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Underwriter vs credit analyst

The differences between underwriters and credit analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an underwriter has an average salary of $61,751, which is higher than the $61,422 average annual salary of a credit analyst.

The top three skills for an underwriter include customer service, investor guidelines and mortgage loans. The most important skills for a credit analyst are customer service, credit analysis, and customer accounts.

Underwriter vs credit analyst overview

UnderwriterCredit Analyst
Yearly salary$61,751$61,422
Hourly rate$29.69$29.53
Growth rate-4%-5%
Number of jobs8,51016,406
Job satisfaction3-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4439
Years of experience-2

What does an underwriter do?

An underwriter's duties depend on the line of work or industry involved, such as mortgage companies, insurance, or lending firms. However, an Underwriter's responsibility will mainly revolve around using their extensive expertise on how a company will achieve financial gains, and assessing the possible financial risks of a client by reviewing various aspects to determine their capacity to uphold monetary obligations. Most of the time, the Underwriter's tasks will also involve evaluating a client's credit history, health, assets, overall financial history.

What does a credit analyst do?

A credit analyst's role is to assess and determine a client's capacity to uphold financial obligations when applying for loans or credit programs. Working for creditors like banks and lending firms, a credit analyst must interpret and analyze financial data and personal records, identify inconsistencies and risks, and verify necessary documentation in support of loan committees. Furthermore, a credit analyst must also perform administrative tasks such as preparing reports and applications, fulfilling document requests, reaching out to clients, and coordinating with colleagues to assure accuracy in all operations.

Underwriter vs credit analyst salary

Underwriters and credit analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

UnderwriterCredit Analyst
Average salary$61,751$61,422
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $96,000Between $40,000 And $93,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MANew York, NY
Highest paying stateMassachusettsNew York
Best paying companyGoogleApollo Global Management
Best paying industryManufacturingFinance

Differences between underwriter and credit analyst education

There are a few differences between an underwriter and a credit analyst in terms of educational background:

UnderwriterCredit Analyst
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Underwriter vs credit analyst demographics

Here are the differences between underwriters' and credit analysts' demographics:

UnderwriterCredit Analyst
Average age4439
Gender ratioMale, 38.4% Female, 61.6%Male, 44.2% Female, 55.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 2.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.6% Asian, 5.6% White, 72.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.5% Asian, 10.5% White, 69.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage9%11%

Differences between underwriter and credit analyst duties and responsibilities

Underwriter example responsibilities.

  • Attain Jr. underwriter status and AUS underwriting authority.
  • Manage AUS findings and analyze approvals and results accordingly.
  • Complete initial review of appraisals, borrower credit documents, and DU/LP findings according to Fannie Mae and investor guidelines.
  • Research and develop SBA program.
  • Work on project putting together HPR policy.
  • Resolve issues preventing final disposition of REO properties.
  • Show more

Credit analyst example responsibilities.

  • Provide treasury with funding requirements to maximize LIBOR rate advantage.
  • Manage a team to help facilitate efficient loan origination, underwriting and closing.
  • Lead a presentation to the FHA quantitative team by using multiple data visualization techniques.
  • Manage A/R transactions, prepare weekly account reconciliation's, perform research/ adjustments on A/P and A/R discrepancy accounts.
  • Utilize data manipulation and quantitative analysis using VBA macros, SQL and advance excel knowledge to manage credit risk exposure.
  • Manage accounting operations, accounting close, account reporting and reconciliations.
  • Show more

Underwriter vs credit analyst skills

Common underwriter skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Investor Guidelines, 6%
  • Mortgage Loans, 5%
  • Underwriting Guidelines, 5%
  • Financial Statements, 4%
  • FHA, 3%
Common credit analyst skills
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Credit Analysis, 7%
  • Customer Accounts, 4%
  • Real Estate, 4%
  • Credit Risk, 4%
  • Strong Analytical, 4%

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