How to hire a loan clerk

How to hire a loan clerk, step by step

Here's a step-by-step loan clerk hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The loan clerk hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A loan clerk's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, loan clerks from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of loan clerks.

   Type of Loan Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Loan Clerk	Financial clerks do administrative work for many types of organizations. They keep records, help customers, and carry out financial transactions.	$9-16
   Loan Services Representative	A loan service representative is responsible for communicating and interacting with clients and serves as a back-up or reliever in a company. They are the first person that the client must go through if they want to apply for a loan... Show more	$7-47
   Loan Officer/Loan Processor	A loan processor is a person who does all the processing as well as submitting all the required documents for a loan application. They play an important role in ensuring that the personal information and documents of a client are orderly complied... Show more	$13-36

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Loan Payments
   • Financial Data
   • Mortgage Loans
   • Credit Reports
   • General Ledger Accounts
   • Computer System
   • Real Estate Loans
   • Loan Forms
   • Escrow Accounts
   • Financial Statements
   • Insurance Policies
   • Commercial Loans
   • Loan Accounts

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage A/R transactions, prepare weekly account reconciliation's, perform research/ adjustments on A/P and A/R discrepancy accounts.
   • Monitor UCC filings and updates.
   • Prepare SBA loans using WordPrefect.
   • Record UCC filings on-line and by mail.
   • Review loan files, facilitate and verify loss mitigation application request, determine eligibility for clients requesting foreclosure financial assistance.
   • Work with HUD the VA and FHA to make sure all requirements are completed.

   More loan clerk duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your loan clerk job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A loan clerk salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, loan clerks' average salary in district of columbia is 38% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level loan clerks earn 46% less than senior-level loan clerks.
   • Certifications. A loan clerk with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a loan clerk's salary.

   Average loan clerk salary

   $12.77hourly

   $26,552 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level loan clerk salary

   $19,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average loan clerk salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$29,388	$14
   2	Kentucky	$27,421	$13
   3	Colorado	$26,746	$13
   4	Kansas	$26,741	$13
   5	Minnesota	$25,144	$12
   6	Iowa	$25,019	$12
   7	Oklahoma	$24,991	$12
   8	Utah	$23,550	$11
   9	New Mexico	$22,973	$11
   10	Florida	$22,924	$11
   11	Ohio	$22,609	$11
   12	Missouri	$21,125	$10

   Average loan clerk salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	UFCU	$35,687	$17.16	1
   2	Firefighters Community Credit Union - FFCCU	$32,845	$15.79
   3	Adecco	$29,319	$14.10	67
   4	SECU	$28,308	$13.61
   5	AppleOne Employment Services	$28,170	$13.54
   6	Robert Half	$27,611	$13.27	675
   7	Achieva	$26,796	$12.88	1
   8	Kearny Bank	$26,287	$12.64	6
   9	Pinnacle Bancorp Inc	$25,570	$12.29	11
   10	BancFirst	$24,661	$11.86	15
   11	Landmark Natl Bank	$24,518	$11.79

4. Writing a loan clerk job description

   A good loan clerk job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a loan clerk job description:

   Loan clerk job description example

   At Beehive FCU, our common goal is to nurture our most valued asset: the friendships we have with our members. We are here to help'it's the only reason we exist. We believe we have the power to help our members with some of the most important, most difficult, and most rewarding endeavors in their lives.
   
   Our success starts with creative and caring individuals who work together to bring superior service to our members. We hire only the best and brightest, give them a great place to work, and provide an excellent benefits package.
   
   If you are someone who is passionate about helping people with real life needs, then Beehive FCU may be the place for you.
   
   Beehive Federal Credit Union has an opening for a part-time Consumer Loan Clerk to work at our Administrative Building in Rexburg. The position's schedule is flexible but the successful candidate will arrange a consistent shift with 25 hours per week, Monday-Friday.
   Job Description
   Assist the consumer loan department in maintaining loan files, loan maintenance and collateral protection insurance. Corresponds with members and outside agencies to insure our security interested are protected. Will actively engage in needs-based selling.
   Qualifications
   Must be able to keep strict confidentiality. Must be able to offer prompt, clear, and accurate communications with members. Must be able to complete all documentation with promptness and accuracy.
   Benefits
   
   Part-time employee benefits include paid holidays, sick time, and vacation time; employer sponsored 401(k), retirement plan including 2% company match and 9% profit sharing; plus the opportunity to work in an excellent team-oriented environment. You'll love working at Beehive!
   
   Beehive Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit organization founded in 1960. Headquartered in Rexburg, Idaho, Beehive is a full-service credit union serving members and employees of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints nationwide. Branches are located in Rexburg, Rigby, Idaho Falls, and Meridian, Idaho. Beehive Federal Credit Union is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer of Females/Minorities/Vets/Disability.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find loan clerks 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 loan clerks they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level loan clerks 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 loan clerk job on Zippia to find and recruit loan clerk candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit loan clerks, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   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 loan clerk

   Once you've decided on a perfect loan clerk candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new loan clerk. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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