Compliance Officer Salary
Compliance Officers earn a median $80,730 a year nationally. Business and Financial Operations Occupations
U.S. median
$80,730
$38.81 per hour
Range
$48,220 – $133,720
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
417,070
across the U.S.
▲2.9%
Pay trend: The median for compliance officers in the U.S. rose from $78,420 (May 2024) to $80,730 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 0.5%.
What compliance officers do
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)
- Openings per year
- 32,700
Employment of compliance officers is projected to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 32,700 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Compliance Officer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$65,624
per year · effective tax rate 18.7%
$5,469Monthly
$2,734Twice a month
$2,524Every 2 weeks
$31.55Hourly
- Federal income tax$8,931
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,005
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,171
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$65,624
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,220 | $23.18 | $40,925 |
| 25th percentile | $61,280 | $29.46 | $51,418 |
| Median (50th) | $80,730 | $38.81 | $65,624 |
| 75th percentile | $109,010 | $52.41 | $85,519 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $133,720 | $64.29 | $102,664 |
Best cities for compliance officers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $123,730 | $86,950 | $78,742 | 2,690 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $118,890 | $84,096 | $72,740 | 7,500 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $103,940 | $76,975 | $71,098 | 10,920 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $86,720 | $66,886 | $68,708 | 3,240 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $95,850 | $76,260 | $68,621 | 6,440 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $100,200 | $73,772 | $67,753 | 13,820 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $73,920 | $60,833 | $67,658 | 2,660 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $101,050 | $74,997 | $66,627 | 23,380 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $79,780 | $63,544 | $66,559 | 3,020 |
| 10 | Cincinnati, OH | $79,310 | $63,226 | $66,295 | 2,440 |
| 11 | San Diego, CA | $101,230 | $73,545 | $65,731 | 6,120 |
| 12 | Kansas City, MO | $77,650 | $60,745 | $65,639 | 3,470 |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $95,220 | $69,954 | $65,579 | 2,820 |
| 14 | Houston, TX | $78,860 | $64,308 | $65,202 | 8,450 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $91,150 | $68,279 | $65,138 | 4,610 |
| 16 | St. Louis, MO | $77,270 | $60,495 | $63,620 | 2,690 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $83,000 | $64,672 | $63,062 | 8,370 |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $81,250 | $62,787 | $62,600 | 5,180 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $76,520 | $62,662 | $62,527 | 3,220 |
| 20 | Tampa, FL | $75,920 | $62,240 | $61,691 | 4,110 |
| 21 | Dallas, TX | $77,760 | $63,534 | $61,630 | 12,530 |
| 22 | Los Angeles, CA | $94,810 | $69,709 | $61,382 | 17,700 |
| 23 | Denver, CO | $83,580 | $64,659 | $61,125 | 4,830 |
| 24 | Richmond, VA | $77,060 | $59,425 | $60,726 | 2,910 |
| 25 | Chicago, IL | $82,020 | $62,616 | $60,443 | 8,320 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Jose, CA — $123,730
- San Francisco, CA — $118,890
- Boston, MA — $103,940
- San Diego, CA — $101,230
- New York, NY — $101,050
- Washington, DC — $100,200
- Seattle, WA — $95,850
- Sacramento, CA — $95,220
- Los Angeles, CA — $94,810
- Minneapolis, MN — $91,150
- Charlotte, NC — $86,720
- Portland, OR — $86,600
- Denver, CO — $83,580
- Philadelphia, PA — $83,000
- Chicago, IL — $82,020
Compliance Officer salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,030 | +7.8% | $80,471 | $69,140 – $156,750 | 4,380 |
| Massachusetts | $102,060 | +9.9% | $75,746 | $63,340 – $161,920 | 13,190 |
| New Jersey | $100,000 | +6.9% | $75,000 | $58,860 – $158,540 | 13,310 |
| California | $96,980 | +5.0% | $71,005 | $57,530 – $158,280 | 49,880 |
| Connecticut | $91,810 | +5.3% | $69,944 | $60,050 – $137,690 | 3,610 |
| Delaware | $91,050 | +2.9% | $68,215 | $51,930 – $137,540 | 2,150 |
| Vermont | $90,420 | +2.1% | $68,933 | $53,570 – $118,270 | 1,960 |
| New York | $90,080 | +3.7% | $67,927 | $53,330 – $142,370 | 23,500 |
| Washington | $88,790 | +3.0% | $71,294 | $60,650 – $142,350 | 11,130 |
| Rhode Island | $87,620 | +5.3% | $67,802 | $60,000 – $135,260 | 970 |
