diff --git a/frontend/src/app/[locale]/search/page.tsx b/frontend/src/app/[locale]/search/page.tsx
index 8a614e793a..c023d09c04 100644
--- a/frontend/src/app/[locale]/search/page.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/app/[locale]/search/page.tsx
@@ -2,14 +2,15 @@ import BetaAlert from "src/components/BetaAlert";
 import Breadcrumbs from "src/components/Breadcrumbs";
 import Loading from "src/app/[locale]/search/loading";
 import PageSEO from "src/components/PageSEO";
-import SearchResultsList from "src/components/search/SearchResultList";
+import SearchResultsListFetch from "src/components/search/SearchResultsListFetch";
 import QueryProvider from "./QueryProvider";
 import SearchBar from "src/components/search/SearchBar";
 import SearchCallToAction from "src/components/search/SearchCallToAction";
 import SearchFilterAccordion from "src/components/search/SearchFilterAccordion/SearchFilterAccordion";
 import SearchOpportunityStatus from "src/components/search/SearchOpportunityStatus";
 import SearchPagination from "src/components/search/SearchPagination";
-import SearchPaginationLoader from "src/components/search/SearchPaginationLoader";
+import SearchPaginationFetch from "src/components/search/SearchPaginationFetch";
+import SearchResultsHeaderFetch from "src/components/search/SearchResultsHeaderFetch";
 import SearchResultsHeader from "src/components/search/SearchResultsHeader";
 import withFeatureFlag from "src/hoc/search/withFeatureFlag";
 import {
@@ -108,25 +109,48 @@ function Search({ searchParams }: { searchParams: searchParamsTypes }) {
               />
             </div>
             <div className="tablet:grid-col-8">
-              <SearchResultsHeader sortby={sortby} />
+              <Suspense
+                key={key}
+                fallback={
+                  <SearchResultsHeader sortby={sortby} loading={false} />
+                }
+              >
+                <SearchResultsHeaderFetch
+                  sortby={sortby}
+                  queryTerm={query}
+                  searchParams={convertedSearchParams}
+                />
+              </Suspense>
               <div className="usa-prose">
                 <Suspense
                   key={pager1key}
-                  fallback={<SearchPaginationLoader page={page} />}
+                  fallback={
+                    <SearchPagination
+                      loading={true}
+                      page={page}
+                      query={query}
+                    />
+                  }
                 >
-                  <SearchPagination
+                  <SearchPaginationFetch
                     searchParams={convertedSearchParams}
                     scroll={false}
                   />
                 </Suspense>
                 <Suspense key={key} fallback={<Loading />}>
-                  <SearchResultsList searchParams={convertedSearchParams} />
+                  <SearchResultsListFetch searchParams={convertedSearchParams} />
                 </Suspense>
                 <Suspense
                   key={pager2key}
-                  fallback={<SearchPaginationLoader page={page} />}
+                  fallback={
+                    <SearchPagination
+                      loading={true}
+                      page={page}
+                      query={query}
+                    />
+                  }
                 >
-                  <SearchPagination
+                  <SearchPaginationFetch
                     searchParams={convertedSearchParams}
                     scroll={true}
                   />
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/search/SearchPagination.tsx b/frontend/src/components/search/SearchPagination.tsx
index 9aad57328c..03ea044447 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/search/SearchPagination.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/search/SearchPagination.tsx
@@ -1,31 +1,63 @@
-"use server";
-import { getSearchFetcher } from "src/services/search/searchfetcher/SearchFetcherUtil";
-import { QueryParamData } from "src/services/search/searchfetcher/SearchFetcher";
-import SearchPaginationItem from "./SearchPaginationItem";
+"use client";
+import { Pagination } from "@trussworks/react-uswds";
+import { QueryContext } from "src/app/[locale]/search/QueryProvider";
+import { useSearchParamUpdater } from "src/hooks/useSearchParamUpdater";
+import { useContext } from "react";
+
+export enum PaginationPosition {
+  Top = "topPagination",
+  Bottom = "bottomPagination",
+}
 
 interface SearchPaginationProps {
-  searchParams: QueryParamData;
-  scroll: boolean;
+  page: number;
+  query: string | null | undefined;
+  total?: number | null;
+  scroll?: boolean;
+  totalResults?: string;
+  loading?: boolean;
 }
 
