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Senior loan officer vs senior underwriter

The differences between senior loan officers 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 $37,162 average annual salary of a senior loan officer.

The top three skills for a senior loan officer include customer service, loan applications and origination. The most important skills for a senior underwriter are customer service, portfolio, and underwriting guidelines.

Senior loan officer vs senior underwriter overview

Senior Loan OfficerSenior Underwriter
Yearly salary$37,162$69,375
Hourly rate$17.87$33.35
Growth rate4%-4%
Number of jobs65,8076,726
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4544
Years of experience6-

What does a senior loan officer do?

A senior loan officer is responsible for authorizing loan applications after evaluating the applicant's loan eligibility upon submitting documents and other requirements. Senior loan officers assist the loan staff for the approval or rejection of the application, providing alternatives for the applicants based on their credibility. They monitor the loan process, create loan contracts, ensuring that the payment plans meet the federal laws and regulations. A senior loan officer must have extensive knowledge of the financial industry to prepare proposals timely and accurately.

What does a senior underwriter do?

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.

Senior loan officer vs senior underwriter salary

Senior loan officers and senior underwriters have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Loan OfficerSenior Underwriter
Average salary$37,162$69,375
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $46,000Between $44,000 And $108,000
Highest paying CityMiami, FLNew York, NY
Highest paying stateHawaiiNew York
Best paying companySalal Credit UnionCapital Group
Best paying industryFinanceInsurance

Differences between senior loan officer and senior underwriter education

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

Senior Loan OfficerSenior Underwriter
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Senior loan officer vs senior underwriter demographics

Here are the differences between senior loan officers' and senior underwriters' demographics:

Senior Loan OfficerSenior Underwriter
Average age4544
Gender ratioMale, 69.4% Female, 30.6%Male, 42.0% Female, 58.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.9% Asian, 6.4% White, 63.4% 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 Percentage8%9%

Differences between senior loan officer and senior underwriter duties and responsibilities

Senior loan officer example responsibilities.

  • Oversee the loan origination process from inception to completion and initiate aggressive business growth opportunities in a highly competitive market.
  • Maintain close relationships with loan processors and problem-solve upcoming issues to ensure quality loan origination and minimize last-minute conditions of approval.
  • Prepare FNMA 1003 and RESPA documents.
  • Underwrite over 30 FNMA modification loans determining terms of trial and permanent modifications.
  • Utilize automated underwriting engines to assess credit and collateral risk conventional and FHA lending.
  • Establish communication with escrow officers, processors, loan officers and underwriter regarding loan status and/or missing information.
  • Show more

Senior underwriter example responsibilities.

  • Manage AUS findings and analyze approvals and results accordingly.
  • Perform underwriter approval/declines on FHA, VA, FmHA and conventional loan applications providing financing for one-to-four family residential properties.
  • Fix and n variable annuities.
  • Check for the accuracy and proper recording of UCC filings and mortgages.
  • Order and review flood searches, title reports, UCC searches, appraisals, insurance policies and binders, and contracts.
  • Review preliminary HUD-1 for accuracy.
  • Show more

Senior loan officer vs senior underwriter skills

Common senior loan officer skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Loan Applications, 11%
  • Origination, 10%
  • Business Relationships, 5%
  • FHA, 5%
  • Va, 5%
Common senior underwriter skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Portfolio, 8%
  • Underwriting Guidelines, 5%
  • Strong Analytical, 4%
  • SR, 4%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 4%

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