BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Compliance Officers in California

$102,490 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$49.27 per hour

▲ 15.9% above U.S. average4th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$102,490per year
Median$96,980per year
Hourly$49.27per hour
10th – 90th percentile$57,530 – $158,280per year

Compliance Officers Pay Range in California

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$57,530
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$71,240
  • 50th Percentile — Median$96,980
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$127,380
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$158,280

Half of Compliance Officers in California earn more than $96,980. The top 10% make $158,280 or more, while entry-level workers start around $57,530.

Compliance Officers in California: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • California ranks 4th of 51 states for Compliance Officers pay, at $102,490 per year (15.9% above the U.S. average of $88,400).
  • 49,880 people work as Compliance Officers in California — 12.0% of all U.S. Compliance Officers jobs.
  • Location quotient 1.02: Compliance Officers jobs are more concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $57,530; the top 10% earn over $158,280.
  • Hourly equivalent: $49.27 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $113,410.
  • Among business jobs in California, Personal Financial Advisors pays the most ($170,070).

Compliance Officers Job Market in California

Key factors affecting compensation

California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Compliance Officers here earn $102,490 on average, placing the state 4th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $102,490 is roughly equivalent to $72,176 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, District of Columbia ($113,410), Massachusetts ($108,310), New Jersey ($103,950) are the closest alternatives for Compliance Officers weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Compliance Officers salary in California?

The average Compliance Officers salary in California is $102,490 per year (median $96,980), which is 15.9% above the national average of $88,400.

How does California rank for Compliance Officers pay?

California ranks 4th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($113,410/yr).

How much do entry-level Compliance Officers make in California?

The lowest-paid 10% of Compliance Officers in California earn about $57,530 per year and the 25th percentile is $71,240.

How much do Compliance Officers make per hour in California?

About $49.27 per hour, based on the $102,490 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Compliance Officers work in California?

BLS counts 49,880 Compliance Officers jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).

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