-export default async function SearchPagination({
-  searchParams,
-  scroll,
+const MAX_SLOTS = 7;
+
+export default function SearchPagination({
+  page,
+  query,
+  total = null,
+  scroll = false,
+  totalResults = "",
+  loading = false,
 }: SearchPaginationProps) {
-  const searchFetcher = getSearchFetcher();
-  const searchResults = await searchFetcher.fetchOpportunities(searchParams);
-  const totalPages = searchResults.pagination_info?.total_pages;
-  const totalResults = searchResults.pagination_info?.total_records;
+  const { updateQueryParams } = useSearchParamUpdater();
+  const { updateTotalPages, updateTotalResults } = useContext(QueryContext);
+  const { totalPages } = useContext(QueryContext);
+  // Shows total pages from the query context before it is re-fetched from the API.
+  const pages = total || Number(totalPages);
+
+  const updatePage = (page: number) => {
+    updateTotalPages(String(total));
+    updateTotalResults(totalResults);
+    updateQueryParams(String(page), "page", query, scroll);
+  };
 
   return (
-    <>
-      <SearchPaginationItem
-        total={totalPages}
-        page={searchParams.page}
-        query={searchParams.query}
-        scroll={scroll}
-        totalResults={String(totalResults)}
+    <div
+      style={{
+        pointerEvents: loading ? "none" : "fill",
+        opacity: loading ? 0.5 : 1,
+      }}
+    >
+      <Pagination
+        pathname="/search"
+        totalPages={pages}
+        currentPage={page}
+        maxSlots={MAX_SLOTS}
+        onClickNext={() => updatePage(page + 1)}
+        onClickPrevious={() => updatePage(page > 1 ? page - 1 : 0)}
+        onClickPageNumber={(event: React.MouseEvent, page: number) =>
+          updatePage(page)
+        }
       />
-    </>
+    </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/search/SearchPaginationFetch.tsx b/frontend/src/components/search/SearchPaginationFetch.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a0193d1f19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/search/SearchPaginationFetch.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+"use server";
+import { getSearchFetcher } from "src/services/search/searchfetcher/SearchFetcherUtil";
+import { QueryParamData } from "src/services/search/searchfetcher/SearchFetcher";
+import SearchPagination from "./SearchPagination";
+
+interface SearchPaginationProps {
+  searchParams: QueryParamData;
+  // Determines whether clicking on pager items causes a scroll to the top of the search
+  // results. Created so the bottom pager can scroll.
+  scroll: boolean;
+}
+
+export default async function SearchPaginationFetch({
+  searchParams,
+  scroll,
+}: SearchPaginationProps) {
+  const searchFetcher = getSearchFetcher();
+  const searchResults = await searchFetcher.fetchOpportunities(searchParams);
+  const totalPages = searchResults.pagination_info?.total_pages;
+  const totalResults = searchResults.pagination_info?.total_records;
+
+  return (
+    <>
+      <SearchPagination
+        total={totalPages}
+        page={searchParams.page}
+        query={searchParams.query}
+        scroll={scroll}
+        totalResults={String(totalResults)}
+      />
+    </>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/search/SearchPaginationItem.tsx b/frontend/src/components/search/SearchPaginationItem.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 763a3e5ea5..0000000000
--- a/frontend/src/components/search/SearchPaginationItem.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,61 +0,0 @@
-"use client";
-
-import { Pagination } from "@trussworks/react-uswds";
-import { QueryContext } from "src/app/[locale]/search/QueryProvider";
-import { useSearchParamUpdater } from "src/hooks/useSearchParamUpdater";
-import { useDebouncedCallback } from "use-debounce";
-import { useContext } from "react";
-
-export enum PaginationPosition {
-  Top = "topPagination",
-  Bottom = "bottomPagination",
-}
-
-interface SearchPaginationProps {
-  total: number;
-  page: number;
-  query: string | null | undefined;
-  scroll: boolean;
-  totalResults: string;
-}
-
-const MAX_SLOTS = 7;
-
-export default function SearchPaginationItem({
-  total,
-  page,
-  query,
-  scroll,
-  totalResults,
-}: SearchPaginationProps) {
-  const { updateQueryParams } = useSearchParamUpdater();
-  const { updateTotalPages, updateTotalResults } = useContext(QueryContext);
-
-  // TODO: determine better state management. The results are grabbed on the server but
-  // not available to the client components that aren't suspense wrapped.
-  updateTotalResults(totalResults);
-  const debouncedUpdate = useDebouncedCallback((page: string) => {
-    updateQueryParams(page, "page", query, scroll);
-  }, 50);
-
-  const updatePage = (page: number) => {
-    updateTotalPages(String(total));
-    debouncedUpdate(String(page));
-  };
-
-  return (
-    <>
-      <Pagination
-        pathname="/search"
-        totalPages={total}
-        currentPage={page}
-        maxSlots={MAX_SLOTS}
-        onClickNext={() => updatePage(page + 1)}
-        onClickPrevious={() => updatePage(page > 1 ? page - 1 : 0)}
-        onClickPageNumber={(event: React.MouseEvent, page: number) =>
-          updatePage(page)
-        }
-      />
-    </>
-  );
-}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/search/SearchPaginationLoader.tsx b/frontend/src/components/search/SearchPaginationLoader.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index e754309e0e..0000000000
--- a/frontend/src/components/search/SearchPaginationLoader.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-"use client";
-
-import { Pagination } from "@trussworks/react-uswds";
-import { QueryContext } from "../../app/[locale]/search/QueryProvider";
-import { useContext } from "react";
-
-interface SearchPaginationProps {
-  page: number;
-}
-
-const MAX_SLOTS = 7;
-
-export default function SearchPaginationLoader({
-  page,
-}: SearchPaginationProps) {
-  const { totalPages } = useContext(QueryContext);
-  const total = totalPages === "na" ? MAX_SLOTS : totalPages;
-
-  return (
-    <div style={{ opacity: 1 }}>
-      <Pagination
-        pathname="/search"
-        totalPages={Number(total)}
-        currentPage={page}
-        maxSlots={MAX_SLOTS}
-      />
-    </div>
-  );
-}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/search/SearchResultsHeader.tsx b/frontend/src/components/search/SearchResultsHeader.tsx
index 00766b97e3..3855a05dbc 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/search/SearchResultsHeader.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/search/SearchResultsHeader.tsx
@@ -5,18 +5,31 @@ import { useContext } from "react";
 
