Compliance Officer salary in the U.S.
Compliance Officers in the U.S. earn a median of $80,730 a year ($38.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 417,070 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,720 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $88,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for compliance officers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,220 | $23.18 |
| 25th percentile | $61,280 | $29.46 |
| Median | $80,730 | $38.81 |
| 75th percentile | $109,010 | $52.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,720 | $64.29 |
| Average (mean) | $88,400 | $42.50 |
Half of compliance 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 | $6,727.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,363.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,105 |
| Weekly | $1,552.50 |
| Hourly | $38.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Compliance Officer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,030 | 4,380 |
| Massachusetts | $102,060 | 13,190 |
| New Jersey | $100,000 | 13,310 |
| California | $96,980 | 49,880 |
| Connecticut | $91,810 | 3,610 |
| Delaware | $91,050 | 2,150 |
| Vermont | $90,420 | 1,960 |
| New York | $90,080 | 23,500 |
| Washington | $88,790 | 11,130 |
| Rhode Island | $87,620 | 970 |
| Minnesota | $85,920 | 6,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,580 | 19,810 |
| Maryland | $84,720 | 10,100 |
| Maine | $83,740 | 1,790 |
| Oregon | $82,990 | 5,360 |
| New Hampshire | $82,800 | 1,730 |
| Hawaii | $82,590 | 1,270 |
| Colorado | $82,450 | 7,740 |
| Illinois | $80,550 | 10,650 |
| Virginia | $80,380 | 15,190 |
| Wyoming | $79,890 | 580 |
| North Dakota | $79,440 | 990 |
| Wisconsin | $78,800 | 5,710 |
| Indiana | $78,770 | 5,120 |
| North Carolina | $78,500 | 11,320 |
| Nevada | $78,290 | 4,400 |
| Michigan | $77,390 | 9,720 |
| Alaska | $76,430 | 920 |
| Iowa | $75,620 | 3,660 |
| South Carolina | $75,460 | 4,760 |
| Idaho | $75,450 | 1,660 |
| Texas | $75,370 | 42,900 |
| Ohio | $75,030 | 11,240 |
| Arizona | $74,920 | 12,430 |
| Florida | $74,920 | 29,680 |
| Nebraska | $73,920 | 3,470 |
| Alabama | $72,990 | 3,770 |
| South Dakota | $72,630 | 1,130 |
| Guam | $71,930 | 260 |
| Louisiana | $70,290 | 3,970 |
| Georgia | $70,200 | 14,390 |
| Kansas | $69,740 | 3,560 |
| Kentucky | $69,240 | 4,360 |
| New Mexico | $67,990 | 2,400 |
| Virgin Islands | $67,990 | 230 |
| Mississippi | $67,450 | 1,720 |
| Utah | $67,370 | 3,760 |
| Missouri | $67,270 | 7,000 |
| Montana | $66,660 | 1,480 |
| Arkansas | $64,680 | 3,120 |
| West Virginia | $64,270 | 1,720 |
| Tennessee | $63,960 | 7,990 |
| Oklahoma | $63,000 | 4,230 |
| Puerto Rico | $48,950 | 5,470 |
Best-paying metro areas for compliance officers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $123,730 | 2,690 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $118,890 | 7,500 |
| Bellingham, WA | $109,550 | 640 |
| El Centro, CA | $106,750 | 840 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $106,330 | 670 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $103,940 | 10,920 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $101,230 | 6,120 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $101,050 | 23,380 |
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | $100,440 | 400 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $100,200 | 13,820 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $99,040 | 230 |
| Boulder, CO | $98,350 | 480 |
| Laredo, TX | $98,180 | 1,440 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $97,920 | 790 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $97,470 | 910 |
Metro areas with the most compliance officers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 23,380 | $101,050 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 17,700 | $94,810 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 13,820 | $100,200 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 12,530 | $77,760 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 10,920 | $103,940 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 10,530 | $79,770 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 9,170 | $72,810 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 8,450 | $78,860 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 8,370 | $83,000 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 8,320 | $82,020 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 7,980 | $74,240 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 7,500 | $118,890 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 6,440 | $95,850 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 6,120 | $101,230 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 5,180 | $81,250 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $83,050 | $39.93 |
| Project Management Specialist | $102,320 | $49.19 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 | $36.51 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $78,760 | $37.87 |
| Management Analyst | $101,860 | $48.97 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $77,710 | $37.36 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $69,280 | $33.31 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,000 | $37.50 |
| Logistician | $82,320 | $39.58 |
| Cost Estimator | $78,740 | $37.86 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $61,160 | $29.41 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $78,210 | $37.60 |
| Fundraiser | $72,550 | $34.88 |
| Labor Relations Specialist | $95,420 | $45.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1041. 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 compliance officer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for compliance officers in the U.S. is $80,730 a year, or $38.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,220 for the lowest-paid 10% to $133,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid compliance officers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of compliance officers in the U.S. earn at least $133,720 a year. The top 25% earn $109,010 or more.
What is the starting pay for compliance officers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,220 a year, and a quarter of compliance officers earn $61,280 or less.
How many compliance officers work in the U.S.?
About 417,070 compliance officers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.