Compliance Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.
Also called: Accreditation Lieutenant · Accreditation Manager · Compliance Director · Compliance Manager · Compliance Operations Manager · Environmental Health and Safety Director
Median pay (national)
$136,550
$68,860–$227,590 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
630,980
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+4.5%
~106,700 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for compliance managers shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $227,590 versus $68,860 at the bottom 10% — 3.3x. The median of $136,550 leaves roughly 67% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +4.5% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 106,700 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, Massachusetts pays the most for this role (median $172,380, +26% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $78,740 — a 119% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Report violations of compliance or regulatory standards to duly authorized enforcement agencies as appropriate or required.
- Discuss emerging compliance issues to ensure that management and employees are informed about compliance reporting systems, policies, and practices.
- File appropriate compliance reports with regulatory agencies.
- Maintain documentation of compliance activities, such as complaints received or investigation outcomes.
- Conduct or direct the internal investigation of compliance issues.
- Provide employee training on compliance related topics, policies, or procedures.
- Serve as a confidential point of contact for employees to communicate with management, seek clarification on issues or dilemmas, or report irregularities.
- Verify that all regulatory policies and procedures have been documented, implemented, and communicated.
- Prepare management reports regarding compliance operations and progress.
- Conduct periodic internal reviews or audits to ensure that compliance procedures are followed.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Apple Safari
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft Windows
- Mozilla Firefox
- 80-20 Software Leaders4
- Actimize Brokerage Compliance Solutions
- Agiliance Compliance Manager
- Aline GRC
- ARC Logics Sword
- Archer Compliance Management
- AssurX CATSWeb
- AssurX Financial Services Compliance Management System
Knowledge areas
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
- Administrative