Legal Occupations·SOC 23-2093

Best degree programs for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers, ranked by enrollment

1 college programs and 462 schools train Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers. Compare graduates per year, cost and pay, $58,650 median wage, 48,580 U.S. jobs. Federal data.

1 college programs at 462 schools train title examiners, abstractors, and searchers, graduating 9,640 people a year (IPEDS completions). The largest is Legal Assistant/Paralegal. The job pays a median of $58,650 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Graduates / yr
9,640
from every feeder program
Median annual wage
$58,650
BLS OEWS May 2025
Projected growth
+2.0%
About as fast as average
Openings / yr
5,400
new plus replacement
Schools
462
with a feeder program
States with jobs
48
BLS reports wages

About title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

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.

Also calledAbstractorTitle OfficerTitle ExaminerTitle SearcherSearcherTitle AgentTitle ClerkTitle CloserLand ExaminerLien SearcherTitle CheckerAbstract Clerk

Fields of study that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.

Legal Professions And Studies
CIP 22.03
Legal Support Services
9,640graduates / yr
462 schools · 1 specialization · 100.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $37,542

1 degree programs that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
Legal Assistant/Paralegal
CIP 22.0302
9,640
100.0%
462$37,542$25,166

Top 50 schools by graduates into this job

Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, IN Public · 1 feeder programs
243Legal Assistant/Paralegal40%——
2Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
221Legal Assistant/Paralegal65%$28,91199%
3Center for Advanced Legal Studies
Houston, TX Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
212Legal Assistant/Paralegal62%$10,957—
4Bryant & Stratton College - Online
Orchard Park, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
206Legal Assistant/Paralegal23%$14,394—
5Santa Ana College
Santa Ana, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
131Legal Assistant/Paralegal31%——
6Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, IN Public · 1 feeder programs
122Legal Assistant/Paralegal50%——
7University of San Diego
San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
120Legal Assistant/Paralegal84%$26,03552%
8East Los Angeles College
Monterey Park, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
104Legal Assistant/Paralegal37%——
9Houston City College
Houston, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
98Legal Assistant/Paralegal17%——
10University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
Cincinnati, OH Public · 1 feeder programs
89Legal Assistant/Paralegal75%—85%
11American River College
Sacramento, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
87Legal Assistant/Paralegal37%——
12Post University
Waterbury, CT Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
86Legal Assistant/Paralegal25%$14,659—
13San Diego Miramar College
San Diego, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
85Legal Assistant/Paralegal48%——
14Rasmussen University - Minnesota
St. Cloud, MN Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
80Legal Assistant/Paralegal53%$19,944—
15Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, FL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
79Legal Assistant/Paralegal61%$35,48397%
16Fresno City College
Fresno, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
76Legal Assistant/Paralegal24%——
17Pasadena City College
Pasadena, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
74Legal Assistant/Paralegal48%——
18West Los Angeles College
Culver City, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
73Legal Assistant/Paralegal28%——
19Crestpoint University
Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
72Legal Assistant/Paralegal33%$15,215—
20Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, FL Public · 1 feeder programs
72Legal Assistant/Paralegal57%—63%
21Hillsborough College
Tampa, FL Public · 1 feeder programs
72Legal Assistant/Paralegal34%——
22National University
San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
72Legal Assistant/Paralegal43%$31,817—
23American Public University System
Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
68Legal Assistant/Paralegal57%$10,199—
24Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs
65Legal Assistant/Paralegal14%——
25Bryan University
Tempe, AZ Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
62Legal Assistant/Paralegal41%$22,877—
26Dallas College
Dallas, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
62Legal Assistant/Paralegal32%——
27Lone Star College System
The Woodlands, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
62Legal Assistant/Paralegal21%——
28Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
62Legal Assistant/Paralegal73%$33,45482%
29Clayton State University
Morrow, GA Public · 1 feeder programs
61Legal Assistant/Paralegal40%—68%
30De Anza College
Cupertino, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
61Legal Assistant/Paralegal68%——
31Front Range Community College
Westminster, CO Public · 1 feeder programs
60Legal Assistant/Paralegal35%——
32Coastline Community College
Fountain Valley, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
59Legal Assistant/Paralegal34%——
33College of the Canyons
Santa Clarita, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
58Legal Assistant/Paralegal45%——
34Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI Public · 1 feeder programs
55Legal Assistant/Paralegal67%—83%
35Greenville Technical College
Greenville, SC Public · 1 feeder programs
55Legal Assistant/Paralegal21%——
36Merritt College
Oakland, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
54Legal Assistant/Paralegal26%——
37Mt San Antonio College
Walnut, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
53Legal Assistant/Paralegal45%——
38Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
52Legal Assistant/Paralegal31%——
39Portland Community College
Portland, OR Public · 1 feeder programs
52Legal Assistant/Paralegal18%——
40South University - Savannah Online
Savannah, GA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
52Legal Assistant/Paralegal7%$28,691—
41Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
51Legal Assistant/Paralegal29%——
42Edmonds College
Lynnwood, WA Public · 1 feeder programs
50Legal Assistant/Paralegal29%——
43American National University
Salem, VA Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
49Legal Assistant/Paralegal33%$20,666—
44George Washington University
Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
49Legal Assistant/Paralegal84%$29,78947%
45Irvine Valley College
Irvine, CA Public · 1 feeder programs
49Legal Assistant/Paralegal57%——
46St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL Public · 1 feeder programs
49Legal Assistant/Paralegal38%——
47Valencia College
Orlando, FL Public · 1 feeder programs
49Legal Assistant/Paralegal48%——
48Connecticut State Community College
New Britain, CT Public · 1 feeder programs
48Legal Assistant/Paralegal24%——
49Metropolitan Community College Area
Omaha, NE Public · 1 feeder programs
48Legal Assistant/Paralegal29%——
50Madisonville Community College
Madisonville, KY Public · 1 feeder programs
47Legal Assistant/Paralegal49%——

