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Underwriter vs loan administrator

The differences between underwriters and loan administrators 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 $42,859 average annual salary of a loan administrator.

The top three skills for an underwriter include customer service, investor guidelines and mortgage loans. The most important skills for a loan administrator are customer service, data entry, and loan administration.

Underwriter vs loan administrator overview

UnderwriterLoan Administrator
Yearly salary$61,751$42,859
Hourly rate$29.69$20.61
Growth rate-4%4%
Number of jobs8,51063,708
Job satisfaction3-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age4445
Years of experience-6

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 loan administrator do?

A Loan Administrator is a person that takes care of all the documentation part of the loan process. Loans require a lot of documents and requirements, and a loan administrator is a person that helps the client accomplish all these requirements. It is also their job to help clients resolve issues and problems during the loan process. A Loan Administrator is a crucial and hectic job. The one qualified for this position must be good at handling pressure, be good at resolving issues, handle complaints, and communicate with people.

Underwriter vs loan administrator salary

Underwriters and loan administrators have different pay scales, as shown below.

UnderwriterLoan Administrator
Average salary$61,751$42,859
Salary rangeBetween $39,000 And $96,000Between $31,000 And $59,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsHawaii
Best paying companyGoogleBNY Mellon
Best paying industryManufacturingFinance

Differences between underwriter and loan administrator education

There are a few differences between an underwriter and a loan administrator in terms of educational background:

UnderwriterLoan Administrator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Underwriter vs loan administrator demographics

Here are the differences between underwriters' and loan administrators' demographics:

UnderwriterLoan Administrator
Average age4445
Gender ratioMale, 38.4% Female, 61.6%Male, 23.2% Female, 76.8%
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, 9.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 6.4% White, 63.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage9%8%

Differences between underwriter and loan administrator 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

Loan administrator example responsibilities.

  • Manage a multifacete commercial real estate investment firm.
  • Pull OFAC on all borrowers.
  • Order third party reports such as appraisals, titles, and OFAC information.
  • Order on FHA loans in a timely and efficient manner to meet month end deadlines.
  • Present and sell financial benefits of a variety of FHA, VA, and conventional loans.
  • Coordinate and maintain loans for adherence to credit policy as well as guidelines in keeping compliant with SBA regulations.
  • Show more

Underwriter vs loan administrator skills

Common underwriter skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Investor Guidelines, 6%
  • Mortgage Loans, 5%
  • Underwriting Guidelines, 5%
  • Financial Statements, 4%
  • FHA, 3%
Common loan administrator skills
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Data Entry, 5%
  • Loan Administration, 5%
  • Loan Processing, 5%
  • Financial Statements, 4%
  • Due Diligence, 4%

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