What is a compliance specialist and how to become one

Q: How do I become a compliance specialist?

To become a compliance specialist, you must determine a field of specialty, earn a bachelor's degree, gain work experience, and earn certifications to enhance your career. The first step in becoming a compliance specialist is to determine a field of specialty. Compliance officers work in healthcare, finance, higher education, corporate and government environments, among others.

Q: How long does it take to become a compliance officer?

It takes four years to become a compliance officer. While there is no specific compliance officer degree, a bachelor's degree is considered the bare minimum education a compliance officer must have.

Q: How much do compliance specialists make?

A compliance specialist makes around $61,350 a year. There is a considerable range in how much a compliance specialist can make, starting from as little as $56,000 a year to as much as $200,000 a year. Factors such as years of experience, location, and company type all impact how much a compliance specialist can make.

Q: Is compliance specialist a good job?

Yes, being a compliance specialist is a good job. A compliance specialist earns good money and has a good work-life balance. Working as a compliance specialist is not considered a stressful job, and there are so many different fields and areas to work in.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A compliance specialist ensures that a company or organization follows all relevant laws, regulations, and policies. They work to identify and mitigate potential risks of non-compliance, and develop policies to ensure that the company operates in accordance with legal and ethical standards. Compliance specialists may also conduct audits, provide compliance training, and maintain records. Overall, they aim to protect the company from legal or reputational harm while maintaining a culture of integrity and ethical behavior.

ScoreCompliance SpecialistUS Average

Salary

4.5

Avg. Salary $57,330

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.3

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.83%

Asian 8.24%

Black or African American 10.91%

Hispanic or Latino 15.72%

Unknown 4.47%

White 59.83%

Gender

female 61.63%

male 38.37%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.7

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a compliance specialist?

Pros

High demand for compliance specialists in various industries
Competitive salary and benefits
Opportunity to work with different teams and stakeholders
Potential for career advancement
Opportunity to work remotely or have flexible schedules

Cons

Heavy workload and long hours during peak periods
Need to stay up-to-date with new technologies and trends
Potential for conflicts with other departments or stakeholders
Risk of burnout due to high-pressure environment
Limited control over decision-making processes

Compliance Specialist career paths

Key steps to become a compliance specialist

Explore compliance specialist education requirements
Most common compliance specialist degrees
Bachelor's
60.9 %
Associate
14.6 %
Master's
12.0 %
Start to develop specific compliance specialist skills
Skills Percentages
Patients 9.20%
Regulatory Compliance 6.76%
Strong Analytical 5.28%
FDA 4.95%
Customer Service 4.68%
Show more
Research compliance specialist duties and responsibilities
- Lead bi-weekly Medicaid meetings to maintain effective communication with all staff regarding AHCA updates and notifications.
- Manage and submit regulatory permit and notification applications to USDA to import, move and release regulate plant materials.
- Participate in OCC exam preparation and review including research and presentation of documentation to achieve compliance with federal examiner requests.
- Access the IDX system to obtain patient billing information in order to review Medicare and Medicaid payments.
Prepare your compliance specialist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your compliance specialist resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a compliance specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable compliance specialist resume templates
Build a professional compliance specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your compliance specialist resume.
Apply for compliance specialist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a compliance specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
2. Consult your professional network
3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
4. Watch out for job scams

Skills	Percentages
Patients	9.20%
Regulatory Compliance	6.76%
Strong Analytical	5.28%
FDA	4.95%
Customer Service	4.68%

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Average compliance specialist salary

The average compliance specialist salary in the United States is $57,330 per year or $28 per hour. Compliance specialist salaries range between $38,000 and $85,000 per year.

Average Compliance Specialist Salary

$57,330 Yearly

$27.56 hourly

More compliance specialist salary info

What am I worth?

How do compliance specialists rate their job?

Compliance Specialist FAQs

How do I become a compliance specialist?

How long does it take to become a compliance officer?

How much do compliance specialists make?

Is compliance specialist a good job?

Have more questions? See all answers to common business and financial questions.

Search for compliance specialist jobs

Compliance Specialist jobs by state

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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What is a compliance specialist and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a compliance specialist?

Compliance Specialist career paths

Key steps to become a compliance specialist

Explore compliance specialist education requirements

Most common compliance specialist degrees

Start to develop specific compliance specialist skills

Research compliance specialist duties and responsibilities

Prepare your compliance specialist resume

Choose from 10+ customizable compliance specialist resume templates

Apply for compliance specialist jobs

How did you land your first compliance specialist job

Average compliance specialist salary

How do compliance specialists rate their job?

Compliance Specialist FAQs

How do I become a compliance specialist?

How long does it take to become a compliance officer?

How much do compliance specialists make?

Is compliance specialist a good job?

Search for compliance specialist jobs

Compliance Specialist jobs by state