Best states for a loan originator

Q: What is the best state for loan originators?

The best state to be a loan originator is South Dakota based on loan originator salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for loan originators?

The highest paying state for loan originators is Mississippi based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for loan originators?

The worst state for loan originators is Indiana, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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Loan originator opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for loan originators, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for loan originators.In order to help you decide which state is the best for loan originators, we ranked all 50 states and the District of Columbia from best to worst for loan originator jobs.

In order to get you the best states for loan originators, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.If you are currently seeking employment as a loan originator, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.

10 best states for loan originators in 2026

1. South Dakota
Total loan originator jobs: 39
Average annual salary: $52,253
Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $67,000
Location Quotient:
1.28
Loan originator jobs in South Dakota
2. Wyoming
Total loan originator jobs: 30
Average annual salary: $45,916
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $59,000
Location Quotient:
1.76
Loan originator jobs in Wyoming
3. Maine
Total loan originator jobs: 41
Average annual salary: $49,762
Lowest 10 percent earn: $37,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Location Quotient:
1.08
Loan originator jobs in Maine
4. Rhode Island
Total loan originator jobs: 46
Average annual salary: $47,146
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $66,000
Location Quotient:
1.33
Loan originator jobs in Rhode Island
5. Minnesota
Total loan originator jobs: 251
Average annual salary: $46,856
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $60,000
Location Quotient:
1.33
Loan originator jobs in Minnesota
6. Florida
Total loan originator jobs: 700
Average annual salary: $46,593
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Location Quotient:
1.57
Loan originator jobs in Florida
7. Arkansas
Total loan originator jobs: 69
Average annual salary: $50,713
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000
Location Quotient:
0.92
Loan originator jobs in Arkansas
8. Montana
Total loan originator jobs: 42
Average annual salary: $45,218
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Location Quotient:
1.28
Loan originator jobs in Montana
9. New Mexico
Total loan originator jobs: 25
Average annual salary: $51,279
Lowest 10 percent earn: $36,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000
Location Quotient:
0.45
Loan originator jobs in New Mexico
10. New Jersey
Total loan originator jobs: 221
Average annual salary: $48,756
Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Location Quotient:
0.98
Loan originator jobs in New Jersey

Loan originator jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a loan originator

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a loan originator

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	South Dakota	$52,253	$40,000	869,666	39
2	Wyoming	$45,916	$35,000	579,315	30
3	Maine	$49,762	$37,000	1,335,907	41
4	Rhode Island	$47,146	$33,000	1,059,639	46
5	Minnesota	$46,856	$36,000	5,576,606	251
6	Florida	$46,593	$30,000	20,984,400	700
7	Arkansas	$50,713	$35,000	3,004,279	69
8	Montana	$45,218	$36,000	1,050,493	42
9	New Mexico	$51,279	$36,000	2,088,070	25
10	New Jersey	$48,756	$33,000	9,005,644	221
11	Iowa	$43,640	$32,000	3,145,711	111
12	Vermont	$46,011	$34,000	623,657	21
13	Hawaii	$48,138	$40,000	1,427,538	33
14	North Dakota	$43,665	$34,000	755,393	28
15	New York	$49,692	$34,000	19,849,399	225
16	Colorado	$43,351	$32,000	5,607,154	247
17	Pennsylvania	$43,550	$30,000	12,805,537	285
18	Texas	$41,861	$28,000	28,304,596	635
19	Washington	$43,864	$35,000	7,405,743	218
20	Ohio	$40,250	$29,000	11,658,609	317
21	Michigan	$41,507	$30,000	9,962,311	213
22	Maryland	$44,136	$30,000	6,052,177	173
23	Oregon	$44,095	$34,000	4,142,776	88
24	California	$43,120	$30,000	39,536,653	817
25	Nebraska	$42,334	$31,000	1,920,076	44
26	South Carolina	$39,572	$26,000	5,024,369	135
27	Connecticut	$43,632	$30,000	3,588,184	61
28	New Hampshire	$42,794	$31,000	1,342,795	22
29	West Virginia	$40,348	$28,000	1,815,857	31
30	Kentucky	$40,215	$28,000	4,454,189	97
31	Illinois	$41,162	$30,000	12,802,023	329
32	Missouri	$39,853	$28,000	6,113,532	177
33	Massachusetts	$42,280	$30,000	6,859,819	139
34	Oklahoma	$41,026	$29,000	3,930,864	54
35	Kansas	$40,473	$29,000	2,913,123	75
36	Arizona	$37,376	$26,000	7,016,270	324
37	North Carolina	$39,853	$27,000	10,273,419	228
38	District of Columbia	$43,888	$30,000	693,972	25
39	Alaska	$35,997	$32,000	739,795	27
40	Virginia	$40,810	$28,000	8,470,020	195
41	Idaho	$36,419	$28,000	1,716,943	59
42	Wisconsin	$38,287	$29,000	5,795,483	143
43	Tennessee	$36,505	$25,000	6,715,984	169
44	Georgia	$37,837	$25,000	10,429,379	269
45	Delaware	$34,693	$24,000	961,939	48
46	Utah	$33,542	$25,000	3,101,833	116
47	Nevada	$35,125	$25,000	2,998,039	62
48	Mississippi	$32,189	$22,000	2,984,100	79
49	Louisiana	$37,383	$25,000	4,684,333	66
50	Alabama	$33,138	$22,000	4,874,747	128
51	Indiana	$34,317	$25,000	6,666,818	163

Highest paying states for loan originators

Rank	State	Avg. Loan Originator Salary
1	South Dakota	$52,253
2	Wyoming	$45,916
3	Maine	$49,762
4	Rhode Island	$47,146
5	Minnesota	$46,856
6	Florida	$46,593
7	Arkansas	$50,713
8	Montana	$45,218
9	New Mexico	$51,279
10	New Jersey	$48,756
11	Iowa	$43,640
12	Vermont	$46,011
13	Hawaii	$48,138
14	North Dakota	$43,665
15	New York	$49,692
16	Colorado	$43,351
17	Pennsylvania	$43,550
18	Texas	$41,861
19	Washington	$43,864
20	Ohio	$40,250
21	Michigan	$41,507
22	Maryland	$44,136
23	Oregon	$44,095
24	California	$43,120
25	Nebraska	$42,334
26	South Carolina	$39,572
27	Connecticut	$43,632
28	New Hampshire	$42,794
29	West Virginia	$40,348
30	Kentucky	$40,215
31	Illinois	$41,162
32	Missouri	$39,853
33	Massachusetts	$42,280
34	Oklahoma	$41,026
35	Kansas	$40,473
36	Arizona	$37,376
37	North Carolina	$39,853
38	District of Columbia	$43,888
39	Alaska	$35,997
40	Virginia	$40,810
41	Idaho	$36,419
42	Wisconsin	$38,287
43	Tennessee	$36,505
44	Georgia	$37,837
45	Delaware	$34,693
46	Utah	$33,542
47	Nevada	$35,125
48	Mississippi	$32,189
49	Louisiana	$37,383
50	Alabama	$33,138
51	Indiana	$34,317

Loan originator best states FAQs

What is the best state for loan originators?

What is the highest paying state for loan originators?

What is the worst state for loan originators?

Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.

Search for loan originator jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse business and financial jobs

Total loan originator jobs:	39
Average annual salary:	$52,253
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$40,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$67,000
Location Quotient:	1.28

Best states for a loan originator

10 best states for loan originators in 2026

1. South Dakota

2. Wyoming

3. Maine

4. Rhode Island

5. Minnesota

6. Florida

7. Arkansas

8. Montana

9. New Mexico

10. New Jersey