Compliance Officer Salary in Houston, TX
Compliance Officers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $78,860 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $64,308 take-home, or $5,359 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median compliance officer salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,519
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,889
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,143
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$64,308
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Compliance Officer pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,170 | $21.72 | $38,474 | $3,206 |
| 25th percentile | $57,940 | $27.86 | $48,735 | $4,061 |
| Median (50th) | $78,860 | $37.91 | $64,308 | $5,359 |
| 75th percentile | $109,010 | $52.41 | $85,519 | $7,127 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,850 | $63.87 | $102,069 | $8,506 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,860 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median compliance officer's $64,308 take-home pay has the buying power of $65,202 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Compliance Officer jobs are about as common in Houston, TX as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for compliance officers, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | Houston, TX | $78,860 | $64,308 | $65,202 |
*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.
Compliance Officer salaries elsewhere in Texas
- El Paso, TX — $73,920
- Dallas, TX — $77,760
- Austin, TX — $70,720
- San Antonio, TX — $67,050
Frequently asked questions
How much does a compliance officer make in Houston, TX?
The median compliance officer salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $78,860 a year, or about $37.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $57,940 and $109,010.
What is a compliance officer’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $78,860 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $64,308 a year ($5,359 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a compliance officer?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $80,730. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $65,202 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #14 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a compliance officer afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median compliance officer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $101,660
- Management Analyst — $101,120
- Project Management Specialist — $99,510
- Personal Financial Advisor — $98,930
- Accountant and Auditor — $85,090
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $82,060
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $78,820
- Cost Estimator — $78,200
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $76,290
- Logistician — $75,940
- Human Resources Specialist — $72,550
- Loan Officer — $67,560