These Are The 10 States With The Highest Compliance Officer Salaries For 2026

Top 10 States with the Highest Compliance Officer Salaries in 2026

In today’s job market, salary remains a critical factor for professionals across all demographics. If you’re exploring a career as a compliance officer, knowing the average salary in your state can significantly influence your job prospects and expectations.

While numerous factors affect individual salaries, we have compiled reliable data reflecting average compliance officer salaries across the United States, segmented by state and seniority level. These averages offer a useful benchmark for what you can anticipate earning in your region.

To provide a clearer picture of salary variations, we analyzed the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, focusing on compliance officer salaries adjusted for cost of living. This adjustment illustrates how far your salary can stretch—what you earn in North Carolina may have a different purchasing power compared to California.

So, which state offers the best salary for compliance officers in 2026? The answer may surprise you. Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states:

Let’s dive deeper into the factors that determine these salaries and provide a comprehensive ranking of all states.

If you’re interested in exploring job opportunities further, check out our other resources:

How We Determined Pay by State

In our analysis, we utilized the most recent annual salary data for compliance officers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, specifically their ‘Occupational Employment Statistics.’

To ensure a fair comparison of salaries across states, we factored in the cost of living for each state. We calculated an index by dividing the average wage in a state by its cost of living relative to the national average. For example, with a cost of living index of 135.9 in California and an average salary of $79,340, our index calculation would be:

$79,340 * (100 / 135.9) = $58,381

We then ranked the states based on this adjusted salary index, with the highest ranking reflecting the best average salary for compliance officers.

Here’s a detailed look at the full ranking of all states.

For more insights, explore:

Detailed List of Compliance Officer Salaries by State

Rank	State	Adjusted Salary	Average Wage	Cost Of Living
1	Texas	$80,672	$73,170	90.7
2	Washington	$78,954	$83,060	105.2
3	Michigan	$77,011	$68,540	89.0
4	Illinois	$75,422	$71,350	94.6
5	Wyoming	$74,640	$68,520	91.8
6	Virginia	$73,700	$74,290	100.8
7	Alabama	$73,574	$67,100	91.2
8	Delaware	$72,968	$73,990	101.4
9	North Carolina	$72,843	$68,400	93.9
10	Minnesota	$72,450	$73,030	100.8
11	Nebraska	$70,829	$64,880	91.6
12	Colorado	$68,757	$71,370	103.8
13	Iowa	$68,340	$62,190	91.0
14	Utah	$67,849	$63,100	93.0
15	Tennessee	$67,617	$60,450	89.4
16	Georgia	$66,925	$61,170	91.4
17	Pennsylvania	$66,459	$67,390	101.4
18	Missouri	$66,161	$59,810	90.4
19	New Mexico	$66,113	$63,800	96.5
20	Indiana	$65,888	$58,970	89.5
21	New Jersey	$65,512	$79,860	121.9
22	Louisiana	$65,073	$61,690	94.8
23	Connecticut	$64,690	$82,610	127.7
24	Ohio	$64,456	$60,460	93.8
25	Kansas	$64,393	$57,890	89.9
26	Idaho	$63,561	$58,540	92.1
27	Wisconsin	$63,150	$61,130	96.8
28	Nevada	$62,962	$65,040	103.3
29	Oklahoma	$62,948	$56,150	89.2
30	Mississippi	$62,642	$53,810	85.9
31	Florida	$62,288	$61,230	98.3
32	Massachusetts	$62,241	$83,030	133.4
33	Kentucky	$62,044	$56,150	90.5
34	North Dakota	$61,810	$61,440	99.4
35	Rhode Island	$61,027	$73,660	120.7
36	Arkansas	$60,665	$52,840	87.1
37	Montana	$59,285	$59,760	100.8
38	Maryland	$58,828	$73,830	125.5
39	New York	$58,725	$76,930	131.0
40	California	$58,381	$79,340	135.9
41	South Carolina	$57,872	$57,410	99.2
42	Oregon	$57,491	$66,460	115.6
43	West Virginia	$57,387	$53,600	93.4
44	Maine	$57,373	$63,570	110.8
45	Alaska	$57,284	$75,100	131.1
46	New Hampshire	$56,760	$66,410	117.0
47	Vermont	$54,450	$65,940	121.1
48	South Dakota	$53,336	$55,310	103.7
49	Hawaii	$40,000	$67,160	167.9

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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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