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Loan officer vs loan originator

The differences between loan officers and loan originators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a loan officer and a loan originator. Additionally, a loan officer has an average salary of $45,817, which is higher than the $41,291 average annual salary of a loan originator.

The top three skills for a loan officer include customer service, origination and loan origination. The most important skills for a loan originator are customer service, origination, and FHA.

Loan officer vs loan originator overview

Loan OfficerLoan Originator
Yearly salary$45,817$41,291
Hourly rate$22.03$19.85
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs63,66310,716
Job satisfaction4.5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4545
Years of experience66

What does a loan officer do?

Loan officers are responsible for assisting borrowers on the best type of loans to avail and guiding the clients throughout the application process. A loan officer must be highly knowledgeable about different lending products, payment plans, loan regulations, and essential files for fast loan approval. Loan officers also act as the first point of contact, conducting an initial screening of the customers, process loan contracts and appropriate documentation, update account records, and respond to customer's inquiries. A loan officer also has the right to reject loan applicants who do not meet loan qualifications.

What does a loan originator do?

A Loan Originator is a potential liaison between borrowers and lenders. They help borrowers complete loan applications and evaluate which loans are most appropriate for the customers.

Loan officer vs loan originator salary

Loan officers and loan originators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Loan OfficerLoan Originator
Average salary$45,817$41,291
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $69,000Between $28,000 And $60,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkSouth Dakota
Best paying companyBangor Savings BankCentennial Bank
Best paying industryFinanceTransportation

Differences between loan officer and loan originator education

There are a few differences between a loan officer and a loan originator in terms of educational background:

Loan OfficerLoan Originator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Loan officer vs loan originator demographics

Here are the differences between loan officers' and loan originators' demographics:

Loan OfficerLoan Originator
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 55.3% Female, 44.7%Male, 54.0% Female, 46.0%
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, 9.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.4% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between loan officer and loan originator duties and responsibilities

Loan officer example responsibilities.

  • Manage a multifacete commercial real estate investment firm.
  • Supervise and manage the processing staff and also underwrite conventional loans for correspondent lenders.
  • Follow up leads for refinance loans gather all applications and necessary paperwork to qualify applicants from origination to close of escrow.
  • Analyze available resources to determine suitable mortgage products (FHA, FNMA/FHLC) to meet clients' purchasing or refinancing goals.
  • Originate and process various loan products including government, conventional, portfolio, construction, USDA mortgages, home equity line/loans.
  • Originate FHA, VA, conventional, jumbo, and USDA loans, according to specific lender guidelines in broker environment.
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Loan originator example responsibilities.

  • Supervise and manage the processing staff and also underwrite conventional loans for correspondent lenders.
  • Complete yearly the NMLS continuing education requirements.
  • Direct lender with FNMA while maintaining all loan servicing.
  • Increase revenues and product awareness by cross-selling service lines and packages.
  • Complete a rigorous training program and have obtained 25 NMLS state licensing requirements to be a loan originator.
  • Review FHA case number assignments, mortgage credit rejects and refinances authorizations to determine qualification.
  • Show more

Loan officer vs loan originator skills

Common loan officer skills
  • Customer Service, 17%
  • Origination, 13%
  • Loan Origination, 5%
  • FHA, 5%
  • NMLS, 5%
  • Loan Products, 4%
Common loan originator skills
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Origination, 9%
  • FHA, 6%
  • Va, 6%
  • Phone Calls, 6%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 5%

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