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How to hire a consumer loan underwriter

Consumer loan underwriter hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring consumer loan underwriters in the United States:

  • There are a total of 99,915 consumer loan underwriters in the US, and there are currently 17,495 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a consumer loan underwriter is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per consumer loan underwriter on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Phoenix, AZ, has the highest demand for consumer loan underwriters, with 6 job openings.

How to hire a consumer loan underwriter, step by step

To hire a consumer loan underwriter, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a consumer loan underwriter:

Here's a step-by-step consumer loan underwriter hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a consumer loan underwriter job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new consumer loan underwriter
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a consumer loan underwriter do?

A consumer loan underwriter, or often known as a loan officer, is a financial professional who works at a credit union or other financial institution to approve or disapprove loans to clients. Consumer loan underwriters must review and verify the information provided by loan applicants and then decide on approving or denying a loan according to the policies of the institution. They must determine maximum loss potential by identifying all loans that are associated with a borrower where fraud may have occurred. Consumer loan underwriters must also demonstrate experience in underwriting conventional and FHA loans.

Learn more about the specifics of what a consumer loan underwriter does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your consumer loan underwriter job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a consumer loan underwriter for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A consumer loan underwriter's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, consumer loan underwriters from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of consumer loan underwriters.

    Type of Consumer Loan UnderwriterDescriptionHourly rate
    Consumer Loan UnderwriterLoan officers evaluate, authorize, or recommend approval of loan applications for people and businesses.$17-36
    Credit OfficerA credit officer is responsible for evaluating financial documents and account statements to determine the eligibility of an applicant for a loan option. Credit officers communicate with the applicant to discuss the loan process, explain the terms of service, and provide them alternative options that would fit their payment ability and loan needs... Show more$40-94
    Escrow OfficerEscrow officers, commonly known as loan officers, are responsible for real estate processing and finalizing deals. They ensure all documents are authentic and prepared, property titles are clear, and financial obligations have been thoroughly met by the buyer and seller... Show more$17-33
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Financial Statements
    • Loan Applications
    • Strong Analytical
    • Credit Reports
    • Credit Decisions
    • Compliance Reviews
    • Performance Feedback
    • Business Tax Returns
    • Origination
    • Consumer Loans
    • Income Analysis
    • Credit Risk
    • Investor Guidelines
    • FHA
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Ensure proper coding are accomplished by determining the appropriate code in accordance with ICD-9 and CPT guidelines.
    • Innovate technical solutions, including development of complex macros within MSP, to automate work and reduce manual processes
    • Manage a pipeline of fund TRID loans for completeness so they can be deliver and purchase by the required investor.
    • Manage the organization's HMDA data and accurately complete the government reporting annually.
    • Render underwritten decisions and subsequently clear conditions per underwriting policies and procedures, including knowledge of FNMA and FMLMC guidelines.
    • Generate and distribute IRB committee meeting minutes in accordance with appropriate federal regulations.
    More consumer loan underwriter duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your consumer loan underwriter job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A consumer loan underwriter salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a consumer loan underwriter in Tennessee may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level consumer loan underwriter usually earns less than a senior-level consumer loan underwriter. Additionally, a consumer loan underwriter with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average consumer loan underwriter salary

    $53,525yearly

    $25.73 hourly rate

    Entry-level consumer loan underwriter salary
    $37,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 16, 2025

    Average consumer loan underwriter salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$70,149$34
    2New Jersey$66,950$32
    3Maine$65,430$31
    4California$65,062$31
    5Pennsylvania$63,418$30
    6Maryland$59,800$29
    7North Carolina$59,397$29
    8Connecticut$59,033$28
    9Washington$58,747$28
    10Minnesota$57,428$28
    11Oregon$55,065$26
    12Montana$54,255$26
    13Florida$53,848$26
    14Colorado$52,801$25
    15Nebraska$51,561$25
    16Iowa$50,453$24
    17Missouri$49,633$24
    18Texas$48,776$23
    19Arizona$48,049$23
    20Illinois$47,925$23

