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Director of Ethics and Compliance Salary in the United States

How much does a Director of Ethics and Compliance make in the United States?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director of Ethics and Compliance in the United States is $232,890 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $112.

However, a Director of Ethics and Compliance's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $253,523
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $207,090 to $243,690
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $183,600
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View as table View as graph 25% $207,090 10% $183,600 90% $253,523 75% $243,690 $232,890 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Director of Ethics and Compliance Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $243,690 $20,308 $4,686 $117
Average $232,890 $19,408 $4,479 $112
25th Percentile $207,090 $17,258 $3,983 $100
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Key Factors That Influence Director of Ethics and Compliance Salaries

A Director of Ethics and Compliance'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Director of Ethics and Compliance Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Director of Ethics and Compliance'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:

  • Ethics and Compliance Analyst V (7-10 years): $171,284
  • Manager of Ethics and Compliance (10+ years): $134,358
  • Senior Manager of Ethics and Compliance (10+ years): $185,750
  • Director of Ethics and Compliance (10+ years): $232,837
  • Vice President of Global Ethics and Compliance (10+ years): $269,884
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Ethics and Compliance Analyst V7-10 years$171,284
Manager of Ethics and Compliance10+ years$134,358
Senior Manager of Ethics and Compliance10+ years$185,750
Director of Ethics and Compliance10+ years$232,837
Vice President of Global Ethics and Compliance10+ years$269,884
$171,284 Ethics an...
$134,358 Manager o...
$185,750 Senior Ma...
$232,837 Director ...
$269,884 Vice Pres...
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Director of Ethics and Compliance Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Director of Ethics and Compliances. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $257,790.
  • California: $256,890.
  • Massachusetts: $253,390.

Top Paying Cities for Director of Ethics and Compliances

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: $293,690
  • San Francisco: $290,790
  • Oakland: $284,390

What Skills Can Increase a Director of Ethics and Compliance's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Initiative (Mentioned in 11.11% Job Postings): Taking decisive action and initiating plans independently to address problems, improve professional life, and achieve goals.
  • Internal Audit (Mentioned in 5.56% Job Postings): Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value to and improve an organization's operations. It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes. Internal auditing achieves this by providing insight and recommendations based on analyses and assessments of data and business processes. With commitment to integrity and accountability, internal auditing provides value to governing bodies and senior management as an objective source of independent advice. Professionals called internal auditors are employed by organizations to perform the internal auditing activity. The scope of internal auditing within an organization is broad and may involve topics such as an organization's governance, risk management and management controls over: efficiency/effectiveness of operations (including safeguarding of assets), the reliability of financial and management reporting, and compliance with laws and regulations. Internal auditing may also involve conducting proactive fraud audits to identify potentially fraudulent acts; participating in fraud investigations under the direction of fraud investigation professionals, and conducting post investigation fraud audits to identify control breakdowns and establish financial loss.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 5.56% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Initiative 11.11%
Internal Audit 5.56%
Microsoft Office 5.56%
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 a Director of Ethics and Compliance's salary.
  • Employee Relations: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Program Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Employee Relations
$253,850
9%
Program Management
$251,521
8%
Presentation
$249,192
7%
Initiative
$244,535
5%
Written Communication
$242,206
4%
Consulting
$242,206
4%
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Director of Ethics and Compliance Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Director of Ethics and Compliance'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 March 01, 2026

Director of Ethics and Compliance Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Director of Ethics and Compliance, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Vice President of Global Ethics and Compliance role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $269,890 - a projected growth of 16% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Director of Ethics and Compliance

Salaries for a Director of Ethics and Compliance can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $188,185 in 2023 to around $186,448 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Director of Ethics and Compliance salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Director of Ethics and Compliance Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$188,185
2024
$190,033
2025
$186,448
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $188,185
2024 $190,033
2025 $186,448
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Director of Ethics and Compliance

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Director of Ethics and Compliance

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FAQ about Director of Ethics and Compliance

1. How do I become an ethics and compliance officer?

To become an ethics and compliance officer, first earn a bachelor's degree and gain relevant experience. Most employers prefer candidates with at least two years in a compliance role, so seek entry-level positions right after graduation. Salaries for Directors of Ethics and Compliance range from $204,790 to $263,190, with a median of $233,190.

2. What is the highest paid HR job?

The highest paid HR job is the Director of Ethics and Compliance, with a salary range of $204,790 to $263,190. Other top HR roles include Vice President of Talent Acquisition, earning between $263,000 and $438,000, and Chief People Officer, with salaries ranging from $293,000 to $515,000.

3. Do directors get paid well?

Directors of Ethics and Compliance are well-compensated, with salaries ranging from $204,790 to $263,190. The average salary is around $233,190, reflecting the importance of their role in ensuring ethical practices within organizations. This competitive pay underscores the value placed on compliance and ethical leadership in today's business environment.

4. How much does a director of HR make in the US?

As of January 10, 2025, the average annual pay for a Director of Ethics and Compliance in the United States ranges from $204,790 to $263,190, with a midpoint of $233,190. This translates to approximately $98.32 to $126.67 per hour, or $4,000 to $5,000 per week.

5. Can you be an ethical CEO?

A CEO's ethical behavior is crucial in shaping the organization's culture and can significantly impact its reputation. Ethical leadership fosters trust among employees and stakeholders, guiding the organization through dilemmas and promoting diversity and inclusion. In the context of compensation, a Director of Ethics and Compliance typically earns between $204,790 and $263,190, reflecting the importance of ethical leadership in business.

6. Who does a compliance director report to?

A Director of Ethics and Compliance typically reports to the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) or directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). They are responsible for informing the Board about significant issues and material violations. The salary for this role ranges from $204,790 to $263,190, with a midpoint of $233,190.

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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