How to hire a lender

How to hire a lender, step by step

Here's a step-by-step lender hiring guide:

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

What does a lender do?

Post a lender job for free, promote it for a fee

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a lender, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect lender also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents lender salaries for various positions.

   Type of Lender	Description	Hourly rate
   Lender	Loan officers evaluate, authorize, or recommend approval of loan applications for people and businesses.	$12-26
   Home Mortgage Consultant	Mortgage Consultants work to help people or businesses find the right lenders to get a mortgage from. They work with customers to find options that fit their current circumstances and financial capacity... Show more	$12-24
   Mortgage Consultant	A mortgage consultant is a professional who helps customers and businesses identify the best option for mortgage deals based on their financial resources. To maintain an excellent relationship with clients, mortgage consultants must possess a broad knowledge of the company's products to answer all the clients' queries and concerns... Show more	$11-30

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Loan Applications
   • Business Development
   • Bank Products
   • Origination
   • Loan Portfolio
   • Lenders
   • Business Relationships
   • Loan Programs
   • Credit Analysis
   • Bank Secrecy Act
   • Financial Statements
   • Loan Products
   • Originator

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage a multifacete commercial real estate investment firm.
   • Coordinate the real estate transactions including appraisals, inspections, loan origination and timely closing.
   • Point of contact between external company affiliate loan origination branches and licensing agencies.
   • Complete quarterly updates on all regulations and requirements to maintain NMLS nationwide licensing program.
   • Work directly with consumers as well as real estate agents, CPA's and attorneys.

   More lender duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your lender job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A lender 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 lender in Louisiana may be lower than in South Dakota, and an entry-level lender usually earns less than a senior-level lender. Additionally, a lender 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 lender salary

   $37,723yearly

   $18.14 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level lender salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average lender salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$51,147	$25
   2	Minnesota	$50,252	$24
   3	Wisconsin	$47,788	$23
   4	Nebraska	$47,062	$23
   5	Arkansas	$47,053	$23
   6	Iowa	$46,900	$23
   7	Massachusetts	$45,402	$22
   8	Michigan	$45,391	$22
   9	California	$44,758	$22
   10	North Dakota	$44,652	$21
   11	Illinois	$44,187	$21
   12	New York	$43,383	$21
   13	Missouri	$43,372	$21
   14	Texas	$42,012	$20
   15	Oklahoma	$39,238	$19
   16	Ohio	$38,903	$19
   17	South Carolina	$37,131	$18
   18	Colorado	$35,013	$17
   19	Virginia	$34,348	$17
   20	Utah	$34,197	$16

   Average lender salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Citi	$47,389	$22.78	31
   2	GPAC	$47,107	$22.65
   3	Morgan Stanley	$46,947	$22.57
   4	MRI The Boston Group	$46,169	$22.20
   5	Management Recruiters International(MRI)	$42,828	$20.59	15
   6	Cambridge Trust	$42,009	$20.20
   7	BancorpSouth	$41,192	$19.80
   8	The Bank of San Antonio	$41,072	$19.75
   9	Axis	$41,052	$19.74	1
   10	First Western Bank & Trust	$40,893	$19.66	4
   11	The Bank, Inc.	$40,893	$19.66
   12	Defiance State Bank	$40,870	$19.65	5
   13	Americorps	$40,791	$19.61
   14	Grandbridge Real Estate Capital	$40,710	$19.57	305
   15	The Citizens National Bank of Athens	$40,331	$19.39
   16	Great Southern Bank	$40,075	$19.27
   17	Randstad North America, Inc.	$39,994	$19.23	3
   18	Dahl Consulting	$39,893	$19.18	1
   19	Robert Half	$39,763	$19.12	3
   20	AUTOPAY Direct, Inc.	$39,396	$18.94

4. Writing a lender job description

   A lender job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a lender job description:

   Lender job description example

   Associates at California Bank & Trust work in a relationship-centered culture where they are provided with the tools, training, and opportunities to build the best possible relationships with our clients and with each other. Our workplace culture values each associate's unique experiences, background and perspectives and provides a collaborative environment for all employees to grow and thrive.
   
   As a premier California-focused financial services company dedicated to serving its communities, families, and businesses (small, mid-sized and large), CB&T has been active for 70 years and has more than 80 full-service branch offices across the state. This dedication has helped the bank earn recognition as a perennial powerhouse in yearly voting for "Best Bank" and "Best Commercial Bank" from the readers of San Diego Union-Tribune and Orange County Register. Additionally, as a division of Zions Bancorporation, the bank has collected multiple Greenwich Excellence Awards for "Overall Client Satisfaction" in Small Business & Middle Market Excellence Awards.
   We are looking for a seasoned Mortgage Loan Officer in San Diego, CA . This role focuses on soliciting and bringing in mortgage business for the bank.
   
   The ideal candidate will have the experience necessary to:
   Responsible for soliciting and bringing in mortgage business for the bank through previous contacts, relationships and referrals form real estate agents, builders, developers and branches. Ensures compliance with regulatory guidelines in the performance of loan originator duties. Interviews potential applicants to develop information concerning their needs, desires and other information; obtains and review pertinent financial and credit data. Responsible for assisting customers with information about loan types and interest rate options, locking interest rates as requested by the customer, preparing and sending initial disclosures to customers and submitting information to automated underwriting software. Ensures timely re-disclosures. May order appraisals through system, arrange for title search and obtain necessary documents. Responsible to communicate with the customer throughout the process and work with processors through closing. Originates residential home loans. Keeps informed of trends and developments in the local real estate market and changing rules and regulations pertaining to mortgages. Develops and maintains internal relationships to drive cross-sell opportunities for other bank products. Other duties as assigned.
   
   Qualifications:
   Requires a college degree and 4+ years of mortgage lending origination experience required, including residential construction experience or other directly related experience. A combination of education and experience may meet requirements. Advanced knowledge of mortgage lending, processing, credit analysis, mortgage laws and regulations. Ability to successfully solicit loans. Good problem-solving skills. Ability to work independently. Strong interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to handle multiple priorities. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work effectively in high pressure environment. Ability to work with various types of computer software, including mortgage specific software.
   
   Benefits:
   Medical & Dental Insurance & Vacation & Profit Sharing - START DAY ONE! 401(k) plan, competitive compensation in line with work experience. Most roles eligible for sales bonuses + monthly incentives and/or annual discretionary bonus, some roles include mileage + travel time pay, and/or parking waivers (must meet eligibility requirements Paid Training, Paid Vacation, Paid Holidays, and promotional opportunities offered from within Tuition Reimbursement for qualifying employees Stable Employer, we are a division of Zions Bancorporation and included in the S&P 500 & NASDAQ Financial 100 indices.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find lenders for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any lenders they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level lenders with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your lender job on Zippia to find and recruit lender candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with lender candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 lender

   Once you have selected a candidate for the lender position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the 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.

   To prepare for the new lender first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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 lender?