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Create CVIf you're researching compliance officer salary US, you're likely trying to understand: how much does a compliance officer make in the USA, what is the realistic salary range, and how can you increase your compensation?
Compliance roles have become significantly more valuable over the past decade due to increasing regulatory pressure, risk exposure, and corporate governance requirements. As a result, compliance officers—especially in finance, healthcare, and tech—are seeing strong salary growth.
This guide breaks down real US salary benchmarks, total compensation structures, and how recruiters determine compliance officer pay.
Across the United States, compliance officer salaries range widely:
Entry-level (0–2 years): $60,000 – $85,000
Mid-level (3–6 years): $85,000 – $120,000
Senior-level (7–12 years): $110,000 – $160,000
Director / Head of Compliance: $150,000 – $250,000
Chief Compliance Officer (CCO): $200,000 – $500,000+
Minimum salary: $55,000
Typical roles: Compliance Analyst, Junior Compliance Officer
Base Salary: $60,000 – $85,000
Bonus: $3,000 – $10,000
Total Compensation: $65,000 – $95,000
Recruiter Insight: Entry-level roles are often capped due to structured salary bands. Certifications can slightly increase starting offers.
Base Salary: $85,000 – $120,000
Bonus: $8,000 – $20,000
Total Compensation: $95,000 – $140,000
Base: $100,000 – $180,000
Total Compensation: $130,000 – $250,000
Highest-paying sector due to:
SEC, FINRA, and regulatory pressure
High financial risk exposure
Base: $90,000 – $150,000
Total Compensation: $110,000 – $200,000
Driven by:
Average salary: $95,000 – $115,000
Top 10% total compensation: $180,000+
Top 1% (CCOs at large firms): $400,000 – $700,000+
Compliance compensation is typically more stable and less variable than sales or consulting, but bonuses are still meaningful.
Base Salary: 80–90% of total compensation
Annual Bonus: 5–20%
Signing Bonus: $5,000 – $25,000 (mid to senior roles)
Equity / Stock (public companies): Common at senior levels
Example Total Compensation (Senior Compliance Officer):
Base: $140,000
Bonus: $20,000
Equity: $15,000
Total Compensation: $175,000
At this stage, industry specialization becomes critical for salary growth.
Base Salary: $110,000 – $160,000
Bonus: $15,000 – $35,000
Total Compensation: $130,000 – $190,000
Professionals at this level often:
Lead audits
Interface with regulators
Manage internal risk frameworks
Base Salary: $150,000 – $220,000
Bonus: $30,000 – $80,000
Total Compensation: $180,000 – $300,000
These roles are tied directly to organizational risk exposure, which drives higher pay.
Base Salary: $200,000 – $350,000
Bonus: $50,000 – $200,000+
Equity: $50,000 – $300,000+
Total Compensation: $300,000 – $700,000+
Key Insight: At the executive level, compensation reflects legal liability and board-level accountability.
HIPAA regulations
Government oversight
Base: $110,000 – $190,000
Total Compensation: $140,000 – $260,000
Hot areas include:
Data privacy (GDPR, CCPA)
Cybersecurity compliance
Base: $80,000 – $130,000
Total Compensation: $100,000 – $160,000
Typically lower due to less regulatory intensity.
Highest pay due to regulatory risk
Heavy interaction with regulators
Base: $90,000 – $140,000
High demand in banking and fintech
Premium salaries due to talent scarcity
Strong growth trajectory
Base: $80,000 – $130,000
Strong demand in energy and manufacturing
New York City: +20–30%
San Francisco: +20–25%
Washington DC: +15–25%
Midwest: -10–20%
Southern US: -5–15%
Important Insight: Compliance salaries are less geographically volatile than tech or consulting, but finance-heavy cities still command premiums.
The more complex the regulatory environment:
Higher salary
Higher demand
Companies with higher risk profiles pay more.
Financial institutions
Public companies
Global enterprises
Key certifications that increase salary:
Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP)
CAMS (Anti-Money Laundering)
JD (legal background significantly increases pay)
Reporting directly to:
General Counsel
CEO
Board
…significantly increases compensation.
Larger companies:
Have bigger compliance teams
Pay higher salaries
Transition into:
Banking / fintech
Healthcare
Tech (privacy, AI compliance)
Certifications signal expertise and reduce employer risk.
Salary jumps significantly when you:
Manage teams
Own compliance programs
Interact with regulators
Weak Example:
“I’m fine with the offer.”
Good Example:
“Given my experience managing regulatory audits, I was expecting a base closer to $145K. Is there flexibility in base or bonus?”
Higher liability = higher pay.
Frame your experience in terms of:
Risk mitigation
Regulatory success
Cost avoidance
Limits salary growth.
General compliance roles pay less.
Even in compliance, offers can vary by 10–20%.
Employers pay for risk reduction, not just task completion.
Compliance demand is rising due to:
Global regulation expansion
Data privacy laws
ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) requirements
Salary growth: 5–8% annually
Data/privacy specialists: 10–20% premium
Early career: $65K – $95K
Mid-career: $100K – $140K
Senior: $140K – $200K
Executive (CCO): $300K – $700K+
Compliance offers stable, high-paying career paths, especially for professionals who specialize in high-risk industries and move into leadership roles.
Your earning potential depends on:
Industry
Specialization
Risk exposure
Strategic career moves
Position yourself correctly, and compliance can deliver strong long-term compensation with lower volatility than many other high-paying careers in the US.
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