Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Compliance officers help organizations follow laws, regulations, and internal policies. This career offers a structured path with a national median salary of $78,420 and a sizable employment base of 418,000 workers. With projected employment growth of 3.0% and 33,000 annual openings, it presents ongoing opportunities for both new entrants and experienced professionals. The role rewards strong attention to detail, analytical thinking, and clear communication, supported by skills in customer service, writing and reading, speaking and listening, and problem solving. Project management and adaptability also play an important part, reflecting the need to handle multiple priorities and evolving requirements. For people who enjoy working with information, applying rules consistently, and interacting with others, compliance can be a solid option. The presence of strong opportunity scores in several major states and metros suggests there are multiple geographic markets to explore, including higher-paying areas for those willing to relocate.
Compliance officers earn a national median annual salary of $78,420, providing a clear benchmark for typical earnings in this field. Pay varies by location, with some states and metros offering substantially higher median salaries. At the state level, Massachusetts stands out with a median salary of $102,060, followed by California at $96,980 and New York at $90,080. Among metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA reports a median salary of $123,730, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reaches $118,890. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ also offers six-figure median pay at $101,050, closely aligned with Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $103,940 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $100,200. This variation suggests that researching regional salary patterns can be an important part of planning a career or relocation strategy within compliance.
Compliance officers have a sizable national employment base of 418,000 workers, indicating that this is a well-established field. Projected employment growth is 3.0%, pointing to continued demand over time. In addition, there are 33,000 annual openings, which combine new positions with opportunities created when workers change roles or leave the occupation. This steady flow of openings can be relevant for students planning their first career steps as well as experienced professionals considering a transition into compliance. The consistent 3.0% growth rate reported across leading states and metro areas indicates that expansion is not limited to a single region. Overall, the combination of existing employment, projected growth, and ongoing openings suggests that people entering or advancing in this field can expect a continuous stream of job opportunities to monitor and pursue.
Location plays a significant role in opportunities for compliance officers. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York combine relatively high median salaries with notable employment levels and strong CareerGPS opportunity scores. California offers a median salary of $96,980, employment of 49,880, and an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts reaches a higher median salary of $102,060 with 13,190 employed and a 65.87 opportunity score, while New York reports a $90,080 median salary, 23,500 employed, and a 65.78 score. Colorado and Washington also provide meaningful opportunities, with median salaries of $82,450 and $88,790 and opportunity scores of 56.97 and 56.29, respectively. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA stands out with a 77.42 opportunity score and a $123,730 median salary. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA also pair high salaries with strong scores, giving relocation-minded professionals several attractive metro choices.
The typical education requirement for compliance officers is a bachelor’s degree, giving students and career changers a clear target for minimum educational preparation. Within that framework, several skill areas are especially important. Strong writing and reading skills support the understanding and documentation of rules and policies, while speaking and listening are central to explaining requirements and working with colleagues or clients. Being detail oriented and using critical and analytical thinking help in accurately interpreting information. Customer service and interpersonal skills support day-to-day interactions, and problem solving and decision making assist in addressing issues as they arise. Competence with computers and information technology underpins much of the work environment, while project management skills help coordinate tasks and timelines. Adaptability rounds out the profile, supporting success as situations and priorities change. Together, these skills align well with the expectations placed on professionals who manage and monitor compliance activities.
Use CareerGPS Pro to compare markets, understand the tradeoffs, and focus on the places with the strongest potential.
