How much does a compliance officer make?
a year · about $39 an hour
A typical compliance officer in the United States makes $80,730 a year, about $39 an hour, about 1.6× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
They check records against the rules, talk with people, and investigate possible problems. Then they write up what they found and suggest fixes; some also teach staff or inspect a workplace.
Did you know? Some U.S. compliance officers travel to workplaces to teach staff or conduct inspections, and some jobs even require outdoor work.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $48,220 and $133,720How do you become one?
In the U.S., most start with a bachelor’s degree; a major linked to their chosen industry or a college internship can help. They learn on the job, and some specialties need a state license; professional certification may help too.
School needed: Usually a bachelor's degree
Good for people who like keeping things organized and leading and selling
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay differs by industry, employer, and location. Experience and useful certifications can help people qualify for specialized jobs, and investigations sometimes mean longer hours, though most officers work standard schedules.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in District of Columbia ($111,030), lowest in Oklahoma ($63,000).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $48,220 | $80,730 | $133,720 | about 417,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,030 | about 4,000 |
| Massachusetts | $102,060 | about 13,000 |
| New Jersey | $100,000 | about 13,000 |
| California | $96,980 | about 50,000 |
| Connecticut | $91,810 | about 4,000 |
Official definition: 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. Excludes “Financial Examiners" (13-2061), “Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents” (13-2081), “Occupational Health and Safety Specialists” (19-5011), “Occupational Health and Safety Technicians” (19-5012), “Transportation Security Screeners” (33-9093), “Agricultural Inspectors” (45-2011), “Construction and Building Inspectors” (47-4011), and “Transportation Inspectors” (53-6051).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/compliance-officers.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-1041.00
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY