Bailiff
Median wage · national
$56,600
Range: $44K – $75K
Employed
17K
Openings/yr
2K
Typically: high school diploma or equivalent
TRADES
Compliance Officers
Compliance Officers earn $80,730 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $61,280 and $109,010. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Compliance Officers
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.
- Median Wage
- $80,730
- Employed Nationally
- 417K
- Openings / Year
- 33,300
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
Also known as:
Air Pollution Compliance Inspector
Certified Driver Examiner (CDE)
Certified Driver License Test Administrator
Compliance Analyst
Compliance Coordinator
How Much Do Compliance Officers Make?
Compliance Officers earn $80,730 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $61,280 and $109,010. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$80,730
National Median (Annual)
Above the national median for college graduates.
$61K–$109K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$61,280
Entry-level
$80,730
Median
$109,010
Experienced
What Do Compliance Officers Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Compliance Officers roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Warn violators of infractions or penalties.
- 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.
- Report law or regulation violations to appropriate boards or agencies.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Speaking
Who Thrives Here
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Compliance Officers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Compliance Officers?
The BLS projects +3.0% employment change for Compliance Officers through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 33,300 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +3.0%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
About as fast as average.
33,300
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
417K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Compliance Officers professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $80,730 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 47,420 | $92,350 | +14.4% |
| 2 | Texas | 39,870 | $72,050 | -10.8% |
| 3 | Florida | 31,610 | $70,460 | -12.7% |
| 4 | New York | 23,690 | $86,880 | +7.6% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 15,320 | $73,840 | -8.5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Compliance Officers positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 7 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 4: Considerable Preparation
These positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Criminal Justice | 103,302 | $55,378 | 1,899 |
| 2 | Health Administration | 85,302 | $58,716 | 1,975 |
| 3 | Public Health | 42,551 | $58,808 | 867 |
| 4 | Human Resources | 25,350 | $68,069 | 812 |
| 5 | Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 23,672 | $55,012 | 1,078 |
| 6 | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy | 3,147 | $56,185 | 185 |
| 7 | Environmental Geosciences | 102 | — | 15 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Compliance Officers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 3 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 4 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 5 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Compliance Officers, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Compliance Officers pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Compliance Officers Pros & Cons
The data on Compliance Officers shows 3 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Above-average pay At $80,730 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $109,010 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
- Wide job market 417K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
CONS
- Multi-year ramp before career-level pay This is a Job Zone 4 occupation, these positions typically require a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience before advancing into senior roles. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $80,730 median while building the experience employers require.
- Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $61,280 is considerably below the $80,730 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.
Compliance Officers Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Compliance Officers professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Compliance Officers is $80,730, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $61,280 and $109,010. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Compliance Officers a good career?
For people genuinely interested in the work, yes. At $80,730 median, with +3.0% projected growth through 2034, there is a real financial case and a stable market for new entrants. Compare program net price against local salary outcomes (not just the national median) before committing.
How long does it take to become a Compliance Officers?
Expect 4 years of undergraduate education followed by 2 or more years of field experience before most employers consider you qualified for career-level positions. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Criminal Justice are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $80,730 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Compliance Officers?
The BLS projects +3.0% employment change for Compliance Officers through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 33,300 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 417K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
What skills do Compliance Officers professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Compliance Officers roles: Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Speaking. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
-
10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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