Paralegals and Legal Assistants vs. Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers: Who Earns More?
Paralegals and Legal Assistants out-earn Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers by $4K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Paralegals and Legal Assistants land at $62,890 and Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers at $58,650. The education gap is real: paralegals and legal assistant programs typically require associate's degree, while title examiners, abstractors, and searcher programs require doctoral or professional degree. Top-paying state for Paralegals and Legal Assistants is District of Columbia ($89,750); for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers it's Colorado ($77,600).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Paralegals and Legal Assistants median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Paralegals and Legal Assistants or Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers?
Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn more nationally. The median is $62,890 for Paralegals and Legal Assistants versus $58,650 for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers, a difference of $4K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Paralegals and Legal Assistants or Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers?
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers has the better 10-year outlook at 2% projected growth, compared to 0.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Paralegals and Legal Assistants or Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers?
Paralegals and Legal Assistants typically requires associate's degree. Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers requires doctoral or professional degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Paralegals and Legal Assistants get paid the most?
District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Paralegals and Legal Assistants at $89,750/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Paralegals and Legal Assistants vs. Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn $79,400 vs. $66,440 for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.