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How to hire a mortgage specialist

Mortgage specialist hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring mortgage specialists in the United States:

  • There are a total of 57,162 mortgage specialists in the US, and there are currently 26,471 job openings in this field.
  • The median cost to hire a mortgage specialist is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend $1,105 per mortgage 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.
  • East Lansing, MI, has the highest demand for mortgage specialists, with 3 job openings.

How to hire a mortgage specialist, step by step

To hire a mortgage specialist, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a mortgage specialist:

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

What does a mortgage specialist do?

Mortgage specialists are professionals who work with lending institutions to identify the best lending product for their clients in exchange for taking the title of the debtors' properties. These specialists must process mortgage loan applications by reviewing their paperwork to ensure accuracy and completeness before submitting for approval. They should monitor accounts during the bankruptcy proceedings to ensure that the rights of their clients are protected. Mortgage specialists are also required to guide associates regarding procedural guidelines from FNMA, FHLMC, and MHA.

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

    The mortgage specialist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

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

    A mortgage specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, mortgage specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of mortgage specialists.

    Type of Mortgage SpecialistDescriptionHourly rate
    Mortgage SpecialistFinancial clerks do administrative work for many types of organizations. They keep records, help customers, and carry out financial transactions.$13-24
    Loan ProcessorA loan processor is responsible for assisting customers with their loan requests, ensuring their eligibility, and choosing the best loan options for their needs. Loan processors carefully review loan application documents and prepare loan proposals for underwriting, analyzing the applicant's financial status and credit scores, processing repayment plans, and adhering to banking and financial regulations... Show more$13-24
    Loan CloserA loan closer is primarily in charge of handling and closing loan documentation, ensuring accuracy and smooth transactions. A loan closer's responsibilities revolve around liaising with clients to guarantee that they adhere to every term in the contract, preparing necessary reports and documents, monitoring payment progress, and ensuring that they have a deep understanding of the obligations under the contract... Show more$14-24
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Residential Mortgage Loans
    • Origination
    • FHA
    • Va
    • Loan Applications
    • Outbound Calls
    • RESPA
    • USDA
    • Inbound Calls
    • Escrow Accounts
    • Loan Origination
    • Loan Process
    • Loss Mitigation
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage internal team SharePoint and document repository.
    • Time management and organization skills to effectively prioritize multiple objectives and achieve volume goals.
    • Work due diligence and process loans per FHLMC guidelines on conventional, USDA, FHA/VA and CHFA/DAP loans.
    • Advise clients with mortgage needs by providing information regarding traditional and government programs, including USVA, FHA and VA loans.
    • Review HUD-1's to confirm fees and charges with initial GFE and RESPA compliance, order wire and provide funding approval.
    • Maintain a working knowledge of FDCPA and RESPA guidelines.
    More mortgage specialist duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your mortgage specialist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A mortgage specialist salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, mortgage specialists' average salary in florida is 39% less than in washington.
    • Seniority. Entry-level mortgage specialists earn 43% less than senior-level mortgage specialists.
    • Certifications. A mortgage specialist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a mortgage specialist's salary.

    Average mortgage specialist salary

    $38,757yearly

    $18.63 hourly rate

    Entry-level mortgage specialist salary
    $29,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 15, 2025

    Average mortgage specialist salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$49,328$24
    2New York$49,321$24
    3New Jersey$48,245$23
    4North Carolina$45,666$22
    5Maryland$44,336$21
    6Massachusetts$44,251$21
    7Delaware$42,677$21
    8Virginia$41,272$20
    9Pennsylvania$40,572$20
    10Oregon$39,708$19
    11Colorado$38,871$19
    12Arizona$38,553$19
    13Illinois$38,419$18
    14Wisconsin$38,191$18
    15Minnesota$36,728$18
    16Ohio$36,000$17
    17Nevada$35,536$17
    18Michigan$35,035$17
    19Georgia$34,907$17
    20Texas$34,869$17

    Average mortgage specialist salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Citi$58,416$28.083
    2JPMorgan Chase & Co.$55,480$26.6711
    3Leidos$52,897$25.438
    4Navy Federal Credit Union$52,422$25.20
    5Radian Group$47,929$23.04
    6Mutual of Omaha$47,294$22.743
    7Johnson Financial Group$46,357$22.291
    8HSBC Bank$46,063$22.15
    9Chevron Federal Credit Union$43,602$20.96
    10UW Credit Union$43,465$20.90
    11Finance of America$43,410$20.87
    12Western Alliance Bank$43,220$20.786
    13GoodLeap$42,696$20.5318
    14Riverview Community Bank$42,159$20.27
    15TRUE Community Credit Union$42,032$20.21
    16Tri Counties Bank$41,087$19.751
    17First Citizens Bank$40,791$19.616
    18Wells Fargo$40,678$19.5659
    19Lake Michigan Credit Union$40,317$19.3813
    20Mr. Cooper$40,130$19.29
  4. Writing a mortgage specialist job description

    A mortgage specialist job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a mortgage specialist job description:

    Mortgage specialist job description example

    Residential Mortgage Loan Specialist High-End Manhattan Residential Loan Originating Experience a Must.
    Upper East Side, Manhattan based. Opportunity to work remotely and use branch offices as needed.Base Salary + excellent commission plan and paid expenses. Job Specifications :
    • Incumbent has thorough knowledge of mortgage products, documentation, qualify criteria and regulations. Generally equivalent to five (5) years of mortgage origination experience.
    • Experience originating $1.7M and higher residential mortgage loans in the high-end Manhattan real estate market.
    • An understanding of Microsoft Office, Word, and Excel.
    • Communication skills are essential. Incumbent must demonstrate ability to listen. Should have experience in training and counseling.
    • Required to be productive with minimum supervision and available for customers/prospective customers at their convenience.
    • Must regularly engage away from the Bank's facilities while making sales calls or obtaining applications. Strong time management and goal-oriented skills are required.
    Duties and Responsibilities: Provides service to prospective mortgagors seeking residential mortgage loans by:
    • Interviewing applicants to develop information concerning their needs and earnings to assist in determining whether the loan will be an acceptable risk; obtains and analyzes pertinent income, credit and other financial data.
    • Assisting the borrower with the appropriate completion of the mortgage application, obtaining necessary forms and legal documentation and collecting the appropriate fees required for outsourced services.
    • Following the application process to ensure that the borrower receives timely service and that the loan is closed to the satisfaction of the bank and the mortgagor. Interceding when information is needed or requires clarification.
    • Maintaining and updating referral lists for evaluation and follow-up.
    • Developing Realtor, builder, attorney, accountant, community group relationship sources as assigned, or established by Home Loan Specialist, or on own initiative to establish new sources of business.
    • Develops new business or retain existing business by calling on existing bank customers and borrowers to help with potential refinances and second home purchases.
    • Represents the bank at trade shows, industry forums and sponsored community home-buyer workshops by delivering mortgage presentations and/or developing leads.
    • Keeps informed of trends, developments, and regulatory changes in the mortgage, consumer lending and real estate industries by attending internal training and outside seminars and webinars.
    New York City Metropolitan Area Candidates Only.
  5. Post your job

    To find the right mortgage 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 mortgage specialists they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit mortgage 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 mortgage specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit mortgage specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with mortgage 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.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    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 mortgage specialist

    Once you've found the mortgage specialist candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new mortgage specialist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  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 mortgage specialist?

There are different types of costs for hiring mortgage specialists. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new mortgage specialist employee.

Mortgage specialists earn a median yearly salary is $38,757 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find mortgage specialists for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $13 and $24.

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