Notary Public Income Varies Widely by Location and Work Type

A notary public's income depends almost entirely on where they work, how they find clients, and whether notarizing is their main job or a side activity. There is no single national salary because notaries are self-employed or work for employers that set their own rates. A notary working full-time in a busy urban area may earn $30,000 to $60,000 per year, while someone notarizing documents part-time in a small town might make a few hundred dollars annually.

Most notaries do not work as notaries alone. They hold the credential while working as loan officers, real estate agents, court clerks, or paralegals—jobs where notarizing is one task among many. The notary income in those roles is built into their regular salary, not tracked separately. Independent notaries who advertise their services and handle walk-in clients or remote signings can set their own fees and control their earning potential more directly.

Key Takeaways

  • Notary income is not a standard salary because most notaries work for employers or are self-employed, and fees vary by state and client type.
  • Per-signature fees typically range from $5 to $25 depending on location and whether the notary travels to the client.
  • Full-time independent notaries in high-demand areas can earn $30,000 to $60,000 annually, while part-time notaries earn far less.
  • Loan signing agents—notaries who specialize in mortgage closings—often earn $75 to $200 per signing, but require additional training and certification.
  • Most notaries earn money from notarizing as a secondary income source, not a primary career.

How Notary Fees Work in Different States

Each state sets a maximum fee that notaries can charge per signature or per document. These caps range from $2 per signature in some states to $15 or higher in others. A notary in New York might charge up to $2 per signature, while a notary in California can charge up to $15 per signature. The notary sets the actual fee anywhere from zero up to that state maximum, so two notaries in the same state may charge different amounts.

Travel fees are separate from signature fees in most states. If a client asks a notary to come to their home or office, the notary can charge a travel fee on top of the per-signature fee. This travel fee is not capped in most states, so a notary might charge $15 for a signature plus $25 for traveling five miles. Travel fees are where independent notaries can increase their income significantly, especially in areas where clients are spread out.

Remote online notarization (RON) is now legal in most states, and some notaries charge higher fees for this service because it requires special technology and training. A notary might charge $10 for an in-person signature but $20 for a remote online signature. As more states allow RON, notaries who offer it can reach clients outside their geographic area and potentially earn more.

Full-Time Independent Notary Income

An independent notary who works full-time and builds a steady client base can expect to notarize 10 to 30 documents per week, depending on demand in their area. At an average of $10 per signature (accounting for both low and high fees across different document types) and assuming 20 signatures per week, that is $200 per week, or roughly $10,400 per year from signatures alone. Add travel fees of $15 to $30 per trip, and a notary handling 5 to 10 travel requests per week could add another $5,000 to $15,000 annually.

Full-time independent notaries in metropolitan areas with high demand—such as New York City, Los Angeles, or Chicago—report annual incomes ranging from $35,000 to $65,000. Notaries in smaller towns or rural areas typically earn less because there are fewer clients and more competition from notaries at banks and law offices. The difference comes down to volume: a busy notary in a dense area can handle 40 to 50 signatures per week, while a notary in a smaller market might handle 5 to 10.

Building a full-time notary business requires marketing, a reliable online presence, and often membership in notary networks or directories. Many independent notaries use platforms like Notarize or Notary Cafe to find clients, though these platforms take a commission (typically 20 to 40 percent of the fee). A notary using these platforms earns less per signature but reaches more clients without having to advertise independently.

Loan Signing Agent Income

Loan signing agents are notaries who specialize in closing mortgage and deed of trust documents. This is a higher-paying niche within notary work. A loan signing agent typically earns $75 to $200 per signing, depending on the complexity of the documents and the location. A signing might take one to three hours and involve 50 to 100 pages of documents that need to be notarized, witnessed, or initialed.

To work as a loan signing agent, a notary must complete additional training beyond the basic notary credential. Many signing agents take a course (often $300 to $600) and obtain a signing agent certification from organizations like the National Notary Association. Some title companies and lenders require this certification before they will hire a signing agent.

A loan signing agent who handles 3 to 5 signings per week at an average of $100 per signing could earn $15,600 to $26,000 per year from signings alone. However, loan signing work is cyclical: during busy real estate seasons (spring and summer), signings are frequent, but during slower months, work can dry up. Many loan signing agents supplement this income with general notary work or other jobs.

