Compliance Administrator Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Compliance Administrator in the United States is $76,371 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $88,441
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $68,583 to $82,689
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $61,493

Key Factors That Influence Compliance Administrator Salaries

A Compliance Administrator'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 Administrator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Compliance Administrator'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): $63,525
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $75,907
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $94,267
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $117,209
  • Expert (over 8 years): $158,667
Levels Salary
Complianc... Level Compliance Administrator$63,525
Complianc... Level Compliance Administrator$75,907
Complianc... Level Compliance Administrator$94,267
Complianc... Level Compliance Administrator$117,209
Complianc... Level Compliance Administrator$158,667

Top Paying Cities for Compliance Administrators

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: $96,327
  • San Francisco: $95,272
  • Oakland: $93,264

What Skills Can Increase a Compliance Administrator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 5.07% Job Postings): 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.
  • Financial Services (Mentioned in 1.82% 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.
  • Compliance Monitoring (Mentioned in 1.48% Job Postings): Ensuring that the staff is following all policies and procedures in our business.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 5.07%
Financial Services 1.82%
Compliance Monitoring 1.48%

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 Administrator's salary.

  • Trading: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Financial Services: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Due Diligence: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Trading $87,063
14%
Financial Services $81,717
7%
Due Diligence $80,953
6%

Compliance Administrator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Compliance Administrator 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 Biotechnology and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Compliance Administrator positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Compliance Administrator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Compliance Administrator

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$95,464$46.025%
Healthcare$91,645$44.020%
Energy & Utilities$87,827$42.015%
Software & Networking$87,827$42.015%
Aerospace & Defense$84,008$40.010%

How Education impacts a Compliance Administrator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Compliance Administrators enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Compliance Administrator with a Bachelor's Degree is between $76,165 and $81,133).

Compliance Administrator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Compliance Administrator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 13.7%
Associates 7.7%
Bachelors 50.1%
Masters 14.6%
Doctorate 13.3%

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

Understanding how a Compliance Administrator'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
$68,583
Average $76,371/year
$82,689
$5,715
Average $6,364/month
$6,891
$1,319
Average $1,469/week
$1,590
$33
Average $37/hour
$40
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $82,689 $6,891 $1,590 $40
Average $76,371 $6,364 $1,469 $37
25th Percentile $68,583 $5,715 $1,319 $33

Most common benefits for Compliance Administrator

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

Common company salaries for Compliance Administrator

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

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FAQ about Compliance Administrator

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Compliance Administrator?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Compliance Administrator 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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