Compliance Officer Salary in Washington, DC
Compliance Officers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $100,200 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,772 take-home, or $6,148 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median compliance officer salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,214
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,212
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,453
- District of Columbia income tax$5,549
- Take-home pay$73,772
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. 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 Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,710 | $29.19 | $48,461 | $4,038 |
| 25th percentile | $77,470 | $37.25 | $59,714 | $4,976 |
| Median (50th) | $100,200 | $48.17 | $73,772 | $6,148 |
| 75th percentile | $127,980 | $61.53 | $90,831 | $7,569 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $148,700 | $71.49 | $103,231 | $8,603 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,200 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median compliance officer's $73,772 take-home pay has the buying power of $67,753 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Washington, DC has 1.6× 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
Washington, DC ranks #6 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 Washington, DC?
The median compliance officer salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $100,200 a year, or about $48.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,470 and $127,980.
What is a compliance officer’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $100,200 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $73,772 a year ($6,148 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,549 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a compliance officer?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $80,730. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $67,753 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #6 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a compliance officer afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 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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