Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers vs. Paralegals and Legal Assistants: 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. Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers land at $58,650 and Paralegals and Legal Assistants at $62,890. The education gap is real: title examiners, abstractors, and searcher programs typically require doctoral or professional degree, while paralegals and legal assistant programs require associate's degree. Top-paying state for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers is Colorado ($77,600); for Paralegals and Legal Assistants it's District of Columbia ($89,750).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers or Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
Paralegals and Legal Assistants earn more nationally. The median is $58,650 for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers versus $62,890 for Paralegals and Legal Assistants, a difference of $4K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers or Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
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, Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers or Paralegals and Legal Assistants?
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers typically requires doctoral or professional degree. Paralegals and Legal Assistants requires associate's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers get paid the most?
Colorado is the top-paying state for Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers 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. Paralegals and Legal Assistants pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Colorado, Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers earn $77,600 vs. $78,190 for Paralegals and Legal Assistants. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.