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Chief Risk Officer Salary in the United States

How much does a Chief Risk Officer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chief Risk Officer in the United States is $275,562 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $132.

However, a Chief Risk Officer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $323,594
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $250,135 to $300,704
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $226,985
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Chief Risk Officer Salaries

A Chief Risk Officer'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 Chief Risk Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chief Risk Officer'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:

  • Risk Manager (5+ years): $130,657
  • Senior Risk Manager (5+ years): $151,946
  • Risk Management Director (5+ years): $183,675
  • Vice President of Risk Management (5+ years): $229,665
  • Chief Risk Officer (5+ years): $275,562
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Risk Manager5+ years$130,657
Senior Risk Manager5+ years$151,946
Risk Management Director5+ years$183,675
Vice President of Risk Management5+ years$229,665
Chief Risk Officer5+ years$275,562
View as Graph

How Do Chief Risk Officer 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 Chief Risk Officers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $305,102.
  • California: $303,945.
  • Massachusetts: $299,894.

Top Paying Cities for Chief Risk Officers

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: $347,566
  • San Francisco: $343,761
  • Oakland: $336,516

What Skills Can Increase a Chief Risk Officer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Risk Management (Mentioned in 27.57% 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.
  • Operational Risk Management (Mentioned in 1.8% Job Postings): Operational risk is the risk of loss resulting from ineffective or failed internal processes, people, systems, or external events that can disrupt the flow of business operations.
  • Portfolio Management (Mentioned in 1.26% Job Postings): Portfolio management is the selection, prioritisation and control of an organisation's programmes and projects. The goal is to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimising ROI.
Skills Demand Percentage
Risk Management 27.57%
Operational Risk Management 1.8%
Portfolio Management 1.26%
See More Skills

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 Chief Risk Officer's salary.

  • Influencing: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Accountability: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • AML: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Influencing $330,674
20%
Accountability $319,652
16%
AML $319,652
16%
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Chief Risk Officer Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Chief Risk Officer salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $307,952. While startup companies pay approximate $260,496.

Chief Risk Officer Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $260,496
Growth Stage 51~500 $275,501
Established 501~5000 $297,367
Enterprise 5000+ $307,952

Chief Risk Officer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chief Risk Officer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Chief Risk Officer positions in Internet or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Chief Risk Officer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Chief Risk Officer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$330,674$159.020%

How Education impacts a Chief Risk Officer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Chief Risk Officer enter the field with a Bachelor's 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 Chief Risk Officer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $262,562 and $284,964.

Chief Risk Officer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Chief Risk Officer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 3.1%
Associates 2.5%
Bachelors 40.9%
Masters 44.7%
Doctorate 8.2%
View as Graph

Chief Risk Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chief Risk Officer'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 September 01, 2026
$250,135
Average $275,562/year
$300,704
$20,845
Average $22,964/month
$25,059
$4,810
Average $5,299/week
$5,783
$120
Average $132/hour
$145
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $300,704 $25,059 $5,783 $145
Average $275,562 $22,964 $5,299 $132
25th Percentile $250,135 $20,845 $4,810 $120

Most common benefits for Chief Risk Officer

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Chief Risk Officer

Here are companies hiring for Chief Risk Officer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Chief Risk Officer

1. Where can a Chief Risk Officer earn the most?

A Chief Risk Officer's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Chief Risk Officer earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Chief Risk Officer is $347,566.

2. What is the highest pay for Chief Risk Officer?

The highest pay for Chief Risk Officer is $323,594.

3. What is the lowest pay for Chief Risk Officer?

The lowest pay for Chief Risk Officer is $226,985.

4. What are the responsibilities of Chief Risk Officer?

Oversees all aspects of an organization's risk management function. Responsible for planning and developing business analysis, risk modeling, and loss prevention programs. Designs strategic initiatives to protect assets from economic, market, and regulatory risks that the organization is exposed to. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Top level or C level management. Responsible for the development of functional or business unit strategy for the entire organization. Defines corporate vision and strategy establishes company direction and focus. Executes multiple high impact initiatives to achieve overall corporate goals.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Chief Risk Officer?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Chief Risk Officer roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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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