 export default function SearchResultsHeader({
   sortby,
+  totalFetchedResults,
+  queryTerm,
+  loading = false,
 }: {
   sortby: string | null;
+  totalFetchedResults?: string;
+  queryTerm?: string | null | undefined;
+  loading?: boolean;
 }) {
-  const { totalResults, queryTerm } = useContext(QueryContext);
-
+  const { totalResults } = useContext(QueryContext);
+  const total = totalFetchedResults || totalResults;
   return (
     <div className="grid-row">
-      <h2 className="tablet-lg:grid-col-fill margin-top-5 tablet-lg:margin-top-2 tablet-lg:margin-bottom-0">
-        {totalResults.length > 0 && <>{totalResults} Opportunities</>}
+      <h2
+        className="tablet-lg:grid-col-fill margin-top-5 tablet-lg:margin-top-2 tablet-lg:margin-bottom-0"
+        style={{ opacity: loading ? 0.5 : 1 }}
+      >
+        {total && <>{total} Opportunities</>}
       </h2>
       <div className="tablet-lg:grid-col-auto">
-        <SearchSortyBy sortby={sortby} queryTerm={queryTerm} />
+        <SearchSortyBy
+          totalResults={total}
+          sortby={sortby}
+          queryTerm={queryTerm}
+        />
       </div>
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/search/SearchResultsHeaderFetch.tsx b/frontend/src/components/search/SearchResultsHeaderFetch.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d899124758
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/search/SearchResultsHeaderFetch.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+"use server";
+import { getSearchFetcher } from "src/services/search/searchfetcher/SearchFetcherUtil";
+import { QueryParamData } from "src/services/search/searchfetcher/SearchFetcher";
+import SearchResultsHeader from "./SearchResultsHeader";
+
+export default async function SearchResultsHeaderFetch({
+  searchParams,
+  sortby,
+  queryTerm,
+}: {
+  searchParams: QueryParamData;
+  sortby: string | null;
+  queryTerm: string | null | undefined;
+}) {
+  const searchFetcher = getSearchFetcher();
+  const searchResults = await searchFetcher.fetchOpportunities(searchParams);
+  const totalResults = searchResults.pagination_info?.total_records;
+
+  return (
+    <SearchResultsHeader
+      queryTerm={queryTerm}
+      sortby={sortby}
+      totalFetchedResults={String(totalResults)}
+    />
+  );
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/search/SearchResultList.tsx b/frontend/src/components/search/SearchResultsListFetch.tsx
similarity index 96%
rename from frontend/src/components/search/SearchResultList.tsx
rename to frontend/src/components/search/SearchResultsListFetch.tsx
index 2d7dc973eb..2052a4629a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/search/SearchResultList.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/search/SearchResultsListFetch.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ interface ServerPageProps {
   searchParams: QueryParamData;
 }
 
