Abstractor

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Work Tasks

• Read legal or technical documents
• Write summaries of documents such as mortgages, patents, and other legal papers
• Look at land records to decide where property lines are and who owns the property
• Research and write what needs to be done to clear a property title
• Work for real estate companies, law firms, credit companies, banks, and other industries
• Work with public records, titles, contracts, mortgages, judgments, map books, scientific journals, and computers

Salary, Size & Growth

• $44,500 average per year ($21.50 per hour)
• A medium occupation (50,500 workers in 2010)
• Expected to decline (0.1% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 2-year degree
• Employers Prefer: A 4-year degree and knowledge of the field in which they are working
• Skills/Courses: College courses include abstract writing, property law, contract law, and technical writing.