upper level job

Compliance Investigator Salary in the United States

How much does a Compliance Investigator make in the United States?

As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Compliance Investigator in the United States is $95,873 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $46.

However, a Compliance Investigator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $118,065
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $82,627 to $107,489
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $70,567
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
AI-Powered Talent
View as table View as graph 25% $82,627 10% $70,567 90% $118,065 75% $107,489 $95,873 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Compliance Investigator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $107,489 $8,957 $2,067 $52
Average $95,873 $7,989 $1,844 $46
25th Percentile $82,627 $6,886 $1,589 $40
Check out Compliance Investigator Job Openings in the United States
Registered Nurse

Laurels Peak Rehabilitation Center - MANKATO, MN

Registered Nurse

The Emeralds at Grand Rapids - GRAND RAPIDS, MN

Registered Nurse

River Valley Health & Rehabilitation Center - REDWOOD FALLS, MN

Registered Nurse

North Shore Estates - DULUTH, MN

Search More Compliance Investigator Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Compliance Investigator Salaries

A Compliance Investigator'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 Compliance Investigator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Compliance Investigator'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $91,524
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $91,919
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $93,501
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $95,873
  • Expert (over 8 years): $99,687
Levels Salary
Entry Level Compliance Investigator$91,524
Intermediate Level Compliance Investigator$91,919
Senior Level Compliance Investigator$93,501
Specialist Level Compliance Investigator$95,873
Expert Level Compliance Investigator$99,687
$91,524 0 yr
$91,919 < 2 yrs
$93,501 2-4 yrs
$95,873 5-8 yrs
$99,687 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Compliance Investigators

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: $120,925
  • San Francisco: $119,736
  • Oakland: $117,080

What Skills Can Increase a Compliance Investigator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Risk Management (Mentioned in 10.19% 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.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.09% 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.
  • Compliance Management (Mentioned in 1.53% Job Postings): Developing and managing compliance tools and processes to ensure employees and operations adhered to laws, regulations, and requirements.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Risk Management 10.19%
Microsoft Office 2.09%
Compliance Management 1.53%
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 Compliance Investigator's salary.
  • Market Risk: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Operational Risk: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Information Security: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Market Risk
$118,883
24%
Operational Risk
$116,006
21%
Information Security
$111,213
16%
Business Process Management
$109,295
14%
Credit Risk
$108,336
13%
Internal Control
$107,378
12%
Get Latest Data

Compliance Investigator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Compliance Investigator'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

Compliance Investigator Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Compliance Investigator, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Compliance Investigator Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Compliance Specialist IV $118,063 23%
International Compliance Specialist IV $132,044 38%
Compliance Investigation Manager $158,104 65%

Most common benefits for Compliance Investigator

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Compliance Investigator

Here are companies hiring for Compliance Investigator and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Compliance Investigator Job

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

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Compliance Investigator

1. Where can a Compliance Investigator earn the most?

A Compliance Investigator'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 Compliance Investigator earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Compliance Investigator is $120,925.

2. What is the highest pay for Compliance Investigator?

The highest pay for Compliance Investigator is $118,065.

3. What is the lowest pay for Compliance Investigator?

The lowest pay for Compliance Investigator is $70,567.

4. What are the responsibilities of Compliance Investigator?

Conducts investigations of suspicious claim activity to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and corporate policy. Ensures that investigations follow the approved process, are lawfully and objectively conducted, are thorough in gathering all material facts, and present an accurate accounting of the issues. Recommends actions to resolve non-compliance, including adjustments and negotiation of claim or lawsuit. Presents clear, concise, and factual reports that enable fair and relevant decisions to be made. Recommends proactive measures that will reduce the risk of similar future incidents. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst