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Audit/Compliance Senior Manager Salary in the United States

How much does an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager in the United States is $177,090 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $85.

However, an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $204,409
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $162,490 to $191,390
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $149,197
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View as table View as graph 25% $162,490 10% $149,197 90% $204,409 75% $191,390 $177,090 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Audit/Compliance Senior Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $191,390 $15,949 $3,681 $92
Average $177,090 $14,758 $3,406 $85
25th Percentile $162,490 $13,541 $3,125 $78
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Key Factors That Influence Audit/Compliance Senior Manager Salaries

An Audit/Compliance Senior Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Audit/Compliance Senior Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Audit Operations Senior Supervisor (3-5 years): $114,360
  • Audit and Business Controls Manager (5+ years): $125,304
  • Audit/Compliance Senior Manager (5+ years): $177,040
  • Audit and Business Controls Director (5+ years): $213,323
  • VP of Audit and Business Controls (5+ years): $234,405
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Audit Operations Senior Supervisor3-5 years$114,360
Audit and Business Controls Manager5+ years$125,304
Audit/Compliance Senior Manager5+ years$177,040
Audit and Business Controls Director5+ years$213,323
VP of Audit and Business Controls5+ years$234,405
$114,360 Audit Ope...
$125,304 Audit and...
$177,040 Audit/Com...
$213,323 Audit and...
$234,405 VP of Aud...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Audit/Compliance Senior Managers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $223,390
  • San Francisco: $220,890
  • Oakland: $216,290

What Skills Can Increase an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Risk Management (Mentioned in 4.91% Job Postings): Risk management is the identification, evaluation, and prioritization of risks (defined in ISO 31000 as the effect of uncertainty on objectives) followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities. Risks can come from various sources including uncertainty in financial markets, threats from project failures (at any phase in design, development, production, or sustainment life-cycles), legal liabilities, credit risk, accidents, natural causes and disasters, deliberate attack from an adversary, or events of uncertain or unpredictable root-cause. There are two types of events i.e. negative events can be classified as risks while positive events are classified as opportunities. Several risk management standards have been developed including the Project Management Institute, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, actuarial societies, and ISO standards. Methods, definitions and goals vary widely according to whether the risk management method is in the context of project management, security, engineering, industrial processes, financial portfolios, actuarial assessments, or public health and safety.
  • Risk Assessment (Mentioned in 3.62% Job Postings): Broadly speaking, a risk assessment is the combined effort of: identifying and analyzing potential (future) events that may negatively impact individuals, assets, and/or the environment (i.e. risk analysis); and making judgments "on the tolerability of the risk on the basis of a risk analysis" while considering influencing factors (i.e. risk evaluation).Put in simpler terms, a risk assessment analyzes what can go wrong, how likely it is to happen, what the potential consequences are, and how tolerable the identified risk is. As part of this process, the resulting determination of risk may be expressed in a quantitative or qualitative fashion. The risk assessment is an inherent part of an overall risk management strategy, which attempts to, after a risk assessment, "introduce control measures to eliminate or reduce" any potential risk-related consequences.
  • Financial Reporting (Mentioned in 0.79% Job Postings): Reporting all activities and transactions to track and assess the financial health of the business.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Risk Management 4.91%
Risk Assessment 3.62%
Financial Reporting 0.79%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager's salary.
  • Asset Management: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Operational Risk: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Data Analytics: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Asset Management
$193,028
9%
Operational Risk
$193,028
9%
Data Analytics
$189,486
7%
Innovation
$189,486
7%
Process Improvement
$185,945
5%
Risk Management
$184,174
4%
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Audit/Compliance Senior Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Audit/Compliance Senior Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $198,242. While startup companies pay approximate $167,708.

Audit/Compliance Senior Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup1~50$167,708
Growth Stage51~500$177,371
Established501~5000$191,438
Enterprise5000+$198,242

Audit/Compliance Senior Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Audit/Compliance Senior Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Energy & Utilities and Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Audit/Compliance Senior Manager positions in Financial Services or Internet typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Audit/Compliance Senior Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$265,635$128.050%
Insurance$247,926$119.040%
Construction$230,217$111.030%
Retail & Wholesale$221,362$106.025%
Aerospace & Defense$212,508$102.020%

How Education impacts an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Audit/Compliance Senior Managers enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager with a Associate's Degree is between $168,218 and $178,190).

