Careers
Work with us
We work with hundreds of contract landmen around the country for title research, curative, imaging and lease support, and we are always adding landmen. Here is how the work goes, what we look for and what the market pays.
How contract work with us works
Section Line works on projects: a set of counties, a search depth, a due date. When a project needs more hands, we call people from our network of contract landmen. We work with hundreds of landmen around the country, which is how large projects finish on a deadline, and we are always adding landmen, especially people who are good at title research and curative on difficult files. We keep a roster of contract people and write to them as projects come up. This page does not list open jobs.
- You send a note. Use the how to apply page. Email only.
- We read it and keep it. Your counties, experience and software tell us which projects you fit.
- A project comes up. If it matches, we write to you with the scope, the dates and the rate.
- We agree in writing. Rate and terms are confirmed in writing before work starts.
Who we look for
People who read records carefully and say so when something does not add up. Experience in the counties we work in is a plus. So is a habit of keeping a clean file. We do not need a long list of credentials. We care that your work can be checked and that you meet your dates.
How we pay
Contract work is paid by the day as a 1099 independent contractor. You send an invoice each week or every two weeks, depending on the project. For imaging work, whether the rate is by the hour or by the day is part of what we confirm. The rate and terms for your project are confirmed in writing before work starts.
Roles and typical day rates
These are the contract roles we engage for. Each page has duties, requirements and a market range.
Independent contract landman
Field, title, lease, right-of-way and division order support, on projects as they come up.
$325 to $500 per day
Read moreTitle examiner, abstractor and runsheet preparer
Run title from the county record and build the runsheet, abstract or ownership report.
$250 to $425 per day
Read moreCurative landman
Work title requirements to closure: affidavits, probates, corrective instruments and recording.
$400 to $600 per day
Read moreJunior landman
Entry level records work: pulling instruments, indexing and building runsheet rows, with review.
$200 to $350 per day
Read moreLand records imaging and data entry technician
Image courthouse records, name and sort the files, and enter index data.
$22 to $28 per hour (About $175 to $225 for an 8 hour day)
Read moreSenior landman and land project manager
Lead a project: scope, staffing, review of work and the client updates.
$500 to $700 per day
Read more
Day rates at a glance
| Role | Typical market range | What the range is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Independent contract landman | $325 to $500 per day | Most field landmen in AAPL's 2024 survey billed under $450 a day, mostly between $325 and $400. Broker and client billing runs higher than what the landman is paid. |
| Title examiner, abstractor and runsheet preparer | $250 to $425 per day | Postings for remote abstractors listed $250 to $350 a day and from $325 a day. An Oklahoma title posting listed $325 to $400. A self-reported rate table showed title work at $250 to $425. |
| Curative landman | $400 to $600 per day | Few curative postings state a rate. One published guide puts curative at $450 to $750. AAPL survey data shows most field landmen billing less than $450. This range sits between the two. |
| Junior landman | $200 to $350 per day | One entry level contract posting listed a rate from $200 a day. AAPL's 2026 survey, as reported by a landman publication, showed most landmen with under five years of experience billing $300 or less. |
| Land records imaging and data entry technician | $22 to $28 per hour | One contract posting for document imaging at county courthouses listed $22 to $28 an hour on an 8 hour shift, with mileage reimbursed and no experience required. |
| Senior landman and land project manager | $500 to $700 per day | A contract project manager posting did not state a number. Reported broker billing for senior landmen and crew chiefs runs $550 to $600, and an industry cost report put a fully loaded contract landman at $500 to $650. A small share of landmen with 30 or more years bill $700 or more. |
Questions
Are contract people independent contractors?
Yes. Contract work is 1099 independent contractor work. You run your own business, pay your own taxes and choose which projects to take. Rates and terms are confirmed in writing before work starts.
Do you have jobs open right now?
This page does not list open jobs or dates. It lists the kinds of contract roles we use. We are always adding landmen to a network of hundreds of contract landmen around the country, and we write to people as projects come up. Sending a note puts you on that list. It does not promise work.
Are you hiring employees?
No. Section Line works with contract landmen, not employees. They are independent contractors who take the projects that fit their counties and experience.
Do you use AI in the work?
We use modern technology, including AI, for repetitive steps such as reading documents and making images searchable. A person reviews the work. Careful landmen who check names, dates and descriptions are what make that review good, and the hard title files, such as gaps in the chain and missing probates, still need your judgment.
Is the work remote or in the field?
It depends on the project and the role. A lot of title work can be done from online county records. Some counties still need a trip to the courthouse, and imaging is done in person. Tell us in your note where you can work and how far you will travel.
Will I be at a courthouse?
Sometimes. Some county records are online and some are not. Imaging work and some title and curative work need a courthouse visit. We say so up front when a project needs it.
What equipment do I need?
A laptop, a reliable internet connection, and Excel or something like it. A vehicle if the project needs courthouse trips. Imaging work needs a camera or phone that takes sharp photos. Whether mileage or other expenses are covered is agreed in writing before work starts.
Do I need an AAPL certification?
No. RL, RPL and CPL are certifications from the American Association of Professional Landmen. They help, and many postings in the industry list them as preferred. We look at what you have done and how careful your work is.
How do you handle availability?
Tell us when you can start, how many days a week you can work and whether you can travel. Projects have dates, so clear information helps us match you to the right one.
How do I apply?
By email only. Use the how to apply page. It has a button that opens a message with the checklist already filled in.
Want to be on our roster?
Email [email protected] with your experience and your rate expectation. Attach your resume. Clients with a project, large or small, easy or hard, can send a scope or ask for a quote at [email protected].