Compliance Officers Salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Compliance Officers in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA make a median of $118,490 a year, or about $56.97 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $206K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.42), so that salary is closer to $107,308 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,483/month — about 47.8% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $118K get you in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
About compliance officers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Entry-level compliance officers (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $118K.Top earners bring in $206K or more - a $141K spread from bottom to top.
Compliance Officers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $103K | +31% | 4,200 |
| New Jersey | $94K | +19% | 12,000 |
| Massachusetts | $93K | +18% | 11,460 |
| California | $92K | +18% | 47,420 |
| Alaska | $89K | +13% | 770 |
| Vermont | $89K | +13% | 1,920 |
| Delaware | $88K | +13% | 2,370 |
| Maryland | $88K | +12% | 8,860 |
| Connecticut | $87K | +11% | 3,290 |
| Maine | $87K | +11% | 1,890 |
| New York | $87K | +11% | 23,690 |
| Washington | $86K | +10% | 10,820 |
| Minnesota | $85K | +9% | 6,460 |
| Oregon | $84K | +7% | 4,960 |
| Rhode Island | $83K | +6% | 970 |
Track compliance officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do compliance officers make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median is $118,490 a year - that works out to about $56.97 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,080, and experienced compliance officers can clear $205,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $118K enough to live in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,049/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,483/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 49.4% 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has a Regional Price Parity of 110.42 (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 $107,308 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.