All careers › Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
Title examiner: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $38,170lowest 10% earn less
- $47,42025th percentile
- $58,650median
- $74,81075th percentile
- $90,830top 10% earn more
Title examiners, abstractors and searchers earned a median of $58,650 a year in May 2025[1], above the $50,980 median for all occupations[2]. Jobs are projected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations[3][4].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +2.1%[3]
- Openings per year
- 5,300[6]
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent[7]
How much do title examiners make?
The median pay for the BLS category Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers was $58,650 a year, or $28.20 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $62,350 a year, or $29.97 an hour[8]. The median for all US occupations was $50,980[2], so this job paid more than the typical US job.
Pay spreads widely. Here are the percentile wages:
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile[5][9] | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| 25th percentile[5][9] | $47,420 | $22.80 |
| Median[1] | $58,650 | $28.20 |
| 75th percentile[5][9] | $74,810 | $35.97 |
| 90th percentile[5][9] | $90,830 | $43.67 |
A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $38,170[5]. BLS does not publish a starting salary[10].
These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed and do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[11]. About 48,580 people held these jobs[12]. In the projection data, 11.5% of workers were self-employed in 2025[13].
Pay by state and city
Colorado had the highest median pay at $77,600[14]. West Virginia came next at $77,230, then Oregon at $76,930[14]. Louisiana had the lowest published state median at $38,470[14].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Midland, TX had the highest median at $112,420[15]. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA followed at $94,710, and Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO at $79,630[15].
Texas had the most jobs at 6,770[16]. Florida had 4,800 and Pennsylvania had 2,220[16]. The largest metro area was Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX with 2,140 jobs and a median of $61,530[17]. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had 1,830 jobs[17].
Show median pay in 47 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado[14] | $77,600 | 1,400 |
| West Virginia | $77,230 | 350 |
| Oregon | $76,930 | 640 |
| Alaska | $75,960 | 100 |
| Nevada | $71,050 | 620 |
| Massachusetts | $69,100 | n/a |
| California | $67,230 | n/a |
| Washington | $66,440 | 930 |
| Delaware | $65,270 | 140 |
| Rhode Island | $63,300 | 120 |
| Connecticut | $62,940 | 90 |
| Utah | $62,210 | 1,160 |
| New Hampshire | $62,090 | n/a |
| New Jersey | $61,930 | 550 |
| Idaho | $61,730 | 640 |
| New York | $61,380 | 2,130 |
| Alabama | $61,330 | n/a |
| Texas | $60,120 | 6,770 |
| North Dakota | $59,980 | 140 |
| South Dakota | $59,300 | 180 |
| Florida | $58,450 | 4,800 |
| Minnesota | $58,250 | 560 |
| New Mexico | $57,940 | 480 |
| Ohio | $56,680 | 1,860 |
| Maryland | $55,460 | 420 |
| Kansas | $54,640 | 710 |
| Virginia | $54,230 | 1,340 |
| Kentucky | $52,860 | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,220 | 2,220 |
| North Carolina | $50,500 | 400 |
| Oklahoma | $50,270 | 1,500 |
| Tennessee | $50,240 | 1,160 |
| Illinois | $49,990 | 1,290 |
| Arizona | $49,580 | 1,210 |
| Michigan | $49,540 | n/a |
| Maine | $48,900 | 70 |
| Nebraska | $48,880 | 360 |
| Wyoming | $48,710 | 200 |
| Georgia | $48,320 | 660 |
| Missouri | $48,190 | 1,470 |
| Wisconsin | $48,070 | 700 |
| Arkansas | $47,510 | 650 |
| Mississippi | $47,060 | 150 |
| South Carolina | $46,740 | n/a |
| Iowa | $46,330 | 400 |
| Indiana | $46,150 | n/a |
| Louisiana | $38,470 | 390 |
How to become a title examiner
BLS lists no related work experience as typical for this job[7].
- First: Finish high school or earn an equivalent. That is the typical education for entry[7]. In an O*NET survey of 22 workers, 55% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required[18]. Another 14% said a bachelor's degree, 13% said some college courses and 10% said a post-secondary certificate[18].
- Next: Get hired and train on the job. BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical[7].
O*NET places the job in Job Zone 1-2, which groups jobs needing little to some preparation[19]. The facts do not give a length of training in months, and they do not list a license or exam.
What title examiners do
Title workers search real estate records and examine titles. They also summarize legal or insurance documents. They may do this for law firms, real estate agencies or title insurers[20]. Typical tasks include:
- Preparing title commitments and title insurance policies from search results[21].
- Reviewing mortgages, liens, easements, maps and contracts to check legal descriptions, ownership and restrictions[21].
- Checking whether issues such as unpaid taxes limit how a property can be used[21].
- Writing reports on title problems and the steps needed to clear them[21].
- Listing the legal documents tied to a parcel of land and its buildings[21].
- Checking land documents submitted for registration and preparing rejection notices when needed[21].
- Talking with realtors, lenders, buyers, sellers and courthouse staff to solve title questions[21].
Workers report titles such as Title Examiner, Title Abstractor, Title Agent and Advisory Title Officer[22].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of title examiners, abstractors and searchers to grow 2.1% from 2025 to 2035[3]. That is from about 59,800 to 61,100 jobs, a gain of 1,300[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[4]. The projection counts include self-employed workers, while the pay data count wage and salary jobs only[3][12].
BLS projects about 5,300 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come up when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.5% of workers leave the labor force and 6% move to a different occupation[23].
Is it a good fit?
The facts describe a job with a modest entry bar and pay above the all-occupations median. A high school diploma or equivalent is typical, with moderate-term training on the job[7][1][2]. Growth is slower than the all-occupations rate, though about 5,300 openings a year are projected[3][4][6]. The work centers on examining property records and documents closely[21]. Pay differs a lot by place, so compare your own state and metro area above[14][15].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a title examiner make an hour?
- The median was $28.20 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $29.97 an hour[1][8].
- What education do you need to be a title examiner?
- A high school diploma or equivalent is typical, with moderate-term on-the-job training[7].
- What is the highest paying state for title examiners?
- Colorado had the highest median at $77,600, followed by West Virginia at $77,230[14].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers in the US was $58,650 per year and $28.20 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers is projected to grow 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 59,800 to 61,100 jobs (a change of +1,300). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers: 10th percentile $38,170, 25th percentile $47,420, 75th percentile $74,810, 90th percentile $90,830. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 5,300 openings for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers was $62,350 per year and $29.97 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers: 10th percentile $18.35, 25th percentile $22.80, 75th percentile $35.97, 90th percentile $43.67. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 48,580 people were employed as Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: 11.5% of Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- Median annual wage for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Midland, TX $112,420; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $94,710; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $79,630; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $78,400; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $76,970; Reno, NV $76,690; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $76,460; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $73,960. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers jobs: Texas 6,770; Florida 4,800; Pennsylvania 2,220; New York 2,130; Ohio 1,860. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers jobs: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,140 (median $61,530); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,830 (median $61,500); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 1,730 (median $63,470); Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 1,220 (median $56,880); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 1,160 (median $51,030); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 940 (median $49,330). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- O*NET 23-2093.00 survey of workers (22 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 55%, Bachelor's Degree 14%, Some College Courses 13%, Post-Secondary Certificate 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 23-2093.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 23-2093.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Abstractor, Advisory Title Officer, Commercial Examiner, Commercial Title Examiner, Examiner, Title Abstractor, Title Agent, Title Examiner. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers: 2.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.