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The differences between chief compliance officers and senior compliance specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chief compliance officer has an average salary of $102,166, which is higher than the $71,381 average annual salary of a senior compliance specialist.
The top three skills for a chief compliance officer include oversight, compliance issues and risk management. The most important skills for a senior compliance specialist are risk assessments, regulatory compliance, and regulatory agencies.
| Chief Compliance Officer | Senior Compliance Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $102,166 | $71,381 |
| Hourly rate | $49.12 | $34.32 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 76,701 | 23,456 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A CCO or Chief Compliance Officer's primary responsibility is to ensure all procedures or activities are compliant with the company's overall policy and adhering to legal protocols with state and federal laws. Thus, the CCO drafts, proposes and develops compliance programs for the company to implement. Through the chief compliance officer's work, the company can lessen its liabilities and issues that may cause disruptions in production. The CCO is also part of the team that ensures quality in all company processes and activities.
A senior compliance specialist is responsible for overseeing business functions and operational processes to ensure that each policy adheres to standard regulations and internal guidelines. Senior compliance specialists inspect the condition of facilities and equipment to prevent potential hazards and operational delays. They also review and resolve incident reports and recommend solutions to minimize risks and maximize productivity in the workplace. A senior compliance specialist plans and facilitates safety training and programs for the employees and reiterate safety policies for strict compliance.
Chief compliance officers and senior compliance specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Compliance Officer | Senior Compliance Specialist | |
| Average salary | $102,166 | $71,381 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $159,000 | Between $48,000 And $105,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | California |
| Best paying company | McKinsey & Company Inc | Genentech |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a chief compliance officer and a senior compliance specialist in terms of educational background:
| Chief Compliance Officer | Senior Compliance Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 60% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Law | Business |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between chief compliance officers' and senior compliance specialists' demographics:
| Chief Compliance Officer | Senior Compliance Specialist | |
| Average age | 46 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.7% Female, 35.3% | Male, 42.9% Female, 57.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 59.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 8.1% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |