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Credit administrator vs underwriter

The differences between credit administrators and underwriters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an underwriter has an average salary of $61,751, which is higher than the $59,271 average annual salary of a credit administrator.

The top three skills for a credit administrator include financial statements, credit card payments and real estate. The most important skills for an underwriter are customer service, investor guidelines, and mortgage loans.

Credit administrator vs underwriter overview

Credit AdministratorUnderwriter
Yearly salary$59,271$61,751
Hourly rate$28.50$29.69
Growth rate-8%-4%
Number of jobs55,7268,510
Job satisfaction23
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Average age3944
Years of experience2-

What does a credit administrator do?

A credit administrator oversees the credit operations in a company, ensuring efficiency and client satisfaction. They typically conduct research and analysis, handle credit portfolios, perform credit risk assessments, monitor credit accounts, validate requirements, evaluate applications, and develop strategies to optimize operations. A credit administrator may also perform a variety of clerical tasks such as preparing and processing documents, answering calls and correspondence, organizing information, and maintaining records. Moreover, they must lead and encourage staff to reach goals, all while enforcing and promoting the company's policies and regulations.

What does an underwriter do?

An underwriter's duties depend on the line of work or industry involved, such as mortgage companies, insurance, or lending firms. However, an Underwriter's responsibility will mainly revolve around using their extensive expertise on how a company will achieve financial gains, and assessing the possible financial risks of a client by reviewing various aspects to determine their capacity to uphold monetary obligations. Most of the time, the Underwriter's tasks will also involve evaluating a client's credit history, health, assets, overall financial history.

Credit administrator vs underwriter salary

Credit administrators and underwriters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Credit AdministratorUnderwriter
Average salary$59,271$61,751
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $106,000Between $39,000 And $96,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYBoston, MA
Highest paying stateNew YorkMassachusetts
Best paying companyBNY MellonGoogle
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between credit administrator and underwriter education

There are a few differences between a credit administrator and an underwriter in terms of educational background:

Credit AdministratorUnderwriter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 66%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Credit administrator vs underwriter demographics

Here are the differences between credit administrators' and underwriters' demographics:

Credit AdministratorUnderwriter
Average age3944
Gender ratioMale, 28.4% Female, 71.6%Male, 38.4% Female, 61.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 2.7% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 9.4% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 72.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%9%

Differences between credit administrator and underwriter duties and responsibilities

Credit administrator example responsibilities.

  • Partner with small and entrepreneurial business to develop business plans and assist business owners with achieving payroll.
  • Utilize computer software including QuickBooks to maintain account activity and ensure accuracy; reconcile inaccuracies between invoices and accounts receivable payments.
  • Utilize computer software including QuickBooks to maintain account activity and ensure accuracy; reconcile inaccuracies between invoices and accounts receivable payments.

Underwriter example responsibilities.

  • Attain Jr. underwriter status and AUS underwriting authority.
  • Manage AUS findings and analyze approvals and results accordingly.
  • Complete initial review of appraisals, borrower credit documents, and DU/LP findings according to Fannie Mae and investor guidelines.
  • Research and develop SBA program.
  • Work on project putting together HPR policy.
  • Resolve issues preventing final disposition of REO properties.
  • Show more

Credit administrator vs underwriter skills

Common credit administrator skills
  • Financial Statements, 6%
  • Credit Card Payments, 6%
  • Real Estate, 5%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Loan Portfolio, 5%
  • Credit Policy, 4%
Common underwriter skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Investor Guidelines, 6%
  • Mortgage Loans, 5%
  • Underwriting Guidelines, 5%
  • Financial Statements, 4%
  • FHA, 3%

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