Loan Officer salary in California
Loan Officers in California earn a median of $81,770 a year ($39.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 25,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,040 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $76,690. California ranks 15th of 51 states for loan officers pay. There are 1.4 loan officers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $97,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for loan officers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| 25th percentile | $53,670 | $25.80 |
| Median | $81,770 | $39.31 |
| 75th percentile | $122,960 | $59.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,040 | $81.27 |
| Average (mean) | $97,120 | $46.69 |
Half of loan officers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,814.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,407.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,145 |
| Weekly | $1,572.50 |
| Hourly | $39.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Loan Officer salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $103,000 | 3,330 |
| Salinas, CA | $95,640 | 140 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $95,090 | 1,140 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $86,200 | 180 |
| Vallejo, CA | $83,110 | 170 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $82,470 | 100 |
| Modesto, CA | $82,250 | 190 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $81,770 | 2,360 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $80,370 | 290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $80,360 | 9,690 |
| Napa, CA | $80,070 | 60 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $79,810 | 210 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $79,190 | 1,580 |
| Merced, CA | $78,940 | 90 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $78,940 | 70 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $78,710 | 1,500 |
| El Centro, CA | $78,350 | 60 |
| Fresno, CA | $78,060 | 470 |
| Yuba City, CA | $77,770 | 80 |
| Redding, CA | $76,790 | 80 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $76,500 | 290 |
| Visalia, CA | $75,770 | 140 |
| Chico, CA | $68,170 | 80 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $64,470 | 1,010 |
Highest-paying states for loan officers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $101,600 |
| Connecticut | $95,730 |
| New York | $95,710 |
| Minnesota | $95,170 |
| Colorado | $94,520 |
| Oregon | $94,440 |
| New Jersey | $92,920 |
| District of Columbia | $92,890 |
| Vermont | $88,710 |
| Kansas | $86,970 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $97,050 | $46.66 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $109,110 | $52.46 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $130,330 | $62.66 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $80,810 | $38.85 |
| Tax Preparer | $70,030 | $33.67 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $74,110 | $35.63 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $95,320 | $45.83 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $88,900 | $42.74 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $129,110 | $62.07 |
| Credit Analyst | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| Financial Examiner | $106,000 | $50.96 |
| Budget Analyst | $99,520 | $47.84 |
| Credit Counselor | $67,120 | $32.27 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $87,570 | $42.10 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2072. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a loan officer make in California?
The median salary for loan officers in California is $81,770 a year, or $39.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,460 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid loan officers make in California?
The top 10% of loan officers in California earn at least $169,040 a year. The top 25% earn $122,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for loan officers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,460 a year, and a quarter of loan officers earn $53,670 or less.
How many loan officers work in California?
About 25,790 loan officers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.