Audit/Compliance Senior Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Audit/Compliance Senior Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 2.8%
Associates 2.0%
Bachelors 45.5%
Masters 48.6%
Doctorate 0.5%
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Audit/Compliance Senior Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Audit/Compliance Senior Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

For an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Audit and Business Controls Director role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $213,400 - a projected growth of 21% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Audit/Compliance Senior Manager

Salaries for an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $147,963 in 2023 to around $144,953 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Audit/Compliance Senior Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Audit/Compliance Senior Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$147,963
2024
$147,368
2025
$144,953
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $147,963
2024 $147,368
2025 $144,953
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Audit/Compliance Senior Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Audit/Compliance Senior Manager

Here are companies hiring for Audit/Compliance Senior Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Audit/Compliance Senior Manager Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Audit/Compliance Senior Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Manifest Solutions

    Columbus, OH

    Manifest Solutions | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Manifest Solutions is currently seeking a Sr. Program Manager for an onsite or hybrid position in Columbus, OH. Serve as ... more

    4 Days Ago

  • MCKESSON Careers

    Columbus, OH

    MCKESSON Careers | Columbus, OH

    McKesson is an impact-driven, Fortune 10 company that touches virtually every aspect of healthcare. We are known for delivering insights, products, and ser... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Vertiv Holdings

    Columbus, OH

    Vertiv Holdings | Columbus, OH

    Senior Project ManagerVertiv is hiring a Senior Project Manager within our Global Strategic Accounts (GSA) Project Execution Team. This is a highly visible... more

    6 Days Ago

  • ADI Global

    Columbus, OH

    ADI Global | Columbus, OH

    Sr Account ManagerADI Global Distribution is hiring an Sr Account Manager who will increase market share, uncover new opportunities, and drive the kind of ... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Gilbane Building Company

    Columbus, OH

    Gilbane Building Company | Columbus, OH

    Sr MEP Manager - Data CenterJob LocationsUS-OH-Columbus US-VA-Arlington US-NC-CharlotteRequisition ID2026-12397CategoryProject ManagementOverviewDo you con... more

    6 Days Ago

  • McKesson

    Columbus, OH

    McKesson | Columbus, OH

    McKesson is an impact-driven, Fortune 10 company that touches virtually every aspect of healthcare. We are known for delivering insights, products, and ser... more

    3 Days Ago

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FAQ about Audit/Compliance Senior Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Audit/Compliance Senior Manager?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Audit/Compliance Senior Manager roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

2. How long does it take to become an audit senior manager?

It typically takes 9–10 years to become an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager, depending on team assignments and office size. An early promotion can shorten this to 8 years. Generally, it takes 2–3 years to become a Senior Accountant, 3–4 years to reach Manager, and another 3–4 years to achieve Senior Manager, with salaries ranging from $161,490 to $199,290.

3. Which Big 4 pays the most in audit?

If you're aiming for the highest salary in audit, the average compensation for an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager ranges from $161,490 to $199,290, with a midpoint of $178,990. While Deloitte is known for consulting salaries, PwC is often considered the top choice for auditing roles.

4. How much does a Big 4 audit manager make?

The estimated total pay for an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager is between $161,490 and $199,290 per year, with a mid-salary of $178,990. These figures reflect the salary range for this role, providing a clear picture of compensation in the industry.

5. What is the highest salary of Senior Manager?

The highest salary for an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager is $199,290. The salary range typically starts at $161,490, with a mid-point salary of $178,990. This reflects a more specialized and higher-paying role compared to general Senior Manager positions, which often have lower salary ceilings.

6. How much do KPMG senior managers make?

The salary for an Audit/Compliance Senior Manager typically ranges from $161,490 to $199,290, with a mid-point of $178,990. This reflects the competitive compensation in the industry, which can vary based on location and specific employer practices.

7. What are the highest paying compliance jobs?

High Paying Compliance Specialist Jobs include roles like Audit/Compliance Senior Manager, with salaries ranging from $161,490 to $199,290 per year. Other positions such as Compliance Examiner, Compliance Review Specialist, and Senior Compliance Analyst also offer competitive salaries, but the Senior Manager role stands out for its higher earning potential.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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