| Minnesota | $85,920 | +0.8% | $64,956 | $55,830 – $134,040 | 6,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,580 | +15.9% | $66,408 | $49,910 – $130,990 | 19,810 |
| Maryland | $84,720 | −3.3% | $64,770 | $56,310 – $132,620 | 10,100 |
| Maine | $83,740 | −3.7% | $63,249 | $50,480 – $118,060 | 1,790 |
| Oregon | $82,990 | −1.4% | $60,781 | $55,200 – $120,950 | 5,360 |
| New Hampshire | $82,800 | +0.3% | $67,080 | $54,980 – $123,020 | 1,730 |
| Hawaii | $82,590 | +2.1% | $62,185 | $53,270 – $117,350 | 1,270 |
| Colorado | $82,450 | +2.3% | $63,914 | $57,990 – $133,520 | 7,740 |
| Illinois | $80,550 | +1.5% | $61,654 | $50,040 – $132,290 | 10,650 |
| Virginia | $80,380 | −0.8% | $61,570 | $48,640 – $133,620 | 15,190 |
| Wyoming | $79,890 | −0.3% | $65,033 | $51,110 – $132,360 | 580 |
| North Dakota | $79,440 | +1.3% | $64,426 | $56,260 – $116,370 | 990 |
| Wisconsin | $78,800 | +4.0% | $61,470 | $56,010 – $125,160 | 5,710 |
| Indiana | $78,770 | +9.4% | $61,950 | $47,650 – $134,820 | 5,120 |
| North Carolina | $78,500 | +4.9% | $61,431 | $45,690 – $131,180 | 11,320 |
| Nevada | $78,290 | −0.8% | $63,907 | $43,120 – $124,280 | 4,400 |
| Michigan | $77,390 | +2.8% | $60,236 | $46,290 – $120,560 | 9,720 |
| Alaska | $76,430 | −13.9% | $62,599 | $47,290 – $126,920 | 920 |
| Iowa | $75,620 | +2.8% | $59,807 | $49,940 – $114,460 | 3,660 |
| South Carolina | $75,460 | −1.0% | $58,546 | $44,990 – $133,820 | 4,760 |
| Idaho | $75,450 | +15.5% | $59,019 | $42,080 – $128,750 | 1,660 |
| Texas | $75,370 | +4.6% | $61,853 | $45,170 – $126,920 | 42,900 |
| Ohio | $75,030 | +0.0% | $60,333 | $47,230 – $124,230 | 11,240 |
| Arizona | $74,920 | +2.5% | $59,872 | $47,630 – $132,620 | 12,430 |
| Florida | $74,920 | +6.3% | $61,536 | $44,130 – $127,420 | 29,680 |
| Nebraska | $73,920 | +12.1% | $58,349 | $48,060 – $115,920 | 3,470 |
| Alabama | $72,990 | +4.0% | $56,794 | $41,620 – $126,870 | 3,770 |
| South Dakota | $72,630 | +1.3% | $59,925 | $57,140 – $115,920 | 1,130 |
| Louisiana | $70,290 | +10.3% | $56,557 | $39,850 – $119,990 | 3,970 |
| Georgia | $70,200 | +9.7% | $55,195 | $42,500 – $131,210 | 14,390 |
| Kansas | $69,740 | +4.1% | $54,800 | $42,620 – $121,370 | 3,560 |
| Kentucky | $69,240 | +2.6% | $55,235 | $43,120 – $109,300 | 4,360 |
| New Mexico | $67,990 | +0.5% | $54,631 | $44,550 – $120,760 | 2,400 |
| Mississippi | $67,450 | +3.5% | $54,315 | $37,040 – $109,300 | 1,720 |
| Utah | $67,370 | +4.1% | $54,159 | $41,230 – $120,520 | 3,760 |
| Missouri | $67,270 | +3.6% | $53,930 | $44,060 – $118,850 | 7,000 |
| Montana | $66,660 | +5.3% | $53,320 | $50,350 – $109,300 | 1,480 |
| Arkansas | $64,680 | +1.8% | $51,841 | $43,160 – $132,760 | 3,120 |
| West Virginia | $64,270 | +0.4% | $51,658 | $44,420 – $115,210 | 1,720 |
| Tennessee | $63,960 | +0.3% | $53,572 | $41,460 – $117,250 | 7,990 |
| Oklahoma | $63,000 | +2.1% | $50,511 | $42,340 – $105,360 | 4,230 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logistician | $82,320 | Bachelor's degree | +17.6% |
| Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist | $78,760 | Bachelor's degree | +7.0% |
| Cost Estimator | $78,740 | Bachelor's degree | -3.1% |
| Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes | $82,890 | Bachelor's degree | +9.7% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $83,050 | Bachelor's degree | +3.9% |
| Insurance Appraisers, Auto Damage | $78,240 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -8.7% |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $78,210 | Bachelor's degree | +6.0% |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $78,000 | High school diploma or equivalent | -5.5% |
| Buyer and Purchasing Agent | $77,710 | Bachelor's degree | +6.0% |
| Human Resources Specialist | $75,940 | Bachelor's degree | +6.4% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a compliance officer make?
The national median salary for compliance officers is $80,730 a year ($38.81 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,220 and the top 10% earn over $133,720. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays compliance officers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $111,030. After taxes and local prices, San Jose, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many compliance officers are there in the U.S.?
About 417,070 people work as compliance officers nationwide.
All 37 cities
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- El Paso, TX
- Houston, TX
- Kansas City, MO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- Richmond, VA
- Riverside, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Washington, DC