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What is a junior loan officer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

Junior loan officers are responsible for assisting senior loan officers in creating and closing loan packages. They review options with senior loan officers to recommend based on the applicant's financial status. They also collect financial information in order to prepare the loan file, assist applicants with loan applications, and assess applicants' financial situation and eligibility.

Junior loan officers earn an average salary of $47,000 annually or $23 per hour. They work alongside a senior mortgage loan officer to find potential home loan mortgage applicants, help them navigate the loan process, and assist with preparing and closing the mortgage loan transaction. They analyze financial data to determine an applicant's creditworthiness and ability to repay a home mortgage loan.

In terms of academic qualifications, junior loan officers typically hold a high school diploma or its equivalent. Although a bachelor's degree in business, finance, or other related fields may be beneficial in the long run. They are expected to have some years of experience as a loan officer or in a similar role. Some employers prefer candidates with a keen eye for detail and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

ScoreJunior Loan OfficerUS Average
Salary
3.0

Avg. Salary $39,006

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.3

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.48%

Asian 6.40%

Black or African American 9.22%

Hispanic or Latino 16.00%

Unknown 4.64%

White 63.27%

Gender

female 41.14%

male 58.86%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress level
7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Junior loan officer career paths

Key steps to become a junior loan officer

  1. Explore junior loan officer education requirements

    Most common junior loan officer degrees

    Bachelor's

    56.1 %

    Associate

    13.9 %

    Master's

    12.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific junior loan officer skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Loan Applications17.38%
    Origination14.02%
    Inbound Calls10.38%
    Loan Programs5.99%
    Outbound Calls5.94%
  3. Complete relevant junior loan officer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New junior loan officers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a junior loan officer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real junior loan officer resumes.
  4. Research junior loan officer duties and responsibilities

    • Supervise and manage the processing staff and also underwrite conventional loans for correspondent lenders.
    • Execute the loan origination process, including ordering credit reports, appraisalsand preliminary title reports.
    • Assist customers with FHA, VA, and conventional loans.
    • Qualify conventional & FHA loans while adhering to bank lending standards.
  5. Prepare your junior loan officer resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your junior loan officer resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a junior loan officer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable junior loan officer resume templates

    Build a professional junior loan officer resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your junior loan officer resume.
    Junior Loan Officer Resume
    Junior Loan Officer Resume
    Junior Loan Officer Resume
    Junior Loan Officer Resume
    Junior Loan Officer Resume
    Junior Loan Officer Resume
    Junior Loan Officer Resume
    Junior Loan Officer Resume
    Junior Loan Officer Resume
  6. Apply for junior loan officer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a junior loan officer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first junior loan officer job

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Average junior loan officer salary

The average junior loan officer salary in the United States is $39,006 per year or $19 per hour. Junior loan officer salaries range between $28,000 and $53,000 per year.

Average junior loan officer salary
$39,006 Yearly
$18.75 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do junior loan officers rate their job?

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Junior loan officer reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2022
Pros

Helping People, secure a better financial future

Cons

Having to Decline applicants


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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

when a person being assisted to obtain a loan to uplift their lives

Cons

when more loans are deliquent


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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

This is a challenging position. It is not a one-size-fits-all job. The nature of your work depends heavily on the loan officer you work under. High-volume is no joke. You'll need to be sharp and focused all-day, every day you come to work.

Cons

It's lots of sitting in a chair. It requires 100% computer time, so you'll need to schedule breaks and get up and walk around intentionally.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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