Financial Examiner
Check that banks and financial firms are sound and follow the rules.
- $94,160
- Several years of exam training
Business & Office career
Compliance Officer
Also called: Compliance Specialist · Compliance Analyst · Regulatory Compliance Officer · Compliance Manager
What compliance officers do, what they earn, how long training takes and how to get started, with official BLS pay data and practical, job-level detail.
What does a compliance officer do?
Compliance officers examine, evaluate and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contracts, licenses and permits, and develop compliance programs. The median pay is $80,730 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Moderate on-the-job training, and employment is projected to grow +3.8% from 2025–35.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
- Median pay$80,730$38.81/hour · May 2025
- Job growth+3.8%2025–35, about as fast as average
- Openings per year32,700Average, 2025–35
- Typical entry educationBachelor's degreeBLS classification
- Time to trainModerate on-the-job trainingTypical program length
- U.S. jobs436,400Employment, 2025
What compliance officers do
Compliance officers keep organizations on the right side of the rules. They track laws and regulations, write policies, train employees, monitor and audit operations, investigate concerns and report to regulators. They work in banking, healthcare, government, energy, manufacturing and more.
Most have a bachelor’s degree; BLS lists moderate-term on-the-job training as typical. Certifications in a specialty are common.
Typical duties
- Monitor laws and regulations
- Write policies and procedures
- Train employees
- Audit operations
- Investigate concerns
- Report to regulators
- Manage risk assessments
Work environment and schedule
Compliance officers work in offices, with some site visits.
Schedule: Full-time business hours.
A day in the life
- Read new regulatory updates.
- Review a marketing ad for compliance.
- Run a compliance training.
- Test a sample of transactions.
See a full day in the life of a compliance officer →
Compliance Officer salary
Half of compliance officers earned more than $80,730 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $48,220 for the lowest 10% to $133,720 for the top 10%.
Full compliance officer pay scale and hourly rates →
How to become a compliance officer
- Earn a bachelor’s
- Work in a regulated field
- Join a compliance team
- Earn a certification
- Advance
A bachelor’s degree in business, law, finance or a related field is typical.
Step-by-step guide to becoming a compliance officer →
Skills and tools
Technical skills
- Regulatory knowledge
- Policy writing
- Auditing
- Investigations
- Risk assessment
People skills
- Integrity
- Attention to detail
- Communication
- Judgment
All compliance officer skills and tools →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Every regulated industry needs you
- Good pay
- Office hours
- Clear career ladders
Cons
- Can be seen as the rule enforcer
- Constant rule changes
- Detail-heavy work
- Pressure during exams
Certifications and licenses
- CCEP: Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional.
- CRCM: Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (banking).
- CHC: Certified in Healthcare Compliance.
- CAMS: Anti-money laundering specialist.
Career path
- Compliance Analyst: Entry.
- Compliance Officer: Own programs.
- Compliance Manager: Lead teams.
- Chief Compliance Officer: Lead compliance.
Learn the job before day one
Our Compliance Officer training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as run an annual compliance risk assessment and write a clear compliance policy, safety and how to land your first job.
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Compare: Compliance Officer vs. Financial Examiner · Compliance Officer vs. Paralegal · Compliance Officer vs. Safety Specialist · Compliance Officer vs. Management Analyst
Compliance Officer FAQ
What industries hire compliance officers?
Banking, healthcare, government, energy and more.
Do compliance officers need a law degree?
No, though some have one.
What certifications help?
CCEP, CRCM, CHC and CAMS depending on industry.
How much does a compliance officer make?
The median annual wage for compliance officers was $80,730 ($38.81 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $48,220 and the highest 10% earned more than $133,720.
How long does it take to become a compliance officer?
Most people need about Moderate on-the-job training of training. A bachelor’s degree in business, law, finance or a related field is typical.
Do you need a degree to be a compliance officer?
Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.
More compliance officer questions →
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 13-1041 (Compliance officers).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
- O*NET OnLine summary for Compliance officers (U.S. Department of Labor).
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.