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How to hire a loan documentation specialist

Loan documentation specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring loan documentation specialists in the United States:

  • There are a total of 41,006 loan documentation specialists in the US, and there are currently 11,768 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a loan documentation specialist is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per loan documentation specialist on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • It takes approximately 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • HR departments typically allocate 15% of their budget towards recruitment efforts.
  • Tacoma, WA, has the highest demand for loan documentation specialists, with 6 job openings.

How to hire a loan documentation specialist, step by step

To hire a loan documentation specialist, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a loan documentation specialist:

Here's a step-by-step loan documentation specialist 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 documentation specialist job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new loan documentation specialist
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a loan documentation specialist do?

A loan documentation specialist is primarily in charge of assisting clients in preparing and processing their loan applications, ensuring convenience and client satisfaction. Their responsibilities typically revolve around liaising with clients to identify their needs, explaining the extent of procedures, gathering and verifying requirements, and maintaining records of all transactions. They must also help staff in analyzing documentation and participate in training new workers. Furthermore, as a loan documentation specialist, it is essential to devise strategies to optimize documentation services, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

Learn more about the specifics of what a loan documentation specialist does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your loan documentation specialist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a loan documentation specialist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect loan documentation specialist 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 loan documentation specialist salaries for various positions.

    Type of Loan Documentation SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Loan Documentation SpecialistFinancial clerks do administrative work for many types of organizations. They keep records, help customers, and carry out financial transactions.$13-21
    Post CloserPost closers require an associate degree or certification in addition to 1-3 years of related experience. Skills in customer support, document review, loan processing, quality assurance processing, and loan software are also necessary for this career... Show more$13-23
    Mortgage ProcessorA mortgage processor is responsible for reviewing mortgage loan applications, evaluating applicants' documents, and verifying their eligibility for approval. Mortgage processors consider the applicant's financial statements, credit score, and other possible mortgage options... Show more$14-25
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Loan Applications
    • Real Estate Loans
    • Underwriting Guidelines
    • FHA
    • Loan Products
    • Commercial Loans
    • UCC
    • Comprehensive Knowledge
    • LIS
    • Bank Policies
    • Federal Regulations
    • Loan Documentation
    • Credit Reports
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage successful audit with FHLMC.
    • Time management and organization skills to effectively prioritize multiple objectives and achieve volume goals.
    • Review file and enter in information into the loan origination system LIS.
    • Review the loan for compliance with RESPA tolerances, TILA.
    • Generate and review, HUD, financial statements, fiscal analyses and other financial reports for property acquisition.
    • Process fees and prepare documents for closing; go over HUD-1 with clients for cash to/from close during signing.
    More loan documentation specialist duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the loan documentation specialist job description is a good way to get more applicants. A loan documentation specialist salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a loan documentation specialist in Maine may be lower than in Washington, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level loan documentation specialist. Additionally, a loan documentation specialist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average loan documentation specialist salary

    $35,946yearly

    $17.28 hourly rate

    Entry-level loan documentation specialist salary
    $28,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 5, 2025

    Average loan documentation specialist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Oregon$44,276$21
    2California$43,718$21
    3Colorado$38,755$19
    4Arizona$38,600$19
    5New York$38,462$18
    6Arkansas$37,418$18
    7Massachusetts$36,964$18
    8Virginia$36,641$18
    9North Carolina$36,609$18
    10Texas$36,459$18
    11Minnesota$36,442$18
    12Nevada$35,315$17
    13Florida$34,859$17
    14Tennessee$34,485$17
    15Iowa$33,349$16
    16Illinois$33,236$16
    17Utah$33,214$16
    18Wisconsin$32,753$16
    19Pennsylvania$31,670$15
    20Missouri$30,067$14

    Average loan documentation specialist salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1City National Bank$45,733$21.9923
    2Home Bancshares Inc.$42,237$20.31
    3State Bank of India$40,988$19.71
    4Western Alliance Bank$40,835$19.632
    5Community West Bank$40,769$19.60
    6Bankers Trust Company$40,011$19.24
    7ServiceLink$39,961$19.211
    8Farm Credit System$39,559$19.0212
    9United Community Bank$39,538$19.0117
    10United Federal Credit Union$39,198$18.85
    11Bank of America$39,103$18.806
    12Choiceone Financial Services$38,849$18.689
    13WSFS Bank$38,833$18.6710
    14Wells Fargo$38,630$18.5714
    15First Community Bancshares$38,545$18.53
    16Busey$38,024$18.281
    17Berkshire Ban$38,001$18.271
    18Bank on Southern Utah$37,787$18.17
    19ServisFirst Bank$37,767$18.163
    20Mid Penn Bank$37,743$18.1517
  4. Writing a loan documentation specialist job description

    A good loan documentation specialist 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 documentation specialist job description:

    Loan documentation specialist job description example

    Lendbuzz is a fintech venture based in downtown Boston. We are a diverse team in gender, nationalities, and cultures, speaking eight languages and representing six countries. We are incredibly passionate about the problem we're solving, the clients we're helping, and the exciting future of our company.
    Help make this rocket ship go further and faster!

    This position will be part of the sales team, and will work cross-functionally with the sales, operations, and finance teams. The job will involve analyzing, assessing, and approving loan applications based on a number of criteria and factors.
    ResponsibilitiesAssist and coordinate with loan officers in the review and assessment of all loan documentation Act as subject matter expert/contact point for assigned business areas Consult with various stakeholders - including business management, Credit Risk, Operations and Finance - to ensure a comprehensive evaluation Complete loan contracts and educate clients on policies and regulations.Prepare detailed loan proposals.Respond to applicants' questions and resolve any loan-related issues.Operate in compliance with laws and regulations.Exercise discretion and independent judgement.Perform of office or non-manual work directly related to the general business operations of the customers.
    Experience/Abilities1-3 years of experience within a financial services organization, focused on credit and/or risk management Excellent interpersonal, communication, organizational and writing skills Ability to develop business relationships with senior management and others throughout the organization Equivalent to a B.S. degree in Business, Finance, or related field
    We believe:

    Diversity is a competitive advantage. We celebrate our differences, and are better when we have a variety of experiences, viewpoints, and backgrounds.

    Compassion is a strength. We care about our customers and look to build long-term relationships with them.

    Simplicity is a key feature. We work hard to make our forms and processes as painless and intuitive as possible.

    Honesty and transparency are non negotiable. We incorporate these traits in all of our interactions.

    Financial opportunity belongs to everyone. We work every day to improve lives by extending this opportunity.

    If you believe these things too then we would love to hear from you!
  5. Post your job

    To find the right loan documentation specialist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with loan documentation specialists they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit loan documentation specialists who meet your education requirements.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your loan documentation specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit loan documentation specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with loan documentation specialist 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 loan documentation specialist

    Once you have selected a candidate for the loan documentation specialist 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.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new loan documentation specialist. 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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How much does it cost to hire a loan documentation specialist?

Hiring a loan documentation specialist comes with both the one-time cost per hire and ongoing costs. The cost of recruiting loan documentation specialists involves promoting the job and spending time conducting interviews. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider the cost of loan documentation specialist recruiting as well the ongoing costs of maintaining the new employee.

The median annual salary for loan documentation specialists is $35,946 in the US. However, the cost of loan documentation specialist hiring can vary a lot depending on location. Additionally, hiring a loan documentation specialist for contract work or on a per-project basis typically costs between $13 and $21 an hour.

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