Compliance Officer Salary in Seattle, WA
Compliance Officers in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median $95,850 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,260 take-home, or $6,355 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median compliance officer salary in Seattle, WA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,257
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,943
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,390
- Washington income tax$0
- Take-home pay$76,260
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 Seattle, WA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,510 | $30.53 | $53,210 | $4,434 |
| 25th percentile | $78,110 | $37.55 | $63,780 | $5,315 |
| Median (50th) | $95,850 | $46.08 | $76,260 | $6,355 |
| 75th percentile | $122,840 | $59.06 | $95,227 | $7,936 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,050 | $71.66 | $113,142 | $9,428 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Washington resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $95,850 buys in Seattle, WA
Prices in Seattle, WA are 11.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median compliance officer's $76,260 take-home pay has the buying power of $68,621 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 Seattle, WA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for compliance officers, adjusted for cost of living
Seattle, WA ranks #5 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 Seattle, WA?
The median compliance officer salary in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $95,850 a year, or about $46.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,110 and $122,840.
What is a compliance officer’s take-home pay in Seattle, WA?
On the median $95,850 salary, a single filer living in Washington takes home about $76,260 a year ($6,355 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Seattle, WA a good place to work as a compliance officer?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $80,730. Local prices are 11.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $68,621 would in a typical U.S. city. Seattle, WA ranks #5 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a compliance officer afford rent in Seattle, WA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Seattle, WA is $2,022 a month ($2,379 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median compliance officer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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