What title examiners, abstractors, and searchers earn

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual wage
$58,650
Mean annual
$62,350
Median hourly
$28.20/hr
People employed
48,580
What the range looks like
10th pct$38,170Median$58,65090th pct$90,830

Top-paying metro areas

Midland, TX
$112,420median
140 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$94,710median
130 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$85,950median
40 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$76,460median
350 jobs
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
$76,970median
310 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$70,300median
40 jobs
Salem, OR
$80,490median
30 jobs
Eugene-Springfield, OR
$76,580median
70 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+2.0%
About as fast as average
Openings per year
5,400
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
1,100
57,400 → 58,500
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Plus moderate-term on-the-job training

Where the jobs are, state by state

Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.

This occupation state by state: pay, jobs, and schools
StateMedian payJobsConcentrationSchoolsGraduates / yr
California$67,230——461,773
Texas$60,1206,7701.54×32914
New York$61,3802,1300.70×30638
Florida$58,4504,8001.55×26633
Virginia$54,2301,3401.04×17459
Indiana$46,150——7426
Illinois$49,9901,2900.68×23406
North Carolina$50,5004000.26×22318
Arizona$49,5801,2101.19×9305
Ohio$56,6801,8601.07×16286
Georgia$48,3206600.43×17267
Minnesota$58,2505600.61×9213
Pennsylvania$52,2202,2201.17×17210
South Carolina$46,740——9185
Michigan$49,540——12183
Maryland$55,4604200.49×11177
Connecticut$62,940900.16×5166
Wisconsin$48,0707000.76×12164
Colorado$77,6001,4001.56×7163
New Jersey$61,9305500.41×14137
Washington$66,4409300.83×7131
Kentucky$52,8602700.44×5126
Mississippi$47,0601500.42×11105
Massachusetts$69,100——10104
Missouri$48,1901,4701.60×797
West Virginia$77,2303501.61×693
Louisiana$38,4703900.64×683
Tennessee$50,2401,1601.14×778
Iowa$46,3304000.83×572
Nevadamoderate$71,0506201.28×366
Oregonlimited$76,9306401.05×260
Oklahomamoderate$50,2701,5002.81×459
Alabama$61,330——558
Kansasmoderate$54,6407101.58×456
Mainelimited$48,900700.34×254
Nebraskalimited$48,8803601.11×252
Utahmoderate$62,2101,1602.15×442
Arkansasmoderate$47,5106501.59×335
Delawarelimited$65,2701400.93×235
New Mexico$57,9404801.78×526
Rhode Islandmoderate$63,3001200.77×324
Hawaiilimited—900.47×121
New Hampshiremoderate$62,090——321
Alaskamoderate$75,9601001.02×319
Wyominglimited$48,7102002.32×217
Idahomoderate$61,7306402.40×315
South Dakotalimited$59,3001801.28×15
North Dakotalimited$59,9801401.06×13

