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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
Don't just look at the top-paying city — look at the cost-adjusted column. The national median salary for Compliance Officers in 2026 is $87,292, with entry-level positions averaging $62,850 and senior roles reaching $123,954. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $159,000, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Compliance Officer falls within the Finance & Strategy sector, specifically in Business & Finance. The typical education path involves Bachelor's degree. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is hybrid — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
$96,750 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Compliance Officer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $159,000 — $96,750 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($62,250). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Compliance Officers average $62,850, the median sits at $87,292, and senior earners pull in $123,954. That $61,104 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $6,925 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
The demand picture adds context to these salary numbers. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $148,500 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $62,750. That $85,750 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. This is one of those occupations where location is a financial strategy.
A Compliance Officer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $159,000 — $96,750 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($62,250). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Compliance Officer is $62,850, while senior-level (P90) earners average $123,954. That $61,104 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Compliance Officers pull in an average of $123,954. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Compliance Officers average $62,850 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $62,850 | $87,292 | $123,954 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £35,173 | £48,852 | £69,369 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$48,275 | CA$67,049 | CA$95,209 |
| Australia | 13 | A$55,391 | A$76,932 | A$109,244 |
| Sweden | 24 | 327,901 kr | 455,418 kr | 646,693 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $75,857 | $105,357 | $149,606 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $73,305 | $101,813 | $144,574 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $72,900 | $101,250 | $143,775 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $67,500 | $93,750 | $133,125 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $66,690 | $92,625 | $131,528 |
| Washington | 8 | $65,408 | $90,844 | $128,998 |
| New York | 5 | $61,560 | $85,500 | $121,410 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $61,560 | $85,500 | $121,410 |
| Florida | 22 | $61,094 | $84,852 | $120,490 |
| Colorado | 11 | $60,038 | $83,386 | $118,409 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $59,940 | $83,250 | $118,215 |
| Nevada | 5 | $59,832 | $83,100 | $118,002 |
| Arizona | 12 | $59,535 | $82,688 | $117,416 |
| Oregon | 5 | $59,400 | $82,500 | $117,150 |
| Idaho | 3 | $59,220 | $82,250 | $116,795 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $58,752 | $81,600 | $115,872 |
| Utah | 4 | $58,590 | $81,375 | $115,553 |
| Virginia | 7 | $57,626 | $80,036 | $113,651 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $56,880 | $79,000 | $112,180 |
| Alaska | 1 | $56,700 | $78,750 | $111,825 |
| Illinois | 5 | $56,052 | $77,850 | $110,547 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $54,660 | $75,917 | $107,802 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $54,000 | $75,000 | $106,500 |
| Montana | 1 | $54,000 | $75,000 | $106,500 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $53,820 | $74,750 | $106,145 |
| Texas | 40 | $53,555 | $74,381 | $105,621 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $53,460 | $74,250 | $105,435 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $53,190 | $73,875 | $104,903 |
| Georgia | 6 | $53,010 | $73,625 | $104,548 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $52,920 | $73,500 | $104,370 |
| Kansas | 4 | $52,650 | $73,125 | $103,838 |
| Michigan | 6 | $52,470 | $72,875 | $103,483 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $51,840 | $72,000 | $102,240 |
| Maryland | 1 | $51,840 | $72,000 | $102,240 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $51,300 | $71,250 | $101,175 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $51,300 | $71,250 | $101,175 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $49,950 | $69,375 | $98,513 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $49,680 | $69,000 | $97,980 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $49,005 | $68,063 | $96,649 |
| Missouri | 4 | $49,005 | $68,063 | $96,649 |
| Alabama | 5 | $48,816 | $67,800 | $96,276 |
| Indiana | 3 | $48,060 | $66,750 | $94,785 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $48,060 | $66,750 | $94,785 |
| Iowa | 2 | $47,520 | $66,000 | $93,720 |
| Ohio | 6 | $47,430 | $65,875 | $93,543 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $45,360 | $63,000 | $89,460 |
The state salary map for Compliance Officers: California at $105,357, Massachusetts at $101,813, Hawaii at $101,250 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($63,000), Ohio ($65,875), Iowa ($66,000) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $42,357.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($159,000 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $75,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $159,000 | 212 | $75,000 | $94,487 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $148,500 | 198 | $75,000 | $88,707 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $138,000 | 184 | $75,000 | $82,927 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $135,750 | 181 | $75,000 | $81,688 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $133,500 | 178 | $75,000 | $80,449 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $132,750 | 177 | $75,000 | $80,036 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $132,750 | 177 | $75,000 | $80,036 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $129,750 | 173 | $75,000 | $78,385 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $129,750 | 173 | $75,000 | $78,385 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $126,750 | 169 | $75,000 | $76,733 |
Career economics for Compliance Officers: entry level averages $62,850, mid-career hits $87,292, and experienced professionals reach $123,954. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Bachelor's degree, and the work is hybrid. The outlook: growing. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The weighted national median salary for Compliance Officers is $87,292 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $62,850, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $123,954.
The highest-paying city for Compliance Officers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $159,000. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($159,000), Santa Clara ($148,500), Irvine ($138,000). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Compliance Officer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $62,250. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Compliance Officers (10th percentile) average $62,850 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $114,480. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Compliance Officers average $123,954 nationally — $61,104 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Compliance Officers can earn up to $225,780.
The top-paying states for Compliance Officers are California ($105,357 median), Massachusetts ($101,813 median), Hawaii ($101,250 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Compliance Officer involves Bachelor's degree. The field is in the Finance & Strategy sector (Business & Finance), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid.
With a national median of $87,292 and representation across 288 metro areas, Compliance Officer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $61,104 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.