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The differences between mortgage originators and senior underwriters can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a senior underwriter has an average salary of $69,375, which is higher than the $31,380 average annual salary of a mortgage originator.
The top three skills for a mortgage originator include customer service, origination and bank products. The most important skills for a senior underwriter are customer service, portfolio, and underwriting guidelines.
| Mortgage Originator | Senior Underwriter | |
| Yearly salary | $31,380 | $69,375 |
| Hourly rate | $15.09 | $33.35 |
| Growth rate | 4% | -4% |
| Number of jobs | 11,164 | 6,726 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
A Mortgage Originator is someone who will work with a borrower to process and complete a home loan application. They work closely with loan processors and underwriters to collect the required documentation until it is approved. Mortgage Origniators are responsible for guiding clients through the approval stage by assisting them with the paperwork, determining the loan amount, and taking and verifying documentation. They guide borrowers in deciding which mortgage type is right for them.
A senior underwriter is responsible for evaluating the eligibility of an applicant for loan application processing. Senior underwriters verify the applicant's information, including their credit score and other valid documents, ensuring that the applicant fulfills the loan application's parameters. They check the applicant's portfolios and provide them the next necessary steps and the alternatives for loan types. A senior underwriter must have excellent knowledge of the loan processes and underwriting procedures to analyze applications and make accurate decisions.
Mortgage originators and senior underwriters have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mortgage Originator | Senior Underwriter | |
| Average salary | $31,380 | $69,375 |
| Salary range | Between $16,000 And $57,000 | Between $44,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | - | New York |
| Best paying company | - | Capital Group |
| Best paying industry | - | Insurance |
There are a few differences between a mortgage originator and a senior underwriter in terms of educational background:
| Mortgage Originator | Senior Underwriter | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between mortgage originators' and senior underwriters' demographics:
| Mortgage Originator | Senior Underwriter | |
| Average age | 45 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 56.2% Female, 43.8% | Male, 42.0% Female, 58.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 6.1% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 5.6% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |