Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed
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.
Median pay: $58,650/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +2% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.
About 5,400 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• 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.
• Examine individual titles to determine if restrictions, such as delinquent taxes, will affect titles and limit property use.
• Prepare reports describing any title encumbrances encountered during searching activities and outlining actions needed to clear titles.
• Copy or summarize recorded documents, such as mortgages, trust deeds, and contracts, that affect property titles.
• Verify accuracy and completeness of land-related documents accepted for registration, preparing rejection notices when documents are not acceptable.
• Prepare lists of all legal instruments applying to a specific piece of land and the buildings on it.
• 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.
What's the median pay for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers?
The median pay for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers is $58,650 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers?
Employment for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers is projected to change +2% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.
What education is typically required for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers?
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma or equivalent.
How many job openings are there each year for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers?
About 5,400 openings per year, on average, over the decade.