Benchmark Your SBA Lending Team with the Industry’s Most Trusted Compensation Data

For more than 25 years, The Coleman Report has surveyed SBA lending professionals to track compensation trends across the industry.

The 2026 SBA 7(a) Loan Department Compensation Survey provides the most comprehensive view of how SBA departments compensate the specialists who originate, underwrite, process, close, and service SBA loans.

If you hire, manage, or compensate SBA lending professionals, this report gives you the data you need to stay competitive in today’s market.

Positions Covered in the Survey

The report includes compensation benchmarks for the key roles within an SBA lending department:

• SBA Loan Department Manager
• SBA Business Development Officer (BDO)
• SBA Loan Underwriter
• SBA Loan Packager
• SBA Loan Closer
• SBA Loan Servicer

Each position report is available individually or as part of the complete seven-report bundle.

What the Survey Reveals

The 2026 Compensation Survey provides detailed benchmarks, including:

• Average base salary
• Average total compensation
• Compensation ranges 
• Year-over-year compensation trends
• Benchmarks by experience level
• Sample Job Description
• Office and Remote Day Statistics
• Challenges in 2026

Built on Data from Leading SBA Lenders

This year’s survey includes responses from more than 100 SBA lenders, including over 33% of the nation’s Top 100 SBA lenders.

We also validate results through direct conversations with lenders and compensation professionals to ensure the data accurately reflects current market compensation practices.

Special Focus: SBA Business Development Officer Compensation

The SBA BDO Compensation Report provides detailed benchmarks for SBA sales professionals, including:

• Salary ranges by loan production volume
• Base salary, commissions, bonuses, and total compensation
• Production tiers for top, above-average, average, and below-average performers
• Commission structures and tiered plans
• Bonus and milestone compensation programs
• Commission clawback benchmarks

Why SBA Lenders Rely on the Coleman Compensation Survey

SBA lending is a specialized business, and experienced SBA professionals are difficult to recruit and retain.

The Coleman Compensation Survey helps lenders:

• Benchmark compensation against peer institutions
• Recruit experienced SBA professionals
• Design competitive compensation structures
• Support compensation decisions with objective industry data
• Retain top SBA talent in a competitive hiring market

Order the 2026 Compensation Survey

Available as individual reports or as the complete seven-report bundle.

The full 7-Report bundle and a ticket for anyone at your institution to a Coleman Retreat one-day event covering the topic of compensation and individual productivity. 

Date and location TBA, but here is the tentative schedule.

May — Southern California

June — Florida

Order the 2026 SBA Compensation Survey Today!