Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers Salary
In North Dakota, title examiners, abstractors, and searchers earn $59,980 at the median, or about $28.84 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $67,477 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 25.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in North Dakota?
About title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in North Dakota
Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers pay in North Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $60K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,034/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level title examiners, abstractors, and searchers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers salary by metro in North Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $62K | +4% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track title examiners, abstractors, and searchers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
Related careers in Legal
Frequently asked questions
Can a title examiners, abstractors, and searcher afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 25.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for title examiners, abstractors, and searchers in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new title examiners, abstractors, and searchers typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,926/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is title examiners, abstractors, and searcher a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $60K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for title examiners, abstractors, and searchers?
North Dakota pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do title examiners, abstractors, and searchers make in North Dakota?
The median is $59,980 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,760, and experienced title examiners, abstractors, and searchers can clear $99,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,089/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 25.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a title examiners, abstractors, and searchers salary go in North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median title examiners, abstractors, and searchers salary is worth about $67,477 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do title examiners, abstractors, and searchers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.