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Hourly Wage for Compliance Specialist III Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Compliance Specialist III?

As of October 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Compliance Specialist III in the United States is $46, which translates to an annual salary of about $94,959.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $56 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $39 to $51 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $34 per hour

Key Factors That Influence Compliance Specialist III Salaries

A Compliance Specialist III'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 Compliance Specialist III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Compliance Specialist III'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:

  • Compliance Specialist I (0-2 years): $63,985
  • Compliance Specialist II (2-4 years): $76,455
  • Compliance Specialist III (4-7 years): $94,959
  • Compliance Specialist IV (7+ years): $121,122
  • Compliance Specialist V (7-10 years): $159,824
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Compliance Specialist I0-2 years$63,985
Compliance Specialist II2-4 years$76,455
Compliance Specialist III4-7 years$94,959
Compliance Specialist IV7+ years$121,122
Compliance Specialist V7-10 years$159,824

Top Paying Cities for Compliance Specialist IIIs

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: $119,772
  • San Francisco: $118,460
  • Oakland: $115,964

What Skills Can Increase a Compliance Specialist III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Risk Management (Mentioned in 7.03% 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.
  • Financial Services (Mentioned in 2.02% Job Postings): A services provided by the finance industry, which encompasses a broad range of businesses that manage money. These services involve banking, brokerage, mortgages, credit cards, payment services, real estate, investment funds, taxes and accounting.
  • PowerPoint (Mentioned in 1.63% Job Postings): A computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.
Skills Demand Percentage
Risk Management 7.03%
Financial Services 2.02%
PowerPoint 1.63%

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 Specialist III's salary.

  • Trading: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Operational Risk: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Trading $102,556
8%
Presentation $101,606
7%
Operational Risk $101,606
7%

Compliance Specialist III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Compliance Specialist III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $106,012. While startup companies pay approximate $89,765.

Compliance Specialist III Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $89,765
Growth Stage 51~500 $94,915
Established 501~5000 $102,363
Enterprise 5000+ $106,012

Compliance Specialist III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Compliance Specialist III 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 Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Compliance Specialist positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Compliance Specialist III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Compliance Specialist III

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$113,951$55.020%
Financial Services$113,951$55.020%
Pharmaceuticals$113,951$55.020%
Software & Networking$113,951$55.020%

How Education impacts a Compliance Specialist III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Compliance Specialist III 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 III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $93,648 and $99,759.

Compliance Specialist III Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Compliance Specialist III
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 11.3%
Associates 7.0%
Bachelors 46.6%
Masters 20.7%
Doctorate 13.4%

Compliance Specialist III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Compliance Specialist III'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 October 01, 2026
$81,894
Average $94,959/year
$106,537
$6,825
Average $7,913/month
$8,878
$1,575
Average $1,826/week
$2,049
$39
Average $46/hour
$51
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $106,537 $8,878 $2,049 $51
Average $94,959 $7,913 $1,826 $46
25th Percentile $81,894 $6,825 $1,575 $39

Most common benefits for Compliance Specialist III

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

Common company salaries for Compliance Specialist III

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

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FAQ about Compliance Specialist III

1. What are the responsibilities of Compliance Specialist III?

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 generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Compliance Specialist III

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.

1.)

Risk Management: 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.

2.)

Financial Services: A services provided by the finance industry, which encompasses a broad range of businesses that manage money. These services involve banking, brokerage, mortgages, credit cards, payment services, real estate, investment funds, taxes and accounting.

3.)

PowerPoint: A computer software created by Microsoft which allows the user to create slides with recordings, narrations, transitions and other features in order to present information.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

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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