What Does it Take to Be a Loan Officer?
Job Description: 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.
Life As a Loan Officer: What Do They Do?
- Submit applications to credit analysts for verification and recommendation.
- Review loan agreements to ensure that they are complete and accurate according to policy.
- Negotiate payment arrangements with customers who have delinquent loans.
- Handle customer complaints and take appropriate action to resolve them.
- Interview, hire, and train new employees.
- Prepare reports to send to customers whose accounts are delinquent, and forward irreconcilable accounts for collector action.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Loan Officer?
Loan Officers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Types of Loan Officer Jobs
- Agricultural Loan Officer
- Loan Approver
- Bank Officer
- Loan Auditor
- Loan Adviser
Job Outlook for Loan Officers
There were about 318,600 jobs for Loan Officer in 2016 (in the United States). 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. The BLS estimates 30,400 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
How Much Does a Loan Officer Make?
The salary for Loan Officers ranges between about $31,870 and $132,080 a year.

Loan Officers who work in New York, New Hampshire, or Nebraska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Loan Officers make 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 |
What Tools do Loan Officers Use?
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
Learn what Loan Officer education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Loan Officers Work

Below are examples of industries where Loan Officers work:

Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Loan Officer might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as a Loan Officer sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Dave Dugdale via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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