How much does a title examiner make?
a year · about $28 an hour
A typical title examiner in the United States makes $58,650 a year, about $28 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They trace a home's deeds in county or company records, checking mortgages, liens, easements, unpaid taxes, and ownership details. They write a report on problems to fix and may contact real-estate agents, lenders, or courthouse staff.
Did you know? A title search can uncover old unpaid property taxes or easements that limit how the land may be used.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $38,170 and $90,830How do you become one?
Usually, you need a high school diploma or GED and learn on the job; office or real-estate experience helps. License rules vary: some states require a license and exam to run your own title-search business, so check locally.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like keeping things organized and leading and selling
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay often rises with experience and strong research skills. It also differs by state and employer: title examiners work in law, insurance, real estate, and energy, and harder, more specialized title work may pay more.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Colorado ($77,600), lowest in Arkansas ($47,510).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $38,170 | $58,650 | $90,830 | about 49,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $77,600 | about 1,000 |
| Oregon | $76,930 | about 640 |
| Nevada | $71,050 | about 620 |
| Washington | $66,440 | about 930 |
| Utah | $62,210 | about 1,000 |
Official definition: Search real estate records, examine titles, or summarize pertinent legal or insurance documents or details for a variety of purposes. May compile lists of mortgages, contracts, and other instruments pertaining to titles by searching public and private records for law firms, real estate agencies, or title insurance companies. Excludes “Loan Officers” (13-2072).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes232093.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/23-2093.00
- www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/23-2093.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx?keyword=Title%20Examin
- ij.org/report/license-to-work-3/ltw-occupation-profile/title-examiner
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY