiner, abstractor, and searcher
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Title Examiner, Abstractor, and Searcher appears on
Questions
Title Examiner, Abstractor, and Searcher: frequently asked questions
How much do Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers make?
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers earn a median of $58,650 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 15% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $28.20/hr. The middle half earn between $47,420 and $74,810. The top 10% earn $90,830 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Title Examiner, Abstractor, and Searcher?
No. A bachelor's degree is not the norm: BLS reports a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers. BLS also lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 54.5% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Title Examiner, Abstractor, and Searcher a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 2.1% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 5,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Title Examiner, Abstractor, and Searcher do?
Search real estate records, examine titles, or summarize pertinent legal or insurance documents or details for a variety of purposes. A core O*NET task: examine documentation such as mortgages, liens, judgments, easements, plat books, maps, contracts, and agreements to verify factors such as properties' legal descriptions, ownership, or restrictions. Employers most often ask for Customer relationship management CRM software, Data base user interface and query software, Document management software.
Which states pay Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers the most?
The highest state medians for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers are Colorado ($77,600), West Virginia ($77,230), Oregon ($76,930) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, West Virginia moves to the top at $86,293.
What personality type suits a Title Examiner, Abstractor, and Searcher?
O*NET scores Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers highest on the Conventional and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ESTJ, ISTJ, ISFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.