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Ethics Manager Salary in the United States

How much does an Ethics Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Ethics Manager in the United States is $134,368 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $65.

However, an Ethics Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $156,992
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $124,436 to $146,210
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $115,393
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Ethics Manager Salaries

An Ethics Manager'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 Ethics Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Ethics Manager'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 Specialist IV (7+ years): $118,388
  • Ethics Specialist V (7-10 years): $171,341
  • Ethics Manager (10+ years): $134,368
  • Ethics Senior Manager (10+ years): $185,849
  • Ethics Director (10+ years): $233,019
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Ethics Specialist IV7+ years$118,388
Ethics Specialist V7-10 years$171,341
Ethics Manager10+ years$134,368
Ethics Senior Manager10+ years$185,849
Ethics Director10+ years$233,019
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How Do Ethics Managers 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 Ethics Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $148,772.
  • California: $148,208.
  • Massachusetts: $146,233.

Top Paying Cities for Ethics Manager

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: $169,478
  • San Francisco: $167,623
  • Oakland: $164,090

What Skills Can Increase an Ethics Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 6.85% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Data Transfer (Mentioned in 4.11% Job Postings): Data transfer refers to the secure exchange of large files between systems or organizations. In an internal context, data transfer is often used as an alternative to a holistic enterprise application integration system.
  • Legal Research (Mentioned in 2.74% Job Postings): Legal research is "the process of identifying and retrieving information necessary to support legal decision-making. In its broadest sense, legal research includes each step of a course of action that begins with an analysis of the facts of a problem and concludes with the application and communication of the results of the investigation." The processes of legal research vary according to the country and the legal system involved. However, legal research generally involves tasks such as: Finding primary sources of law, or primary authority, in a given jurisdiction (cases, statutes, regulations, etc.). Searching secondary authority (for example, law reviews, legal dictionaries, legal treatises, and legal encyclopedias such as American Jurisprudence and Corpus Juris Secundum), for background information about a legal topic. Searching non-legal sources for investigative or supporting information.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 6.85%
Data Transfer 4.11%
Legal Research 2.74%
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 an Ethics Manager's salary.

  • Legal Compliance: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Legal Research: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Risk Management: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Legal Compliance $150,492
12%
Legal Research $146,461
9%
Risk Management $141,086
5%
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Ethics Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Ethics Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $150,417. While startup companies pay approximate $127,249.

Ethics Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $127,249
Growth Stage 51~500 $134,581
Established 501~5000 $145,255
Enterprise 5000+ $150,417

Ethics Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Ethics Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Internet and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Ethics Manager positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Ethics Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Ethics Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Internet$167,960$81.025%
Energy & Utilities$161,242$78.020%
Software & Networking$161,242$78.020%
Biotechnology$154,523$74.015%
Financial Services$147,805$71.010%

Ethics Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Ethics Manager'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 August 01, 2026
$124,436
Average $134,368/year
$146,210
$10,370
Average $11,197/month
$12,184
$2,393
Average $2,584/week
$2,812
$60
Average $65/hour
$70
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $146,210 $12,184 $2,812 $70
Average $134,368 $11,197 $2,584 $65
25th Percentile $124,436 $10,370 $2,393 $60

Ethics Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Ethics Manager

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Ethics Manager, 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.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Ethics and Mission Integration Director $180,529 34%
Ethics Senior Manager $185,849 38%
Ethics and Mission Integration Director - Systems $245,867 83%

Most common benefits for Ethics Manager

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

Common company salaries for Ethics Manager

Here are companies hiring for Ethics Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Ethics Manager

1. Where can an Ethics Manager earn the most?

An Ethics Manager'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, an Ethics Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Ethics Manager is $169,478.

2. What is the highest pay for Ethics Manager?

The highest pay for Ethics Manager is $156,992.

3. What is the lowest pay for Ethics Manager?

The lowest pay for Ethics Manager is $115,393.

4. What are the responsibilities of Ethics Manager?

Oversees and promotes the organization's global ethics and compliance function. Implements programs to assess and manage legal and regulatory compliance risks and establish high ethical standards of conduct for the organization. Communicates the organization's ethical standards, policies, and regulations. Delivers employee training programs that raise awareness about ethics-related topics such as Anti-Bribery, Anti-Corruption, Antitrust, Conflicts of Interest, and others. Conducts compliance monitoring, investigations, and remediations of any non-compliant actions. Manages the administration of confidential reporting systems or helplines for employees, customers, contractors, and other stakeholders to disclose violations of the organization's ethical standards, violations of law, or policies without fear of retaliation. Typically requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 - 3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Ethics Manager?

The Internet industry offers the highest average compensation for Ethics Manager roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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