Compliance officers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,220 | $23.18 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $80,730 | $38.81 |
| Mean (average) | $88,400 | $42.50 |
| 90th percentile | $133,720 | $64.29 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Compliance officers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $72,990 | $41,620 | $126,870 | 3,770 | 0.67 |
| Alaska | $76,430 | $47,290 | $126,920 | 920 | 1.05 |
| Arizona | $74,920 | $47,630 | $132,620 | 12,430 | 1.43 |
| Arkansas | $64,680 | $43,160 | $132,760 | 3,120 | 0.89 |
| California | $96,980 | $57,530 | $158,280 | 49,880 | 1.02 |
| Colorado | $82,450 | $57,990 | $133,520 | 7,740 | 1 |
| Connecticut | $91,810 | $60,050 | $137,690 | 3,610 | 0.79 |
| Delaware | $91,050 | $51,930 | $137,540 | 2,150 | 1.65 |
| District of Columbia | $111,030 | $69,140 | $156,750 | 4,380 | 2.33 |
| Florida | $74,920 | $44,130 | $127,420 | 29,680 | 1.11 |
| Georgia | $70,200 | $42,500 | $131,210 | 14,390 | 1.1 |
| Guam | $71,930 | $37,540 | $112,260 | 260 | 1.47 |
| Hawaii | $82,590 | $53,270 | $117,350 | 1,270 | 0.75 |
| Idaho | $75,450 | $42,080 | $128,750 | 1,660 | 0.72 |
| Illinois | $80,550 | $50,040 | $132,290 | 10,650 | 0.65 |
| Indiana | $78,770 | $47,650 | $134,820 | 5,120 | 0.6 |
| Iowa | $75,620 | $49,940 | $114,460 | 3,660 | 0.88 |
| Kansas | $69,740 | $42,620 | $121,370 | 3,560 | 0.92 |
| Kentucky | $69,240 | $43,120 | $109,300 | 4,360 | 0.81 |
| Louisiana | $70,290 | $39,850 | $119,990 | 3,970 | 0.77 |
| Maine | $83,740 | $50,480 | $118,060 | 1,790 | 1.04 |
| Maryland | $84,720 | $56,310 | $132,620 | 10,100 | 1.36 |
| Massachusetts | $102,060 | $63,340 | $161,920 | 13,190 | 1.35 |
| Michigan | $77,390 | $46,290 | $120,560 | 9,720 | 0.82 |
| Minnesota | $85,920 | $55,830 | $134,040 | 6,140 | 0.78 |
| Mississippi | $67,450 | $37,040 | $109,300 | 1,720 | 0.55 |
| Missouri | $67,270 | $44,060 | $118,850 | 7,000 | 0.89 |
| Montana | $66,660 | $50,350 | $109,300 | 1,480 | 1.08 |
| Nebraska | $73,920 | $48,060 | $115,920 | 3,470 | 1.26 |
| Nevada | $78,290 | $43,120 | $124,280 | 4,400 | 1.06 |
| New Hampshire | $82,800 | $54,980 | $123,020 | 1,730 | 0.95 |
| New Jersey | $100,000 | $58,860 | $158,540 | 13,310 | 1.16 |
| New Mexico | $67,990 | $44,550 | $120,760 | 2,400 | 1.03 |
| New York | $90,080 | $53,330 | $142,370 | 23,500 | 0.9 |
| North Carolina | $78,500 | $45,690 | $131,180 | 11,320 | 0.85 |
| North Dakota | $79,440 | $56,260 | $116,370 | 990 | 0.86 |
| Ohio | $75,030 | $47,230 | $124,230 | 11,240 | 0.76 |
| Oklahoma | $63,000 | $42,340 | $105,360 | 4,230 | 0.92 |
| Oregon | $82,990 | $55,200 | $120,950 | 5,360 | 1.02 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,580 | $49,910 | $130,990 | 19,810 | 1.22 |
| Puerto Rico | $48,950 | $30,530 | $99,670 | 5,470 | 2.17 |
| Rhode Island | $87,620 | $60,000 | $135,260 | 970 | 0.72 |
| South Carolina | $75,460 | $44,990 | $133,820 | 4,760 | 0.77 |
| South Dakota | $72,630 | $57,140 | $115,920 | 1,130 | 0.92 |
| Tennessee | $63,960 | $41,460 | $117,250 | 7,990 | 0.91 |
| Texas | $75,370 | $45,170 | $126,920 | 42,900 | 1.14 |
| Utah | $67,370 | $41,230 | $120,520 | 3,760 | 0.81 |
| Vermont | $90,420 | $53,570 | $118,270 | 1,960 | 2.4 |
| Virgin Islands | $67,990 | $42,810 | $122,950 | 230 | 2.73 |
| Virginia | $80,380 | $48,640 | $133,620 | 15,190 | 1.38 |
| Washington | $88,790 | $60,650 | $142,350 | 11,130 | 1.17 |
| West Virginia | $64,270 | $44,420 | $115,210 | 1,720 | 0.91 |
| Wisconsin | $78,800 | $56,010 | $125,160 | 5,710 | 0.72 |
| Wyoming | $79,890 | $51,110 | $132,360 | 580 | 0.77 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for compliance officers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 32,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for compliance officers
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Environmental Studies CIP 03.0103
- Environmental Science CIP 03.0104
- Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services CIP 03.0208
- Energy and Environmental Policy CIP 03.0209
- Environmental Geosciences CIP 30.4101
- Suspension and Debarment Investigation CIP 43.0121
- Medical Staff Services Technology/Technician CIP 51.0717
- Regulatory Science/Affairs CIP 51.0720
- Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality CIP 51.2213
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General CIP 52.1001
- Labor and Industrial Relations CIP 52.1002
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Warn violators of infractions or penalties.
- Evaluate applications, records, or documents to gather information about eligibility or liability issues.
- Advise licensees or other individuals or groups concerning licensing, permit, or passport regulations.
- Prepare reports of activities, evaluations, recommendations, or decisions.
- Report law or regulation violations to appropriate boards or agencies.
- Confer with or interview officials, technical or professional specialists, or applicants to obtain information or to clarify facts relevant to licensing decisions.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Commercial driver's license information system CDLIS
- Computer-assisted testing software
- Database software
- Digital imaging system software
- Document scanning software
- Driving simulators
- National Driver Register NDR
- Safety Status Measurement System SafeStat
- Traffic record databases
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Persuasion, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management, Coordination.
Common job titles: Driver Examiner, Driver License Agent, Driver License Examiner, Examiner, License Examiner, License Registration Examiner, Licensing Analyst, Motor Vehicle Clerk, Public Service Representative (PSR), Transportation Services Representative (TSR).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do compliance officers make?
The national median annual wage for compliance officers was $80,730 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $48,220 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $133,720. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do compliance officers need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is compliance officers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of compliance officers to change +3.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 32,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay compliance officers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($111,030), Massachusetts ($102,060), New Jersey ($100,000). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.