diff --git a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/list/table/wo-table-body.tsx b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/list/table/wo-table-body.tsx
index bfbde81a..65f49dbd 100644
--- a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/list/table/wo-table-body.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_components/list/table/wo-table-body.tsx
@@ -23,8 +23,13 @@ export function WoTableBody({ tableData, renderRow, renderInlineRow }: WoTableBo
   const unassignedRows = tableData.unassigned ?? [];
   const showUnscheduled =
     (tableData.unscheduled?.length ?? 0) > 0 || tableData.draftDayKey === UNSCHEDULED_DAY_KEY;
+  const showUnassignedLoading =
+    tableData.unassignedOpen && Boolean(tableData.unassignedLoading) && !tableData.unassignedError;
   const showUnassignedEmpty =
-    tableData.unassignedOpen && unassignedRows.length === 0 && !tableData.unassignedError;
+    tableData.unassignedOpen &&
+    unassignedRows.length === 0 &&
+    !tableData.unassignedError &&
+    !tableData.unassignedLoading;
 
   return (
     <tbody>
@@ -47,6 +52,15 @@ export function WoTableBody({ tableData, renderRow, renderInlineRow }: WoTableBo
               </td>
             </tr>
           )}
+          {showUnassignedLoading && (
+            <tr>
+              <td colSpan={WO_TABLE_COLS.length} style={{ padding: "8px 14px" }}>
+                <Text variant="feedback" tone="muted">
+                  Loading unassigned work orders.
+                </Text>
+              </td>
+            </tr>
+          )}
           {showUnassignedEmpty && (
             <tr>
               <td colSpan={WO_TABLE_COLS.length} style={{ padding: "8px 14px" }}>
diff --git a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_hooks/use-work-orders-board-source.ts b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_hooks/use-work-orders-board-source.ts
index 11771ca7..2227e3f9 100644
--- a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_hooks/use-work-orders-board-source.ts
+++ b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_hooks/use-work-orders-board-source.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export type WorkOrdersBoardSource = {
   data: WorkOrderBoardListResult | undefined;
   unassignedQueue: WorkOrderTableRow[];
   unassignedError: Error | null;
+  unassignedLoading: boolean;
   isLoading: boolean;
   isFetching: boolean;
   error: Error | null;
@@ -75,6 +76,7 @@ export function useWorkOrdersBoardSource(filters: FiltersReturn): WorkOrdersBoar
   } = useWorkOrdersBoardSearch(resolvedSearchParams ?? { datePreset: "ThisWeek" }, advActive);
   const {
     data: queueData,
+    isPending: queuePending,
     isFetching: queueFetching,
     error: queueError,
     refetch: refetchQueue,
@@ -94,6 +96,7 @@ export function useWorkOrdersBoardSource(filters: FiltersReturn): WorkOrdersBoar
     data: advActive ? searchData : boardData,
     unassignedQueue: advActive ? EMPTY_UNASSIGNED_QUEUE : (queueData ?? EMPTY_UNASSIGNED_QUEUE),
     unassignedError: advActive ? null : (queueError ?? null),
+    unassignedLoading: advActive ? false : queuePending,
     isLoading: advActive ? searchLoading : boardLoading,
     isFetching: advActive ? searchFetching : boardFetching || queueFetching,
     error: advActive ? searchError : boardError,
diff --git a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_hooks/use-work-orders-table-data.ts b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_hooks/use-work-orders-table-data.ts
index 469fd465..752272de 100644
--- a/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_hooks/use-work-orders-table-data.ts
+++ b/src/app/(protected)/workorders/_hooks/use-work-orders-table-data.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ export function useWorkOrdersTableData(filters: FiltersReturn) {
     data,
     unassignedQueue,
     unassignedError,
+    unassignedLoading,
     isLoading,
     isFetching,
     error,
@@ -107,6 +108,7 @@ export function useWorkOrdersTableData(filters: FiltersReturn) {
     advResults,
     unassigned,
     unassignedError,
+    unassignedLoading,
     unscheduled,
     displayGroups,
     searchActive,
diff --git a/src/test/app/(protected)/workorders/wo-table-unassigned-queue.test.tsx b/src/test/app/(protected)/workorders/wo-table-unassigned-queue.test.tsx
index d010346d..a3461cd9 100644
--- a/src/test/app/(protected)/workorders/wo-table-unassigned-queue.test.tsx
+++ b/src/test/app/(protected)/workorders/wo-table-unassigned-queue.test.tsx
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ function baseTableData(
     advResults: [],
     unassigned: [],
     unassignedError: null,
+    unassignedLoading: false,
     unscheduled: [],
     displayGroups: [],
     searchActive: false,
@@ -350,6 +351,25 @@ describe("WoTableBody Unassigned queue (SH-165)", () => {
     expect(screen.queryByTestId(/row-/)).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 
+  it("shows a loading state instead of empty while the unassigned queue is pending", () => {
+    render(
+      <table>
+        <WoTableBody
+          tableData={baseTableData({ unassignedLoading: true })}
+          renderRow={(row) => (
+            <tr key={String(row.id)} data-testid={`row-${row.id}`}>
+              <td>{row.woNumber}</td>
+            </tr>
+          )}
+          renderInlineRow={() => null}
+        />
+      </table>,
+    );
+
+    expect(screen.getByText("Loading unassigned work orders.")).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.queryByText("No unassigned work orders.")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
   it("removes a pinned row immediately after assigning through the board PATCH path", async () => {
     const user = userEvent.setup();
     const pinned = makeRow({
diff --git a/src/test/app/(protected)/workorders/wo-table-unscheduled-highlight.test.tsx b/src/test/app/(protected)/workorders/wo-table-unscheduled-highlight.test.tsx
index cc1cb93e..9a5216c8 100644
--- a/src/test/app/(protected)/workorders/wo-table-unscheduled-highlight.test.tsx
+++ b/src/test/app/(protected)/workorders/wo-table-unscheduled-highlight.test.tsx
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ function renderUnscheduledHarness() {
     advActive: false,
     unassigned: [],
     unassignedError: null,
+    unassignedLoading: false,
     unassignedOpen: true,
     setUnassignedOpen: vi.fn(),
     unscheduled: [unscheduledRow],