As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Compliance Specialist I in the United States is $31, which translates to an annual salary of about $63,987.
However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:
Compliance Specialist I Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $68,743 | $5,729 | $1,322 | $33 |
| Average | $63,987 | $5,332 | $1,231 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,557 | $4,880 | $1,126 | $28 |
A Compliance Specialist I'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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Compliance Specialist I'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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance Specialist I | 0-2 years | $63,987 |
| Compliance Specialist II | 2-4 years | $76,460 |
| Compliance Specialist III | 4-7 years | $94,943 |
| Compliance Specialist IV | 7+ years | $118,060 |
| Compliance Specialist V | 7-10 years | $159,812 |
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Customer Service | 5.91% |
| Internal Audit | 1.67% |
| Property Management | 1.41% |
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 Specialist I's salary.
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Consulting | $68,466 | |
| Risk Management | $67,826 | |
| Risk Assessment | $67,826 |
Compliance Specialist I salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $71,630. While startup companies pay approximate $60,597.
| Company Size | Employees | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Startup | 1~50 | $60,597 |
| Growth Stage | 51~500 | $64,089 |
| Established | 501~5000 | $69,171 |
| Enterprise | 5000+ | $71,630 |
Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Compliance Specialist I 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 Compliance Specialist I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $62,476 and $66,172.
| Typical Education for Compliance Specialist I | |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
| No Diploma | 8.3% |
| High School | 8.3% |
| Associates | 4.2% |
| Bachelors | 45.8% |
| Masters | 25.0% |
| Doctorate | 16.7% |
Understanding how a Compliance Specialist I'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $68,743 | $5,729 | $1,322 | $33 |
| Average | $63,987 | $5,332 | $1,231 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,557 | $4,880 | $1,126 | $28 |
Salaries for a Compliance Specialist I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $64,554 in 2023 to around $65,014 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Compliance Specialist I salary trends, .
| Year | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | View More |
| 2023 | $64,554 |
| 2024 | $65,179 |
| 2025 | $65,014 |
| 2026 |
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|
| 2027 |
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|
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Supports the development and implementation of compliance programs, policies, reporting, and practices for an organization or business. Monitors activities impacted by regulatory requirements related to the organization's governance and any industry-specific or location-specific laws. Utilizes established internal controls and auditing systems to identify, detect, and correct noncompliance. Implements changes to compliance processes due to new or amended regulations. Prepares and updates communication materials. Assists with training initiatives that inform stakeholders about compliance requirements. Requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Customer Service: Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Internal Audit: 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.
Property Management: Property management is the operation, control, and oversight of real estate management indicates a need to be cared for, monitored and accountability given for its useful life and condition. This is much akin to the role of management in any business. Property management is also the management of personal property, equipment, tooling, and physical capital assets that are acquired and used to build, repair, and maintain end item deliverables. Property management involves the processes, systems, and manpower required to manage the life cycle of all acquired property as defined above including acquisition, control, accountability, responsibility, maintenance, utilization, and disposition. For example, an owner of a single family may engage the services of a property management company. The company will then advertise the rental property, handle tenant inquiries, screen applicants, select suitable candidates, draw up a lease agreement, conduct a move in inspection, move the tenant(s) into the property and collect rental income. The company will then coordinate any maintenance issues, supply the owner(s) with financial statements and any relevant information regarding the property etc.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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