The median pay for Compliance Managers is $141,900 a year ($68.22/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% through 2035, with about 100,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 11-9199
- Management
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Compliance Manager in four numbers
- Median pay
- $141,900a year, or $68.22/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $74KTop 10% $238K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.9%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 100,9001,338,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20251.3M
- Projected 20351.4M
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 1.3M Projected 2035 1.4M - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school8.9%
- Certificate6.7%
- Some college1.3%
- Associate's5.3%
- Bachelor's63.4%
- Master's14.2%
Highest education held by compliance managers Segment Value High school 8.9% Certificate 6.7% Some college 1.3% Associate's 5.3% Bachelor's 63.4% Master's 14.2%
Also advertised as: Accreditation Lieutenant, Accreditation Manager, Compliance Director, Compliance Manager, Compliance Operations Manager, Environmental Health and Safety Director.
Pay
How much do Compliance Managers make?
Every compliance manager in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$141,900
Middle half earn $102,880 to $186,300
- 10th
- $74,300
- 25th
- $102,880
- 75th
- $186,300
- 90th
- $238,270
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $74,300 |
| 25th | $102,880 |
| Median | $141,900 |
| 75th | $186,300 |
| 90th | $238,270 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $141,900
- Median hourly wage
- $68.22/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $153,890
- People employed
- 622,190
Versus all US occupations
At $141,900, Compliance Managers earn 178% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $90,920 a year.
Versus management occupations
Inside the Management group, where the middle occupation pays $126,060, this is 13% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $238,270 or more while the bottom 10% earn $74,300, a gap of 3.2×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 92% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Massachusetts pays the most at $182,950, and still leads at $172,991 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Compliance Managers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Massachusetts | $182,950 | $172,991 | 10,630 |
| 2District of Columbia | $175,720 | $159,889 | 18,570 |
| 3California | $174,560 | $157,659 | 99,580 |
| 4Colorado | $171,140 | $166,071 | 14,060 |
| 5Delaware | $168,060 | $168,383 | 1,280 |
| 6New York | $167,200 | $154,928 | 18,470 |
| 7Virginia | $166,230 | $164,415 | 21,560 |
| 8Rhode Island | $165,900 | $162,202 | 790 |
| 9Washington | $164,160 | $153,402 | 10,490 |
| 10Connecticut | $162,690 | $157,022 | 7,330 |
Job outlook
Is Compliance Manager a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +4.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Compliance Managers | +4.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Compliance Managers to change 4.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 65,600 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 100,900 openings are projected each year, 7.5% of the 1,338,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Compliance Manager
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as compliance managers.
- Bachelor's Degree63.4%
- Master's Degree14.2%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)8.9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate6.7%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree5.3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 63.4% |
| Master's Degree | 14.2% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 8.9% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 6.7% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 5.3% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Compliance Manager do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.
Day-to-day tasks
- Discuss emerging compliance issues to ensure that management and employees are informed about compliance reporting systems, policies, and practices.
- Provide employee training on compliance related topics, policies, or procedures.
- Identify compliance issues that require follow-up or investigation.
- Keep informed regarding pending industry changes, trends, or best practices.
- Maintain documentation of compliance activities, such as complaints received or investigation outcomes.
- Design or implement improvements in communication, monitoring, or enforcement of compliance standards.
- Direct the development or implementation of policies and procedures related to compliance throughout an organization.
- Report violations of compliance or regulatory standards to duly authorized enforcement agencies as appropriate or required.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Listening3.9
- Writing3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Monitoring3.8
- Learning Strategies3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Coordination3.8
- Persuasion3.6
- Social Perceptiveness3.5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.5
- Instructing3.4
- Complex Problem Solving3.3
- Systems Analysis3.3
- Negotiation3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Coordination | 3.8 |
| Persuasion | 3.6 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.5 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.5 |
| Instructing | 3.4 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.3 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.3 |
| Negotiation | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Internet browser software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Project management software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Accounting software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Compliance Manager?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Compliance Manager |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 6 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Conventional6.3
- Enterprising5.9
- Social3.1
- Investigative3.0
- Realistic1.9
- Artistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Compliance Manager
O*NET related occupations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Management
- Business and Financial Operations
- Business and Financial Operations
- Management
More management careers
Median annual pay, with compliance managers highlighted
- IT Manager$175,140
- Marketing Manager$166,790
- Financial Manager$166,570
- Human Resources Manager$149,280
- Sales Manager$148,270
- Compliance Manager$141,900
- Construction Manager$114,990
- Supply Chain Manager$107,230
- Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager$69,990
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| IT Manager | $175,140 |
| Marketing Manager | $166,790 |
| Financial Manager | $166,570 |
| Human Resources Manager | $149,280 |
| Sales Manager | $148,270 |
| Compliance Manager | $141,900 |
| Construction Manager | $114,990 |
| Supply Chain Manager | $107,230 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Manager | $69,990 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Compliance Manager appears on
Questions
Compliance Manager: frequently asked questions
How much do Compliance Managers make?
Compliance Managers earn a median of $141,900 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 178% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $68.22/hr. The middle half earn between $102,880 and $186,300. The top 10% earn $238,270 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Compliance Manager?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Compliance Managers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 63.4% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Compliance Manager a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 100,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Compliance Manager do?
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards. A core O*NET task: discuss emerging compliance issues to ensure that management and employees are informed about compliance reporting systems, policies, and practices. Employers most often ask for Data base user interface and query software, Document management software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Compliance Managers the most?
The highest state medians for Compliance Managers are Massachusetts ($182,950), District of Columbia ($175,720), California ($174,560) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Compliance Manager?
O*NET scores Compliance Managers highest on the Conventional, Enterprising and Social interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ESTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.