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Junior underwriter vs mortgage underwriter

The differences between junior underwriters and mortgage underwriters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a junior underwriter and a mortgage underwriter. Additionally, a mortgage underwriter has an average salary of $55,721, which is higher than the $51,782 average annual salary of a junior underwriter.

The top three skills for a junior underwriter include loan programs, income documentation and credit reports. The most important skills for a mortgage underwriter are customer service, work ethic, and FHA.

Junior underwriter vs mortgage underwriter overview

Junior UnderwriterMortgage Underwriter
Yearly salary$51,782$55,721
Hourly rate$24.90$26.79
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs19,4569,260
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4545
Years of experience66

What does a junior underwriter do?

Working alongside senior underwriters, a junior underwriter is in charge of performing research and analysis to determine the eligibility of clients for insurance products and services. Their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing requirements, inspecting financial histories, participating in handling underwriting conditions, and monitoring current and past loans of a client. Should there be any complicated issues and concerns, they must report to the senior underwriter right away. Furthermore, a junior underwriter must carry out tasks while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

What does a mortgage underwriter do?

A mortgage underwriter is responsible for reviewing mortgage loan applications and deciding on its approval or rejection by evaluating the submitted documents and the applicant's eligibility. Mortgage underwriters create assessment reports, research on the applicant's credit score, analyze potential loan risk, and request for additional documentation as needed. A mortgage underwriter must have extensive knowledge of the loan disciplines and processes, including its legislative procedures and regulations, to provide accurate decisions or discuss necessary findings to the loan officer for advice.

Junior underwriter vs mortgage underwriter salary

Junior underwriters and mortgage underwriters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Junior UnderwriterMortgage Underwriter
Average salary$51,782$55,721
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $77,000Between $38,000 And $80,000
Highest paying CityHicksville, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew Mexico
Best paying companyChubbCTBC Bank
Best paying industryInsuranceProfessional

Differences between junior underwriter and mortgage underwriter education

There are a few differences between a junior underwriter and a mortgage underwriter in terms of educational background:

Junior UnderwriterMortgage Underwriter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Junior underwriter vs mortgage underwriter demographics

Here are the differences between junior underwriters' and mortgage underwriters' demographics:

Junior UnderwriterMortgage Underwriter
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 28.7% Female, 71.3%Male, 39.3% Female, 60.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 6.3% White, 63.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 6.4% White, 63.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between junior underwriter and mortgage underwriter duties and responsibilities

Junior underwriter example responsibilities.

  • Manage AUS findings and analyze approvals and results accordingly.
  • Confirm documents meet requirements of FNMA, FHLMC, HUD, individual investors and other authorities.
  • Complete research need to create and clear underwriting conditions and issue clear-to-close for FNMA and FHLMC MHA loans.
  • Underwrite and process FHA, conventional conforming and conventional non-conforming mortgage loans following company, investor, and government standards.
  • Monitor compliance issues to meet DU/LP automate UW approval.
  • Submit and approve to DU/LP, verify income and assets reviewing credit for dispute resolution and debt.
  • Show more

Mortgage underwriter example responsibilities.

  • Manage AUS findings and analyze approvals and results accordingly.
  • Involve with USDA and NH housing loans.
  • Obtain NMLS license in 2011 and real estate license in 2005.
  • Prepare and respond to compliance HMDA, NMLS, and ECOA relate inquiries.
  • Audit and analyze TIL, GFE and HUD documentation for accuracy to insure compliance.
  • Review MHA and FHA guidelines and calculate proper income to approve or decline loans for a temporary or permanent modification.
  • Show more

Junior underwriter vs mortgage underwriter skills

Common junior underwriter skills
  • Loan Programs, 16%
  • Income Documentation, 8%
  • Credit Reports, 5%
  • FHA, 5%
  • Va, 5%
  • Loan Applications, 5%
Common mortgage underwriter skills
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Work Ethic, 6%
  • FHA, 5%
  • Va, 5%
  • Excellent Organizational, 4%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 4%

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