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Foreign Affairs Officer Salary in the United States

How much does a Foreign Affairs Officer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Foreign Affairs Officer in the United States is $97,554 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $47.

However, a Foreign Affairs Officer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $105,663
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $90,006 to $101,799
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $83,134
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Foreign Affairs Officer Salaries

A Foreign Affairs 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 Foreign Affairs Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Foreign Affairs 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): $65,051
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $79,915
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $97,242
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $123,272
  • Expert (over 8 years): $156,721
Levels Salary
Risk Anal... Level Foreign Affairs Officer$65,051
Risk Anal... Level Foreign Affairs Officer$79,915
Foreign A... Level Foreign Affairs Officer$97,242
Risk Anal... Level Foreign Affairs Officer$123,272
Risk Anal... Level Foreign Affairs Officer$156,721
View as Graph

How Do Foreign Affairs Officer 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 Foreign Affairs Officers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $108,012.
  • California: $107,603.
  • Massachusetts: $106,168.

Top Paying Cities for Foreign Affairs 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: $123,045
  • San Francisco: $121,698
  • Oakland: $119,133

What Skills Can Increase a Foreign Affairs Officer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Risk Management (Mentioned in 19.3% 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.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 1.7% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Internal Control (Mentioned in 1.13% Job Postings): Internal control, as defined by accounting and auditing, is a process for assuring of an organization's objectives in operational effectiveness and efficiency, reliable financial reporting, and compliance with laws, regulations and policies.
Skills Demand Percentage
Risk Management 19.3%
Microsoft Office 1.7%
Internal Control 1.13%
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 a Foreign Affairs Officer's salary.

  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Communication Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Trading: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Coordination $100,481
3%
Communication Skills $100,481
3%
Trading $100,481
3%
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Foreign Affairs Officer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Foreign Affairs 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 Aerospace & Defense and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Foreign Affairs Officer positions in Biotechnology or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Foreign Affairs Officer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Foreign Affairs Officer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense$117,065$56.020%

How Education impacts a Foreign Affairs Officer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Foreign Affairs 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 a Foreign Affairs Officer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $98,816 and $106,245).

Foreign Affairs Officer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Foreign Affairs Officer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.1%
High School 3.1%
Associates 1.0%
Bachelors 41.1%
Masters 47.9%
Doctorate 6.8%
View as Graph

Foreign Affairs Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Foreign Affairs 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 September 01, 2026
$90,006
Average $97,554/year
$101,799
$7,501
Average $8,130/month
$8,483
$1,731
Average $1,876/week
$1,958
$43
Average $47/hour
$49
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $101,799 $8,483 $1,958 $49
Average $97,554 $8,130 $1,876 $47
25th Percentile $90,006 $7,501 $1,731 $43

Most common benefits for Foreign Affairs Officer

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

Common company salaries for Foreign Affairs Officer

Here are companies hiring for Foreign Affairs Officer and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Foreign Affairs Officer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Foreign Affairs Officer?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Foreign Affairs 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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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