-export default async function SearchResultsList({
+export default async function SearchResultsListFetch({
   searchParams,
 }: ServerPageProps) {
   const searchFetcher = getSearchFetcher();
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/search/SearchSortBy.tsx b/frontend/src/components/search/SearchSortBy.tsx
index 074da46f26..da13acd664 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/search/SearchSortBy.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/search/SearchSortBy.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
+"use client";
 import { Select } from "@trussworks/react-uswds";
 import { useSearchParamUpdater } from "src/hooks/useSearchParamUpdater";
+import { QueryContext } from "src/app/[locale]/search/QueryProvider";
+import { useContext } from "react";
 
 type SortOption = {
   label: string;
@@ -22,13 +25,20 @@ const SORT_OPTIONS: SortOption[] = [
 interface SearchSortByProps {
   queryTerm: string | null | undefined;
   sortby: string | null;
+  totalResults: string;
 }
 
-export default function SearchSortBy({ queryTerm, sortby }: SearchSortByProps) {
+export default function SearchSortBy({
+  queryTerm,
+  sortby,
+  totalResults,
+}: SearchSortByProps) {
   const { updateQueryParams } = useSearchParamUpdater();
+  const { updateTotalResults } = useContext(QueryContext);
 
   const handleChange = (event: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLSelectElement>) => {
     const newValue = event.target.value;
+    updateTotalResults(totalResults);
     updateQueryParams(newValue, "sortby", queryTerm);
   };
 
diff --git a/frontend/tests/components/search/SearchSortBy.test.tsx b/frontend/tests/components/search/SearchSortBy.test.tsx
index cd9582a636..a977cc9e00 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/components/search/SearchSortBy.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend/tests/components/search/SearchSortBy.test.tsx
@@ -14,7 +14,11 @@ jest.mock("src/hooks/useSearchParamUpdater", () => ({
 describe("SearchSortBy", () => {
   it("should not have basic accessibility issues", async () => {
     const { container } = render(
-      <SearchSortBy queryTerm="test" sortby="closeDateDesc" />,
+      <SearchSortBy
+        totalResults={"10"}
+        queryTerm="test"
+        sortby="closeDateDesc"
+      />,
     );
 
     const results = await axe(container);
@@ -22,7 +26,7 @@ describe("SearchSortBy", () => {
   });
 
   it("renders correctly with initial query params", () => {
-    render(<SearchSortBy queryTerm="test" sortby="" />);
+    render(<SearchSortBy totalResults={"10"} queryTerm="test" sortby="" />);
 
     expect(
       screen.getByDisplayValue("Posted Date (newest)"),
@@ -34,7 +38,7 @@ describe("SearchSortBy", () => {
     const requestSubmitMock = jest.fn();
     formElement.requestSubmit = requestSubmitMock;
 
-    render(<SearchSortBy queryTerm="test" sortby="" />);
+    render(<SearchSortBy totalResults={"10"} queryTerm="test" sortby="" />);
 
     fireEvent.change(screen.getByRole("combobox"), {
       target: { value: "opportunityTitleDesc" },