Compliance Officers vs Financial Managers: Salary Comparison (2024)
Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Which Career Pays More?
Financial Managers professionals earn $83,280 more per year than Compliance Officers professionals — that's 106.2% higher.
Salary Range Comparison
Compliance Officers$46,230 – $130,030
Financial Managers$86,490 – N/A
$46,230$130,030
Detailed Salary Comparison
| Percentile | Compliance Officers | Financial Managers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $46,230 | $86,490 | $-40,260 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,130 | $118,360 | $-59,230 |
| Median (50th) | $78,420 | $161,700 | $-83,280 |
| 75th Percentile | $104,800 | $214,210 | $-109,410 |
| 90th Percentile | $130,030 | N/A | N/A |
| Mean (Average) | $84,980 | $180,470 | $-95,490 |
Employment Numbers
Compliance Officers
397,770
employed nationwide
Financial Managers
818,620
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 Financial Managers
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $218,920 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $216,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA | $211,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH | $188,490 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $180,770 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who earns more: Compliance Officers or Financial Managers?
Financial Managers professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $83,280 (106.2% 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 Financial Managers?
Financial Managers salaries range from $86,490 (10th percentile) to N/A (90th percentile), with a median of $161,700.
How many Compliance Officers and Financial Managers jobs are there?
There are approximately 397,770 Compliance Officers positions and 818,620 Financial Managers positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Financial Managers to Compliance Officers?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Compliance Officers has a median salary of $78,420 while Financial Managers earns $161,700. 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