Compliance Officer salary in Washington: $185,000
Compliance officers in Washington, DC earn a median of $185,000 in total compensation — about +3.4% versus the national median of $179,000 for this title. The typical range runs $144,000 to $252,000, with roughly $133,000 of that as base salary and the remainder in bonus and equity.
Median total comp
$185,000
base + bonus + equity
Typical base salary
$133,000
cash only
Cost-of-living adjusted
$129,000
COL index 143
Market movement
+6.0%
702 open legal roles
What a compliance officer role package looks like in Washington
Compliance Officer roles run the control side of legal risk: policy design, training, monitoring and testing, hotline intake, third-party diligence and regulator reporting. A JD is common but not required, which widens the candidate pool and holds the median below counsel titles at equivalent seniority.
Washington carries a cost-of-living index of 143 against a national baseline of 100, so the $185,000 median is worth about $129,000 in national purchasing power. Legal hiring in the metro is running +6.0% year over year across roughly 702 tracked openings, and demand scores 78 out of 100 in our benchmark set.
- Regulated industry — banking, healthcare, insurance and pharma pay a distinct premium
- Whether the seat is a designated CCO with personal regulatory accountability
- AML/BSA, FCPA or HIPAA program ownership
- Certifications (CCEP, CAMS) and audit or examination track record
Washington versus other metros for compliance officers
| Metro | Median total | vs Washington | COL adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $185,000 | — | $129,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $223,000 | +20.5% | $123,000 |
| New York, NY | $209,000 | +13.0% | $124,000 |
| Seattle, WA | $203,000 | +9.7% | $134,000 |
| Boston, MA | $191,000 | +3.2% | $129,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $186,000 | +0.5% | $127,000 |
| Austin, TX | $175,000 | -5.4% | $162,000 |
| Denver, CO | $171,000 | -7.6% | $147,000 |
| Chicago, IL | $170,000 | -8.1% | $152,000 |
| Dallas, TX | $165,000 | -10.8% | $162,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | $163,000 | -11.9% | $158,000 |
| Raleigh, NC | $158,000 | -14.6% | $160,000 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $156,000 | -15.7% | $150,000 |
| Tampa, FL | $153,000 | -17.3% | $151,000 |
Total compensation medians as of August 2026. Directional market estimates, not offers.
Compliance Officer pay in Washington: common questions
- How much does a compliance officer role pay in Washington?
- The median total compensation for compliance officers in Washington, DC is $185,000 as of August 2026, with a typical range of $144,000 to $252,000. Roughly $133,000 of the median is base salary, with the remainder in bonus and equity.
- Is Compliance Officer pay in Washington above or below the national average?
- Washington pays above the national median for this title — $185,000 versus $179,000 nationally, a difference of about 3.4%. Adjusted for Washington's cost-of-living index of 143, the package is worth about $129,000 in national purchasing power.
- What is the base salary versus bonus and equity split for compliance officers in Washington?
- Base salary typically accounts for about $133,000 of the $185,000 median, or roughly 72%. The balance comes from annual bonus and equity, and the equity share rises sharply at venture-backed and public companies.
- Which US metro pays compliance officers the most?
- San Francisco, CA leads our benchmark set at $223,000 median total compensation for compliance officers. Cost of living offsets part of that advantage — on a cost-adjusted basis the ranking changes materially.
- What drives Compliance Officer compensation the most?
- Regulated industry — banking, healthcare, insurance and pharma pay a distinct premium; Whether the seat is a designated CCO with personal regulatory accountability; AML/BSA, FCPA or HIPAA program ownership; Certifications (CCEP, CAMS) and audit or examination track record.
What would your profile earn in Washington?
Medians describe the market, not you. MaxMyPay builds a personalized valuation range from your own resume and experience, then scales it across every metro we track.