Compliance Officers vs Cost Estimators: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Compliance Officers professionals earn $1,350 more per year than Cost Estimators professionals — that's 1.8% higher. At the 90th percentile, Compliance Officers earns $130,030 compared to $128,640 for Cost Estimators.
Salary Range Comparison
Compliance Officers$46,230 – $130,030
Cost Estimators$46,330 – $128,640
$46,230$130,030
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Compliance Officers | Cost Estimators | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $46,230 | $46,330 | $-100 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,130 | $59,830 | $-700 |
| Median (50th) | $78,420 | $77,070 | +$1,350 |
| 75th Percentile | $104,800 | $99,630 | +$5,170 |
| 90th Percentile | $130,030 | $128,640 | +$1,390 |
| Mean (Average) | $84,980 | $83,160 | +$1,820 |
Employment Numbers
Compliance Officers
397,770
employed nationwide
Cost Estimators
219,530
employed nationwide
Top Paying Cities
Best Cities for Compliance Officers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $118,490 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $104,000 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $102,500 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $98,190 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $96,280 |
Best Cities for Cost Estimators
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $104,190 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $103,030 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $97,990 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $86,540 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $86,300 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Compliance Officers or Cost Estimators?
Compliance Officers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $1,350 (1.8% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Compliance Officers?
Compliance Officers salaries range from $46,230 (10th percentile) to $130,030 (90th percentile), with a median of $78,420.
What is the salary range for Cost Estimators?
Cost Estimators salaries range from $46,330 (10th percentile) to $128,640 (90th percentile), with a median of $77,070.
How many Compliance Officers and Cost Estimators jobs are there?
There are approximately 397,770 Compliance Officers positions and 219,530 Cost Estimators positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Cost Estimators to Compliance Officers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Compliance Officers has a median salary of $78,420 while Cost Estimators earns $77,070. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.
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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS