How To Become A Mortgage Originator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a mortgage originator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Mortgage originators help clients through the entire process of obtaining a loan. They usually work for banks or other lenders. Mortgage originators meet with clients interested in borrowing a mortgage, explain their options to them, and help them apply for a loan. Despite the title, mortgage originators actually see the mortgage process through until closing, making sure that an application makes it through the underwriting process when the company decides if a client is eligible for a loan or not.

Mortgage originators need to have excellent customer service skills to guide potential borrowers through the whole confusing process of applying for a mortgage. They also need excellent financial analysis skills and in-depth knowledge of a bank's products.

There are several ways to become a mortgage originator. Some get a bachelor's degree in business or finance, while others have only a high school diploma but plenty of professional experience working in finance, such as a loan officer. Sometimes they need a license from the state. Whatever their paths to this position, once they are hired, mortgage originators can earn an average salary of $43,611 a year and sometimes earn a commission.

ScoreMortgage OriginatorUS Average

Salary

2.5

Avg. Salary $31,380

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.3

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.48%

Asian 6.09%

Black or African American 10.04%

Hispanic or Latino 15.23%

Unknown 4.69%

White 63.46%

Gender

female 43.76%

male 56.24%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.6

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a mortgage originator

Explore mortgage originator education requirements

Most common mortgage originator degrees

Bachelor's

65.7 %

Associate

15.2 %

High School Diploma

7.2 %

Start to develop specific mortgage originator skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	12.75%
Origination	11.98%
Bank Products	11.24%
Loan Applications	6.90%
Loan Programs	6.07%

Complete relevant mortgage originator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New mortgage originators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a mortgage originator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real mortgage originator resumes.

Research mortgage originator duties and responsibilities

Coach new Jr. HMC's, lead team Jr. meetings and activities.
Handle issues concerning FHA, Fannie, Freddy, VA, and various loan type guidelines, policies and procedures.
Promote sales and origination of family residential properties within predetermine guidelines and rates.
Foster community relationships between lenders, and clients to ensure a positive outcome for financing requirements.

Prepare your mortgage originator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your mortgage originator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a mortgage originator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable mortgage originator resume templates

Build a professional mortgage originator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your mortgage originator resume.