Compliance Officers Salary
Compliance Officers in District of Columbia make a median of $111,030 a year, or about $53.38 an hour. The range runs from $69K at the entry level to $157K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $101,975 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,146/month, about 31.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across District of Columbia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $111K get you in District of Columbia?
About compliance officers
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What this looks like in District of Columbia
District of Columbia sits well above the national pay line for compliance officers, local pay runs about 38% higher than the U.S. median of $81K. Rent runs $2,146/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, District of Columbia
Entry-level compliance officers (10th percentile) start around $69K. Mid-career wages sit at $111K. Top earners bring in $157K or more, a $88K spread from bottom to top.
Compliance Officers salary by metro in District of Columbia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $100K | -10% | 13,820 |
Compare to other states
Track compliance officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when District of Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a compliance officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in District of Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $111K, rent takes 32.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,146/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for compliance officers in District of Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new compliance officers typically earn — is $69K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,148/month. At HUD’s $2,146/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is compliance officer a high-paying job in District of Columbia?
Local pay is 38% above the national median — $111K here vs. $81K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 9% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does District of Columbia compare to the national average for compliance officers?
District of Columbia pays $111K median vs. the U.S. average of $81K — that’s +38%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do compliance officers make in District of Columbia?
The median is $111,030 a year, that works out to about $53 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,140, and experienced compliance officers can clear $156,750. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $111K enough to live in District of Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,658/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,146/month, which eats 32.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a compliance officers salary go in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median compliance officers salary is worth about $101,975 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do compliance officers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.