California Median
$96,980
per year
Hourly Rate
$46.63
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+20% vs US median
US median $80,730
State Rank
#4 of 51
49,880 employed here
How much does a Compliance Officer make in California?
A Compliance Officer working in California earns a median salary of $96,980 per year, or about $46.63 per hour. That is 20% above the national median of $80,730 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $57,530 while the top 10% make $158,280 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $71,240 and $127,380 a year.
Compliance Officer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,530 | $27.66 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $71,240 | $34.25 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $96,980 | $46.63 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $127,380 | $61.24 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,280 | $76.10 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 4th out of 51 states and territories for Compliance Officer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Compliance Officer salary in other states
District of Columbia $111,030Massachusetts $102,060New Jersey $100,000Connecticut $91,810Delaware $91,050Vermont $90,420New York $90,080Washington $88,790Rhode Island $87,620Minnesota $85,920Pennsylvania $85,580Maryland $84,720Maine $83,740Oregon $82,990New Hampshire $82,800Hawaii $82,590Colorado $82,450Illinois $80,550Virginia $80,380Wyoming $79,890North Dakota $79,440Wisconsin $78,800Indiana $78,770North Carolina $78,500Nevada $78,290Michigan $77,390Alaska $76,430Iowa $75,620South Carolina $75,460Idaho $75,450Texas $75,370Ohio $75,030Arizona $74,920Florida $74,920Nebraska $73,920Alabama $72,990South Dakota $72,630Louisiana $70,290Georgia $70,200Kansas $69,740Kentucky $69,240New Mexico $67,990Mississippi $67,450Utah $67,370Missouri $67,270Montana $66,660Arkansas $64,680West Virginia $64,270Tennessee $63,960Oklahoma $63,000
Working as a Compliance Officer in California
Nationally, about 417,000 people work as Compliance Officers in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($96,980) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Compliance Officer make in California?
The median Compliance Officer salary in California is $96,980 per year, or about $46.63 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $57,530 at the entry level to $158,280 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Compliance Officers about 20% more than the national median of $80,730. California ranks 4th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Compliance Officers?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $96,980 a year. About 49,880 Compliance Officers are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Compliance Officer salary report
Related salaries
$77,710
median pay · 491,000 employed
$78,210
median pay · 112,000 employed
$101,860
median pay · 898,000 employed
$91,640
median pay · 47,000 employed
$94,160
median pay · 68,000 employed
$78,000
median pay · 324,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.