Ethics and Compliance Officer Salary in the United States

How much does an Ethics and Compliance Officer make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Ethics and Compliance Officer in the United States is $94,657 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $46.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $116,837
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $82,055 to $106,267
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $70,581
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View as table View as graph 25% $82,055 10% $70,581 90% $116,837 75% $106,267 $94,657 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Ethics and Compliance Officer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $106,267 $8,856 $2,044 $51
Average $94,657 $7,888 $1,820 $46
25th Percentile $82,055 $6,838 $1,578 $39
Check out Ethics and Compliance Officer Job Openings in the United States
Compliance Officer

Educational Solutions Company - Columbus, OH

Chief Compliance Officer

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Chief Compliance Officer

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Security Officer Screening Compliance

Allied Universal - Columbus, OH

Search More Ethics and Compliance Officer Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Ethics and Compliance Officer Salaries

An Ethics and Compliance Officer'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 Ethics and Compliance Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Ethics and Compliance Officer'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): $63,219
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $75,542
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $93,804
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $116,643
  • Expert (over 8 years): $157,894
Levels Salary
Complianc... Level Ethics and Compliance Officer$63,219
Complianc... Level Ethics and Compliance Officer$75,542
Ethics an... Level Ethics and Compliance Officer$93,804
Complianc... Level Ethics and Compliance Officer$116,643
Complianc... Level Ethics and Compliance Officer$157,894
$63,219 0 yr
$75,542 < 2 yrs
$93,804 2-4 yrs
$116,643 5-8 yrs
$157,894 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Ethics and Compliance Officers

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: $119,391
  • San Francisco: $118,084
  • Oakland: $115,595

What Skills Can Increase an Ethics and Compliance Officer'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.
See More Skills
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 an Ethics and Compliance Officer'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
$102,230
8%
Presentation
$101,283
7%
Operational Risk
$101,283
7%
Analysis
$99,390
5%
Business Process Management
$99,390
5%
Financial Services
$99,390
5%
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Ethics and Compliance Officer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Ethics and Compliance Officer 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, Ethics and Compliance Officer positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Ethics and Compliance Officer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Ethics and Compliance Officer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$113,589$55.020%
Financial Services$113,589$55.020%
Pharmaceuticals$113,589$55.020%
Software & Networking$113,589$55.020%

How Education impacts an Ethics and Compliance Officer's Salary?

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

Ethics and Compliance Officer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Ethics and Compliance Officer
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%
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Ethics and Compliance Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Ethics and Compliance Officer'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

Salary Trends for Ethics and Compliance Officer

Salaries for an Ethics and Compliance Officer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $91,780 in 2023 to around $90,765 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Ethics and Compliance Officer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Ethics and Compliance Officer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$91,780
2024
$91,699
2025
$90,765
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $91,780
2024 $91,699
2025 $90,765
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Ethics and Compliance Officer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Ethics and Compliance Officer

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

Find Your Next Ethics and Compliance Officer Job

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

United States
  • Sutton Bank

    Columbus, OH

    Sutton Bank | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Summary:Responsible. for overseeing the Bank's Compliance Management System as it relates to deposit, prepaid and lending... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Information Security & Compliance. About the Company. Innovative artificial intelligence (AI) & marketing analyt... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Information Security & Compliance. About the Company. Innovative artificial intelligence (AI) & marketing analyt... more

    25 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    15 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Credit Risk Strategy & Data Science. About the Company. High-growth SMB lender building the next generation of credit decisioning. Industry... more

    20 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    22 Days Ago

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FAQ about Ethics and Compliance Officer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Ethics and Compliance Officer?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Ethics and Compliance Officer roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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.)

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