Compliance Officer Salary in San Diego, CA
Compliance Officers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $101,230 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,545 take-home, or $6,129 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median compliance officer salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,441
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,276
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,468
- California income tax$5,185
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,316
- Take-home pay$73,545
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Compliance Officer pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,050 | $27.43 | $45,806 | $3,817 |
| 25th percentile | $71,890 | $34.56 | $55,931 | $4,661 |
| Median (50th) | $101,230 | $48.67 | $73,545 | $6,129 |
| 75th percentile | $124,840 | $60.02 | $87,591 | $7,299 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $148,470 | $71.38 | $101,237 | $8,436 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,230 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median compliance officer's $73,545 take-home pay has the buying power of $65,731 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA 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
San Diego, CA ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | San Diego, CA | $101,230 | $73,545 | $65,731 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $123,730
- San Francisco, CA — $118,890
- Sacramento, CA — $95,220
- Los Angeles, CA — $94,810
- Riverside, CA — $79,920
Frequently asked questions
How much does a compliance officer make in San Diego, CA?
The median compliance officer salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $101,230 a year, or about $48.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $71,890 and $124,840.
What is a compliance officer’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $101,230 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $73,545 a year ($6,129 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,501 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a compliance officer?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $80,730. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $65,731 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #11 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a compliance officer afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median compliance officer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Personal Financial Advisor — $130,330
- Project Management Specialist — $117,460
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $106,040
- Management Analyst — $101,190
- Logistician — $100,130
- Business Operations Specialists, All Other — $96,580
- Accountant and Auditor — $96,340
- Cost Estimator — $87,170
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators — $84,550
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent — $83,090
- Loan Officer — $81,770
- Human Resources Specialist — $81,300