    Average consumer loan underwriter salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Marcus & Millichap$89,350$42.961
    2Coasthills Credit Union$59,235$28.481
    3Freedom Financial Network$58,139$27.95
    4Justice Federal Credit Union$56,611$27.22
    5Management Recruiters International(MRI)$56,467$27.1541
    6International Business-Government Counsellors$56,356$27.09
    7Financial Partners Credit Union$55,771$26.81
    8Robert Half$54,760$26.3315
    9Grandbridge Real Estate Capital$54,134$26.0347
    10Asian Americans for Equality$53,792$25.861
    11Bank of America$53,574$25.7625
    12National Mortgage, Inc.$53,324$25.6425
    13Randstad North America, Inc.$53,000$25.486
    14Aerotek$52,932$25.45
    15Wells Fargo$52,750$25.3622
    16Idaho Central Credit Union$52,193$25.09
    17WSFS Bank$52,120$25.0613
    18Luther Burbank Savings$51,862$24.93
    19Oak Valley Ban$51,817$24.91
    20Great Southern Bank$51,649$24.83
  4. Writing a consumer loan underwriter job description

    A good consumer loan underwriter job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a consumer loan underwriter job description:

    Consumer loan underwriter job description example

    Mission Capital Advisors (MCA) , a fully owned subsidiary of Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI), is a leading loan sale advisor and Third-Party Review firm providing residential loan due diligence. Mission Global is seeking contract Residential Loan Underwriter to perform in-depth reviews of closed single family mortgage loans for dynamic, high-profile clients. The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of agency loans, investor flip, and non-QM underwriting. Part-time and full-time contract candidates will be considered. Position is remote or in our office in Tampa, FL .

    Key Responsibilities:
    • Review loan file data and documents in accordance with investor and lender guidelines.
    • Analyze credit documents, including, but not limited to, mortgage applications, property appraisals, credit history, income documentation, title documents and all other applicable compliance documents to ensure borrower met qualification guidelines.
    • Knowledge of TIL, HUD, CD/LE and other legal disclosure documents.
    • Maintain confidentiality and security of applicant/borrower information and data at all times.
    • Verify data and report findings in our proprietary diligence systems.


    Attributes/Experience:
    • 2+ years of relevant experience in the mortgage industry, familiarity with best practices for post-close underwriting compliance and quality control on newly originated mortgages required.
    • Understanding of residential mortgage FNMA/FHLMC, VA FHA and USDA guidelines, QM/ATR.
    • Knowledge of NQM, non-agency and investor specific programs and guideline overlays.
    • Proficiency with a variety of computer software applications, including Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
    • High attention to detail in analytical assessments and valuations.
    • Ability to handle multiple tasks accurately and productively during time sensitive situations.
    • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
    • Independent worker with a team player attitude.
    • Flexible attitude with the ability to handle change effectively.
    • Ability to work well and manage time remotely and to create a self-motivating work environment.


    Mission Capital is a leading national loan sale advisory, due diligence and capital markets firm providing an integrated platform of secondary market loan portfolio brokerage, valuation, transaction management and data/document curative services for the commercial and residential loan markets. Mission Capital was acquired in 2020 by Marcus & Millichap (NYSE:MMI), a real estate and finance services firm with ~2,000 investment sales and capital markets professionals located in more than 80 offices across the U.S. and Canada. With a market cap of nearly $1.8B and $40B to $50B of closed transactions annually, Marcus & Millichap adds deep capital markets expertise, investment sales, market intelligence, and extensive research to Mission Capital's resources.

    Mission Capital Advisors, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find consumer loan underwriters for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your consumer loan underwriter job on Zippia to find and attract quality consumer loan underwriter candidates.
    • Use niche websites such as efinancialcareers, financialjobsweb.com, careerbank, financial job bank.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit consumer loan underwriters, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new consumer loan underwriter

    Once you've decided on a perfect consumer loan underwriter candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new consumer loan underwriter. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a consumer loan underwriter?

Recruiting consumer loan underwriters involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

The median annual salary for consumer loan underwriters is $53,525 in the US. However, the cost of consumer loan underwriter hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a consumer loan underwriter for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $17 and $36 an hour.

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