What is a Loan Officer?
Example of Loan Officer Job Evaluate, authorize, or recommend approval of commercial, real estate, or credit loans. Advise borrowers on financial status and payment methods. Includes mortgage loan officers and agents, collection analysts, loan servicing officers, and loan underwriters.
List of Loan Officer Job Duties
- Handle customer complaints and take appropriate action to resolve them.
- Meet with applicants to obtain information for loan applications and to answer questions about the process.
- Negotiate payment arrangements with customers who have delinquent loans.
- Explain to customers the different types of loans and credit options that are available, as well as the terms of those services.
- Analyze applicants’ financial status, credit, and property evaluations to determine feasibility of granting loans.
- Set credit policies, credit lines, procedures and standards in conjunction with senior managers.
What a Loan Officer Should Know
When polled, Loan Officers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Related Job Titles
- Commercial Mortgage Broker
- Loan Auditor
- Loan Underwriter
- Mortgage Consultant
- Loan Originator
Job Opportunities for Loan Officers
In the United States, there were 318,600 jobs for Loan Officer in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 36,300 new jobs for Loan Officer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 30,400 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Loan Officer are Utah, Arizona, and Iowa. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, West Virginia, or Maryland. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Loan Officer Average Salary
Loan Officers make between $31,870 and $132,080 a year.
Loan Officers who work in New York, New Hampshire, or Nebraska, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Loan Officers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $67,860 |
Alaska | $71,120 |
Arizona | $62,430 |
Arkansas | $73,990 |
California | $78,940 |
Colorado | $71,010 |
Connecticut | $91,730 |
Delaware | $70,100 |
District of Columbia | $95,000 |
Florida | $78,000 |
Georgia | $75,060 |
Hawaii | $72,790 |
Idaho | $60,810 |
Illinois | $81,620 |
Indiana | $67,450 |
Iowa | $67,580 |
Kansas | $84,320 |
Kentucky | $67,450 |
Louisiana | $56,190 |
Maine | $76,340 |
Maryland | $84,240 |
Massachusetts | $94,540 |
Minnesota | $79,420 |
Mississippi | $65,360 |
Missouri | $76,550 |
Montana | $63,910 |
Nebraska | $81,740 |
Nevada | $80,290 |
New Hampshire | $90,500 |
New Jersey | $85,540 |
New Mexico | $63,320 |
New York | $103,450 |
North Carolina | $72,210 |
North Dakota | $74,330 |
Ohio | $72,030 |
Oklahoma | $67,810 |
Oregon | $76,680 |
Pennsylvania | $68,280 |
Rhode Island | $69,500 |
South Carolina | $69,240 |
South Dakota | $63,230 |
Tennessee | $63,810 |
Texas | $83,910 |
Utah | $57,640 |
Vermont | $66,350 |
Virginia | $80,440 |
Washington | $74,830 |
West Virginia | $55,370 |
Wisconsin | $73,390 |
Wyoming | $69,530 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Loan Officers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Loan Officers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Dynamics
- IBM Notes
- LexisNexis
- Tax software
- Customer information control system CICS
- Common business oriented language COBOL
- Delphi Discovery
- CGI-AMS BureauLink Enterprise
- Experian Credinomics
- Moody’s KMV CreditEdge
- Harland Financial Solutions DecisionPro
- Fair Isaac Falcon ID
- Fannie Mae Desktop Underwriter
Becoming a Loan Officer
Individuals working as a Loan Officer have obtained the following education levels:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Loan Officers Are Employed
Loan Officers work in the following industries:
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Loan Officer might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Loan Officer in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Dave Dugdale via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.