Part-Time and Secondary Notary Income

Most notaries earn money from notarizing as a secondary income, not a primary career. A real estate agent, paralegal, or bank employee holds a notary credential and notarizes documents as part of their job. Their notary income is not tracked separately—it is included in their regular salary. These notaries might notarize 5 to 15 documents per week as a side task, but they do not depend on notary fees to pay their bills.

Part-time independent notaries—people who advertise notary services but do not rely on them as their main income—typically earn $1,000 to $5,000 per year. They might notarize documents for friends, family, and occasional walk-in clients, handling 2 to 5 signatures per week. This income is often treated as a small business expense deduction on taxes rather than a significant revenue stream.

Costs and Expenses That Reduce Notary Income

Independent notaries have business expenses that reduce their net income. The notary commission itself costs $50 to $150 to obtain, depending on the state, and must be renewed every four to ten years. Errors and omissions insurance, which protects a notary if a client sues over a mistake, costs $200 to $400 per year. A notary seal and journal (the official record book) cost $50 to $100 initially.

Marketing and advertising expenses add up for notaries trying to build a client base. A website, business cards, and local directory listings might cost $500 to $2,000 per year. If a notary uses a platform like Notarize to find clients, the platform commission (20 to 40 percent of each fee) significantly reduces take-home income. A notary earning $10 per signature but paying 30 percent commission to a platform actually keeps only $7 per signature.

Travel costs are also a factor. If a notary drives to clients, fuel and vehicle wear-and-tear reduce profit. A notary who charges $25 for a 10-mile round trip but spends $5 in fuel and vehicle costs nets only $20. For notaries who work from home, overhead is minimal, but those who rent office space or work from a shared notary office pay monthly rent that comes out of their notary income.

How Notary Income Compares to Other Part-Time Work

Notary work pays more per hour than many part-time jobs, but only if the notary has a steady stream of clients. A notary who charges $15 per signature and spends 10 minutes per document earns $90 per hour—well above minimum wage. However, a notary who notarizes only 2 documents per week earns $30 per week, or about $1,560 per year, which is far less than part-time retail or food service work.

The key difference is consistency. A part-time retail worker is may provide a set number of hours per week, while an independent notary's income depends on client demand. In a busy week, a notary might earn $300 to $500. In a slow week, they might earn $50. This unpredictability makes notary work better as a supplement to another income source than as a sole part-time job.

Loan signing agents, by contrast, often earn more per hour than general notaries because signings are longer and pay more. A three-hour signing at $150 is $50 per hour, which is competitive with skilled part-time work. However, loan signing work is also less predictable and requires the notary to be available on short notice, sometimes evenings or weekends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make a full-time living as a notary?

Yes, but only in areas with high demand and if you actively build a client base. Full-time independent notaries in busy urban areas earn $30,000 to $65,000 per year. In smaller markets, full-time notary income is typically lower. Most full-time notaries combine general notary work with loan signing or other services to reach that income level.

How much do notaries charge per signature?

Notary fees vary by state and range from $2 to $15 per signature, depending on the state maximum. Individual notaries set their own fees up to that maximum. Travel fees are separate and typically range from $15 to $50 depending on distance.

Do notaries who work for banks or law offices get paid more?

Notaries employed by banks, law offices, or title companies do not earn extra money for notarizing—it is part of their regular job duties and salary. Their notary income is not tracked separately. These employees may earn more overall because they have a stable salary, but they do not earn additional fees per signature.

What is the difference between a notary and a loan signing agent?

A loan signing agent is a notary who specializes in mortgage closings and earns $75 to $200 per signing. Loan signing agents require additional training and certification beyond the basic notary credential. General notaries charge per-signature fees of $5 to $25 and handle a wider variety of documents.

How much does it cost to become a notary?

The notary commission costs $50 to $150 depending on your state. You may also need to take a training course ($0 to $100), buy a seal and journal ($50 to $100), and obtain errors and omissions insurance ($200 to $400 per year). Total startup cost is typically $300 to $750.