Compliance Officer
Salary, job outlook, education and requirements
Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.
Also called: Driver Examiner · Driver License Agent · Driver License Examiner · Examiner · License Examiner · License Registration Examiner · Licensing Analyst · Motor Vehicle Clerk
O*NET-SOC 13-1041.00 (Compliance Officers)
Compliance Officer salary
Wages for compliance officers across all employers, 2025 data. The 10th percentile is typical entry-level pay; the 90th percentile reflects the most experienced and highest-paid workers.
National median hourly wage: $38.81.
Compliance Officer pay by state
Ten largest states by population, annual wages.
| State | 10th percentile | Median | 90th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $57,530 | $96,980 | $158,280 |
| Texas | $45,170 | $75,370 | $126,920 |
| Florida | $44,130 | $74,920 | $127,420 |
| New York | $53,330 | $90,080 | $142,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,910 | $85,580 | $130,990 |
| Illinois | $50,040 | $80,550 | $132,290 |
| Ohio | $47,230 | $75,030 | $124,230 |
| Georgia | $42,500 | $70,200 | $131,210 |
| North Carolina | $45,690 | $78,500 | $131,180 |
| Michigan | $46,290 | $77,390 | $120,560 |
Compliance Officer job outlook
- Employment is projected to go from 436,400 jobs in 2025 to 453,100 in 2035 (4% change).
- About 32,700 openings are projected each year, including jobs that open up as workers retire or change occupations.
- CareerOneStop outlook rating: Average.
How to become a compliance officer
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- No work experience
- On-the-job training
- 1 to 12 months on-the-job training
Education level of current workers
- Less than high school diploma1.1%
- High school diploma or equivalent10.5%
- Some college, no degree14.9%
- Associate's degree8.8%
- Bachelor's degree39.9%
- Master's degree18.8%
- Doctoral or professional degree6%
Related training programs
- Energy and Environmental Policy
- Environmental Geosciences
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Studies
- Environmental/Natural Resources Law Enforcement and Protective Services
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General
- Labor and Industrial Relations
- Medical Staff Services Technology/Technician
- Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality
- Regulatory Science/Affairs
- Suspension and Debarment Investigation
What does a compliance officer do?
Common tasks
- Issue licenses to individuals meeting standards.
- Collect fees for licenses.
- Warn violators of infractions or penalties.
- Administer oral, written, road, or flight tests to license applicants.
- Visit establishments to verify that valid licenses or permits are displayed and that licensing standards are being upheld.
- Evaluate applications, records, or documents to gather information about eligibility or liability issues.
- Advise licensees or other individuals or groups concerning licensing, permit, or passport regulations.
- Prepare reports of activities, evaluations, recommendations, or decisions.
- Score tests and observe equipment operation and control to rate ability of applicants.
- Report law or regulation violations to appropriate boards or agencies.
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading work-related information.
- Speaking
- Talking to others.
- Writing
- Writing things for co-workers or customers.
- Active Listening
- Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
- Critical Thinking
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Understanding people's reactions.
- Monitoring
- Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Compliance Officer certifications
8 of 22 certifications CareerOneStop maps to this occupation. Requirements vary by employer and state.
- National Registry of Environmental Professionals · Advanced
- Anti-Bribery Management System - Lead Auditor (ISO 37001-LA)TRECCERT · Core
- Anti-Bribery Management - Lead Implementer (ISO 37001-LI)TRECCERT · Core
- Association of Energy Engineers · Advanced
- The Institutes · Core
- National Registry of Environmental Professionals · Advanced
- Anti-Bribery Management - Lead Auditor (ISO 37001-LA)TRECCERT · Core
- Federal Information Security Management Act Center · Core
See all 22certifications in CareerOneStop's Certification Finder
Compliance Officer jobs
Current federal openings from USAJOBS. For more business & industry jobs, including private-sector listings, see the Business & Industry jobs hub.
Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM.
Related careers
- Compliance Managers
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
- Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors
- Regulatory Affairs Specialists
- Paralegal
- Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
- Coroners
- Customs Brokers
More business & industry careers
This page includes information from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA), and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Source: CareerOneStop occupation profile for Compliance Officers. Wages are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program; projections are national long-term projections.