Post job

Junior underwriter vs senior underwriter

The differences between junior underwriters and senior underwriters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior underwriter has an average salary of $69,375, 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 senior underwriter are customer service, portfolio, and underwriting guidelines.

Junior underwriter vs senior underwriter overview

Junior UnderwriterSenior Underwriter
Yearly salary$51,782$69,375
Hourly rate$24.90$33.35
Growth rate4%-4%
Number of jobs19,4566,726
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4544
Years of experience6-

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 senior underwriter do?

A senior underwriter is responsible for evaluating the eligibility of an applicant for loan application processing. Senior underwriters verify the applicant's information, including their credit score and other valid documents, ensuring that the applicant fulfills the loan application's parameters. They check the applicant's portfolios and provide them the next necessary steps and the alternatives for loan types. A senior underwriter must have excellent knowledge of the loan processes and underwriting procedures to analyze applications and make accurate decisions.

Junior underwriter vs senior underwriter salary

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

Junior UnderwriterSenior Underwriter
Average salary$51,782$69,375
Salary rangeBetween $34,000 And $77,000Between $44,000 And $108,000
Highest paying CityHicksville, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyChubbCapital Group
Best paying industryInsuranceInsurance

Differences between junior underwriter and senior underwriter education

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

Junior UnderwriterSenior Underwriter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 56%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Junior underwriter vs senior underwriter demographics

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

Junior UnderwriterSenior Underwriter
Average age4544
Gender ratioMale, 28.7% Female, 71.3%Male, 42.0% Female, 58.0%
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, 9.3% Unknown, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 5.6% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage8%9%

Differences between junior underwriter and senior 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

Senior underwriter example responsibilities.

  • Manage AUS findings and analyze approvals and results accordingly.
  • Perform underwriter approval/declines on FHA, VA, FmHA and conventional loan applications providing financing for one-to-four family residential properties.
  • Fix and n variable annuities.
  • Check for the accuracy and proper recording of UCC filings and mortgages.
  • Order and review flood searches, title reports, UCC searches, appraisals, insurance policies and binders, and contracts.
  • Review preliminary HUD-1 for accuracy.
  • Show more

Junior underwriter vs senior underwriter skills

Common junior underwriter skills
  • Loan Programs, 16%
  • Income Documentation, 8%
  • Credit Reports, 5%
  • FHA, 5%
  • Va, 5%
  • Loan Applications, 5%
Common senior underwriter skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Portfolio, 8%
  • Underwriting Guidelines, 5%
  • Strong Analytical, 4%
  • SR, 4%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 4%

Browse business and financial jobs