Compliance Officer Salary in Boston, MA
Compliance Officers in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $103,940 a year — 29% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,975 take-home, or $6,415 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median compliance officer salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,037
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,444
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,507
- Massachusetts income tax$4,977
- Take-home pay$76,975
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Compliance Officer pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,040 | $31.27 | $51,408 | $4,284 |
| 25th percentile | $80,640 | $38.77 | $61,748 | $5,146 |
| Median (50th) | $103,940 | $49.97 | $76,975 | $6,415 |
| 75th percentile | $131,430 | $63.19 | $94,747 | $7,896 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,390 | $78.07 | $114,360 | $9,530 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $103,940 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median compliance officer's $76,975 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,098 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 1.5× the national concentration of compliance officer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for compliance officers, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #3 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $123,730 | $86,950 | $78,742 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $118,890 | $84,096 | $72,740 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $103,940 | $76,975 | $71,098 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $86,720 | $66,886 | $68,708 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $95,850 | $76,260 | $68,621 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $100,200 | $73,772 | $67,753 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $73,920 | $60,833 | $67,658 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $101,050 | $74,997 | $66,627 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: compliance officers
Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a compliance officer make in Boston, MA?
The median compliance officer salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $103,940 a year, or about $49.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $80,640 and $131,430.
What is a compliance officer’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $103,940 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $76,975 a year ($6,415 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,977 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a compliance officer?
Pay here is 29% above the national median of $80,730. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,098 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #3 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a compliance officer afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 35% of a median compliance officer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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