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Salary comparison

Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers vs. Lawyers: Who Earns More?

Lawyerss out-earn Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss by $101K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss land at $58,650 and Lawyerss at $159,670. The education gap is real: title examiners, abstractors, and searcher programs typically require doctoral or professional degree, while lawyer programs require doctoral or professional degree. Top-paying state for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss is Colorado ($77,600); for Lawyerss it's New York ($207,860).

Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
Lawyers
Median salary
$58,650
$159,670
Hourly rate
$28.2/hr
$76.76/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$38,170
$78,360
Senior level (90th %)
$90,830
$351,600
Education required
Doctoral or professional degree
Doctoral or professional degree
U.S. employment
48,580
754,500
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
5%
Category
Legal
Legal
Top-paying state
Colorado
New York

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers median pay.

State
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
Lawyers
Colorado
$77,600
$168,520
Alaska
$75,960
$149,940
Nevada
$71,050
$150,510
Massachusetts
$69,100
$176,680
California
$67,230
$195,080
Washington
$66,440
$154,130
Delaware
$65,270
$173,510
Connecticut
$62,940
$163,600
New Jersey
$61,930
$161,430
New York
$61,380
$207,860
Texas
$60,120
$154,200
Minnesota
$58,250
$155,140
Virginia
$54,230
$167,210
Pennsylvania
$52,220
$157,180
Illinois
$49,990
$160,800

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss or Lawyerss?

Lawyerss earn more nationally. The median is $58,650 for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss versus $159,670 for Lawyerss, a difference of $101K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers or Lawyers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers or Lawyers?

Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers typically requires doctoral or professional degree. Lawyers requires doctoral or professional degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss get paid the most?

Colorado is the top-paying state for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss at $77,600/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers vs. Lawyers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Colorado, Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss earn $77,600 vs. $168,520 for Lawyerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers salary breakdownView →Full Lawyers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searcherss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Lawyerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a title examiners, abstractors, and searchersGuide →How to become a lawyersGuide →