Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers Salary
In South Dakota, title examiners, abstractors, and searchers earn $59,300 at the median, or about $28.51 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $65,970 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 24.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in South Dakota?
About title examiners, abstractors, and searchers
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers pay in South Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $59K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,017/month, 24.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Dakota
Entry-level title examiners, abstractors, and searchers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers salary by metro in South Dakota
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $59K | -1% | 40 |
| Sioux Falls | $55K | -8% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track title examiners, abstractors, and searchers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a title examiners, abstractors, and searcher afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 24.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for title examiners, abstractors, and searchers in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new title examiners, abstractors, and searchers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,746/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 South Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $59K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for title examiners, abstractors, and searchers?
South Dakota pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do title examiners, abstractors, and searchers make in South Dakota?
The median is $59,300 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,760, and experienced title examiners, abstractors, and searchers can clear $97,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,140/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 24.6% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $65,970 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.