Skills and tools

From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.

What they do day to day

  • 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.

Skills

  • Reading Comprehension4.1
  • Active Listening3.8
  • Critical Thinking3.6
  • Speaking3.6
  • Writing3.4
  • Monitoring3.0
  • Active Learning3.0
  • Learning Strategies2.4

Knowledge areas

  • English Language3.6
  • Law and Government3.5
  • Administrative3.1
  • Customer and Personal Service3.1
  • Computers and Electronics3.0
  • Mathematics2.6

Abilities

  • Written Comprehension4.0
  • Oral Expression4.0
  • Oral Comprehension4.0
  • Written Expression3.8
  • Near Vision3.5
  • Deductive Reasoning3.5

Core activities

  • Getting Information4.7
  • Documenting/Recording Information4.6
  • Working with Computers4.5
  • Processing Information4.4
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.3
  • Analyzing Data or Information4.3

Tools and technology

hotmarks an O*NET hot technology
Adobe AcrobathotGoogle Workspace softwarehotMicrosoft AccesshotMicrosoft ExcelhotMicrosoft Office softwarehotMicrosoft OutlookhotMicrosoft PowerPointhotMicrosoft WindowshotMicrosoft WordhotSalesforce softwarehot

How to get in

How to become a Title Examiner

Job zone 2 of 5 · SVP Below 6.0
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

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.

Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 1 majors mapped to Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers1 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 22.0302Legal Assistant/Paralegal

Related careers

Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.

43-4071
File Clerks
$43,60073,440 jobs-15.9%
23-2011
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
$62,890392,880 jobs+0.2%
43-9041
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
$49,230214,260 jobs-3.7%
27-3092
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
$72,42012,870 jobs-0.3%
43-6012
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
$55,570156,280 jobs-5.8%
43-4041
Credit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks
$50,08012,030 jobs-6.2%

Common questions

What degree do you need to become a Title Examiner?+

High school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Legal Assistant/Paralegal, which awarded 9,640 degrees in 2024-25, 100.0% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming a Title Examiner?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 1 programs to this occupation. The largest are Legal Support Services. Together they graduate about 9,640 people a year.

How much do title examiners, abstractors, and searchers earn?+

The median is $58,650 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $38,170 at the 10th percentile to $90,830 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for title examiners, abstractors, and searchers growing?+

BLS projects a +2.0% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 5,400 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career?+

462 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 1 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do title examiners, abstractors, and searchers work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Abstractor, Title Officer, Title Examiner, Title Searcher among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 23-2093.

↑ Zoom outAll occupationsLegal Occupations
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers by stateCaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaVirginiaIndianaIllinoisNorth CarolinaArizonaOhioGeorgiaMinnesota
Related careersFile ClerksParalegals and Legal AssistantsInsurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksCourt Reporters and Simultaneous CaptionersLegal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsCredit Authorizers, Checkers, and Clerks
Programs that lead hereLegal Support Services

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

    Official source →

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

    Official source →

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

    Official source →

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

    Official source →

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

    Official source →

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

    Official source →

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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