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Lender vs senior underwriter

The differences between lenders 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 $37,723 average annual salary of a lender.

The top three skills for a lender include customer service, loan applications and business development. The most important skills for a senior underwriter are customer service, portfolio, and underwriting guidelines.

Lender vs senior underwriter overview

LenderSenior Underwriter
Yearly salary$37,723$69,375
Hourly rate$18.14$33.35
Growth rate4%-4%
Number of jobs6,4656,726
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4544
Years of experience6-

What does a lender do?

A Lender is a financial institution, an individual, or a private or public group that provides loans to a business or an individual. As a lender, you will evaluate a borrower's creditworthiness by assessing loan applications. You will be responsible for determining an applicant's financial eligibility and all applicable metrics and ratios. Other duties might include setting up plans for debt payment, counseling clients on restrictions and policies, and maintaining and updating account records. Also, you will need to update your knowledge on the different loan types and financial services.

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.

Lender vs senior underwriter salary

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

LenderSenior Underwriter
Average salary$37,723$69,375
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $55,000Between $44,000 And $108,000
Highest paying CitySeattle, WANew York, NY
Highest paying stateSouth DakotaNew York
Best paying companyCitiCapital Group
Best paying industryFinanceInsurance

Differences between lender and senior underwriter education

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

LenderSenior Underwriter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Lender vs senior underwriter demographics

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

LenderSenior Underwriter
Average age4544
Gender ratioMale, 49.2% Female, 50.8%Male, 42.0% Female, 58.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 62.9% 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 lender and senior underwriter duties and responsibilities

Lender example 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.

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

Lender vs senior underwriter skills

Common lender skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Loan Applications, 8%
  • Business Development, 6%
  • Bank Products, 6%
  • Origination, 6%
  • Loan Portfolio, 5%
Common senior underwriter skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Portfolio, 8%
  • Underwriting Guidelines, 5%
  • Strong Analytical, 4%
  • SR, 4%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 4%

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