Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers in California
Considering working as a Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers in California? Below are the key facts. 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. Excludes “Loan Officers” (13-2072).
What do Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers Make in California?
For title examiners, abstractors, and searchers working in California, wages run about $77,780 per year (or roughly $37.40/hour).Annual wages span from $48,600 at the 10th percentile to $124,390 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,600 | $23.36 |
| 25th percentile | $61,660 | $29.65 |
| Median (50th) | $77,780 | $37.40 |
| 75th percentile | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| 90th percentile | $124,390 | $59.80 |
The job concentration index in California nationwide is 0.73, meaning fewer title examiners, abstractors, and searchers per worker than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, title examiners, abstractors, and searchers earn a median of $67,272 per year ($32.34/hour), exceeding the California median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 297,810 title examiners, abstractors, and searchers across the United States. In California alone, around 4,120 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 550 title examiners, abstractors, and searchers.
Top California Metros for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
The largest metro-area employers of title examiners, abstractors, and searchers in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,490 | $78,180 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 650 | $73,110 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 340 | $75,270 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 310 | $76,120 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 250 | $74,990 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 190 | $93,470 |
| Fresno, CA | 110 | $63,930 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 60 | $64,180 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 50 | $78,520 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 40 | $87,560 |
| Vallejo, CA | 40 | $84,330 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 30 | $79,970 |
Top States for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers Employment
View the states that employ the most title examiners, abstractors, and searchers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Florida | 6,110 |
| Texas | 5,550 |
| California | 4,120 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,590 |
| Michigan | 1,970 |
| Virginia | 1,840 |
| Ohio | 1,530 |
| New York | 1,530 |
| Arizona | 1,490 |
| Missouri | 1,400 |
| Tennessee | 1,380 |
| Oklahoma | 1,340 |
| Utah | 1,330 |
| Colorado | 1,230 |
| Illinois | 1,040 |
| Indiana | 1,020 |
| Washington | 860 |
| Kansas | 770 |
| Oregon | 700 |
| New Jersey | 650 |
Highest-Paying States for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
These states pay the most for title examiners, abstractors, and searchers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $77,780 |
| Oregon | $76,280 |
| Massachusetts | $75,090 |
| West Virginia | $66,040 |
| New York | $65,520 |
| Colorado | $64,170 |
| New Hampshire | $62,080 |
| Washington | $60,730 |
| Nevada | $60,230 |
| Rhode Island | $60,050 |
Skills
Key title examiners, abstractors, and searchers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for title examiners, abstractors, and searchers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers typically:
- 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.
- Confer with realtors, lending institution personnel, buyers, sellers, contractors, surveyors, and courthouse personnel to exchange title-related information or to resolve problems.
- Enter into record-keeping systems appropriate data needed to create new title records or to update existing ones.
- Retrieve and examine real estate closing files for accuracy and to ensure that information included is recorded and executed according to regulations.
- Prepare and issue title commitments and title insurance policies, based on information compiled from title searches.
Work Activities
- Getting Information
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Working with Computers
- Processing Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Google Workspace software In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Several college majors map to this occupation:
- Legal Support Services
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Careers similar to title examiners, abstractors, and searchers include:
- Compliance Officers
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
- Appraisers of Personal and Business Property
- Appraisers and Assessors of Real Estate
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents
- Document Management Specialists
Also Known As
Abstract Clerk, Abstract Searcher, Abstract Writer, Abstractor, Advisory Title Officer, Automotive Title Clerk, Closing Specialist, Commercial Title Assistant, Commercial Title Examiner, DMV Title Clerk (Department of Motor Vehicles Title Clerk), Data Abstractor, Escrow Officer, Foreclosure Specialist, Land Examiner, Land Title Examiner.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 23-2093.00
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