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Job outlook for legal compliance officers in the United States
Legal compliance officer job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected legal compliance officer job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 80,200 new jobs for legal compliance officers are projected over the next decade.
Legal compliance officer salaries have increased 7% for legal compliance officers in the last 5 years.
There are over 12,171 legal compliance officers currently employed in the United States.
There are 78,480 active legal compliance officer job openings in the US.
The average legal compliance officer salary is $91,936.
Are legal compliance officer jobs in demand?
Legal compliance officer job and salary trends over time
Legal compliance officer jobs over time
Legal compliance officer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,171 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 11,810 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 11,688 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 11,320 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 10,987 | 0.00% |
Average legal compliance officer salary over time
Legal compliance officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $91,936 | $44.20 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | $89,285 | $42.93 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | $89,039 | $42.81 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $87,759 | $42.19 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $86,039 | $41.37 | +1.4% |
Legal compliance officer jobs by state
Most common states for legal compliance officers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 189 | 27% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,504 | 22% |
| 3 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,163 | 21% |
| 4 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 160 | 21% |
| 5 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 329 | 19% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 200 | 19% |
| 7 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 312 | 16% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 221 | 16% |
| 9 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 135 | 16% |
| 10 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 898 | 15% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 860 | 15% |
| 12 | Vermont | 623,657 | 94 | 15% |
| 13 | California | 39,536,653 | 5,559 | 14% |
| 14 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,731 | 14% |
| 15 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,410 | 14% |
| 16 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,390 | 14% |
| 17 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,239 | 14% |
| 18 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 1,000 | 14% |
| 19 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 962 | 14% |
| 20 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 455 | 14% |
Most common cities for legal compliance officers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melbourne | 1 | 1% | $67,734 |
| 2 | Mountain View | 1 | 1% | $110,844 |
| 3 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $97,648 |
Legal Compliance Officer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of legal compliance officer experts
University of Houston
What skills stand out on Legal Compliance Officer resumes?
Katherine Butler Brem: From the 30,000 foot view, the things that stand out on a new lawyer's resume are things that reflect work ethic and intellect. This is why lawyers, perhaps more than any other profession, are "credentials conscious." To an employer, GPA is important because it reflects both intellect and a good work ethic. Of course, where you go to law school is also important. But there are other things students can do to enhance these qualities of work ethic and intellect on their resumes. Journal work reflects a strong work ethic and is, typically, derivative of a student's GPA. Participating in moot court and mock trial also indicate strong work ethic and a student's willingness to think hard about difficult problems. Employers also appreciate things that reflect practical skills: judicial internships, summer clerkships, and other work experience, as well as clinic experience. Clinics offer a wealth of real-world experience. I always tell students that even if they don't intend to do work similar to the work they do in a clinic - immigration work, for example - the people skills they learn dealing with real-world clients are invaluable, and the knowledge they take away will be useful for a lifetime.
And if students have any unique characteristic that sets them apart from the average law student, definitely include that on your resume. If you were a fishing guide in the summers, for example, or a zip line instructor at a summer camp, include it. Our career counselors usually advise against including this sort of non-legal experience but, when I was in practice and interviewing law students, it was the first thing my colleagues and I looked for. A lot of resumes look more or less the same - making your resume memorable may move your resume to the top of a pile. On two occasions, students have told me this advice was very helpful. One was a ballerina for a professional company in Poland before emigrating to the United States and attending college and then law school. The other had an FFA scholarship in college that required her to castrate hogs as part of a work-study experience. Each told me they left these experiences on their resumes against Career Development's advice, yet it was all anyone ever asked about during interviews. And, interestingly, both were offered employment at firms that typically looked for students with better traditional qualifications.
What soft skills should all Legal Compliance Officers possess?
Katherine Butler Brem: Whether trial or transactional, a lawyer's ability to spot issues and think critically about those issues is crucial to success. The world moves fast, and I think that has encouraged all of us to look for the "quick" answer. We're conditioned to think if we need to know something, we can just look it up. But the law doesn't work that way. First, lawyers have to have a sufficient knowledge base to spot not just the obvious issues but those that are not so obvious. And then the lawyer has to be willing to spend the time and intellectual capital to think hard about the issues, do some research, and then think even harder about them. In a world where "action" represents the typical coin of the realm, it can be difficult for lawyers to exercise the discipline required to slow down and think before they act. But those who do develop a reputation as excellent strategists, and this is a very marketable skill.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Legal Compliance Officers?
Katherine Butler Brem: Two things: Research skills, especially research skills specific to a particular specialty area like tax or immigration. If you're looking for work in these fields, you need to be knowledgeable about where and how to research law relevant to these specialties. Secondly, just minimum competence in the technology you need to practice law in the absence of significant administrative assistance - things like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and billing software.
What skills will help Legal Compliance Officers earn the most?
Katherine Butler Brem: Both a strong work ethic and well-developed intellect are critical for advancement. It's not likely that who you know or fate will allow you to stumble into a windfall. The most successful lawyers are the ones that work the hardest. This doesn't mean that you can't take time for yourself, but you have to be disciplined with your time. Also, good client communication skills and an ability to understand client needs and motivations are equally critical for advancement. When a client contacts you, they're looking for a quick response - even if that response is simply to say that you are working on the problem and will get back to them at a specific time.