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Risk Officer Salary in the United States

How much does a Risk Officer make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Risk Officer in the United States is $64,367 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $70,053
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,856 to $67,343
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,376
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Risk Officer Salaries

A Risk 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 Risk Officer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Risk 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): $64,148
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $92,244
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $104,321
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $123,638
  • Expert (over 8 years): $137,171
Levels Salary
Risk Offi... Level Risk Officer$64,148
Credit Ri... Level Risk Officer$92,244
Credit Ri... Level Risk Officer$104,321
Credit Ri... Level Risk Officer$123,638
Credit Ri... Level Risk Officer$137,171
View as Graph

How Do Risk 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 Risk Officers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $71,267.
  • California: $70,996.
  • Massachusetts: $70,050.

Top Paying Cities for Risk 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: $81,186
  • San Francisco: $80,297
  • Oakland: $78,605

What Skills Can Increase a Risk Officer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Risk Management (Mentioned in 17.79% 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 Statements (Mentioned in 1.68% Job Postings): Obtaining and creating formal records of business activities and cash flows to provide results for financial performance.
  • Financial Services (Mentioned in 1.31% 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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Risk Management 17.79%
Financial Statements 1.68%
Financial Services 1.31%
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 Risk Officer's salary.

  • Relationship Management: Can increase your salary by up to 29%.
  • Business Continuity: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Strategic Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Relationship Management $83,033
29%
Business Continuity $75,309
17%
Strategic Planning $73,378
14%
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Risk Officer Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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

The top paying industries for a Risk Officer

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$77,240$37.020%
Insurance$70,803$34.010%

How Education impacts a Risk Officer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Risk 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 Risk Officer with a Bachelor's Degree is between $69,501 and $75,784).

Risk Officer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Risk Officer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 12.5%
High School 12.5%
Associates 50.0%
Bachelors 37.5%
Masters 50.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Risk Officer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Risk 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
$52,856
Average $64,367/year
$67,343
$4,405
Average $5,364/month
$5,612
$1,016
Average $1,238/week
$1,295
$25
Average $31/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $67,343 $5,612 $1,295 $32
Average $64,367 $5,364 $1,238 $31
25th Percentile $52,856 $4,405 $1,016 $25

Most common benefits for Risk Officer

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

Common company salaries for Risk Officer

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

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FAQ about Risk Officer

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Risk Officer?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Risk 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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