Compliance Salary Guide: East Coast
East Coast compliance compensation is shaped by demand across licensed fintechs, consumer lenders, payments businesses, mid-market banks and regulated financial services firms. New York continues to set the regional benchmark, while Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Wilmington and Pittsburgh remain active markets for regulatory compliance, AML/BSA, sanctions, KYC, financial crime governance and legal leadership.
Salary levels are influenced by licensing complexity, regulator exposure, product risk, programme maturity, board reporting and the ability to manage compliance obligations across growth-stage and established financial institutions. Senior professionals with experience across AML, payments compliance, consumer regulation and regulatory change continue to command the strongest packages.
| Role / Title | Level | New York, NY | Boston, MA | Washington, DC | Philadelphia, PA | Wilmington, DE | Pittsburgh, PA | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | ||
| C-Suite | |||||||||||||
| Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) | C-Suite | $255k | $430k+ | $225k | $380k+ | $220k | $370k+ | $195k | $330k | $175k | $295k | $175k | $290k |
| Chief Legal Officer / General Counsel | C-Suite | $295k | $515k+ | $260k | $450k+ | $255k | $435k+ | $225k | $390k+ | $200k | $350k+ | $200k | $345k |
| Deputy CCO / Head of Compliance | C-Suite | $225k | $340k | $195k | $295k | $190k | $290k | $170k | $260k | $150k | $230k | $150k | $230k |
| VP / Director | |||||||||||||
| VP of Compliance | VP / Director | $200k | $290k | $175k | $255k | $170k | $245k | $155k | $220k | $140k | $200k | $135k | $195k |
| VP of Regulatory Affairs | VP / Director | $210k | $295k | $185k | $260k | $180k | $255k | $160k | $225k | $145k | $200k | $140k | $200k |
| Director of Compliance – Consumer | VP / Director | $190k | $265k | $165k | $230k | $160k | $225k | $145k | $200k | $130k | $180k | $125k | $175k |
| Director of Compliance – Payments | VP / Director | $190k | $270k | $165k | $235k | $160k | $230k | $145k | $205k | $130k | $185k | $125k | $180k |
| Director of Regulatory Change | VP / Director | $190k | $265k | $165k | $230k | $160k | $225k | $145k | $200k | $130k | $180k | $125k | $175k |
| Head of Compliance Monitoring & Testing | VP / Director | $180k | $255k | $160k | $225k | $155k | $220k | $140k | $195k | $125k | $175k | $125k | $175k |
| BSA/AML Officer (BSAO) | VP / Director | $175k | $265k | $155k | $230k | $150k | $225k | $135k | $200k | $120k | $180k | $120k | $175k |
| VP of Financial Crime / Head of AML | VP / Director | $200k | $295k | $175k | $260k | $170k | $255k | $155k | $225k | $140k | $200k | $135k | $200k |
| Director of AML & Financial Crime | VP / Director | $190k | $270k | $165k | $235k | $160k | $230k | $145k | $205k | $130k | $185k | $125k | $180k |
| Head of Sanctions & Financial Crime | VP / Director | $195k | $275k | $170k | $240k | $165k | $235k | $150k | $210k | $135k | $190k | $130k | $185k |
| Director of KYC / CDD | VP / Director | $175k | $250k | $155k | $220k | $150k | $215k | $135k | $190k | $120k | $170k | $120k | $170k |
| MLRO / Deputy MLRO | VP / Director | $200k | $285k | $175k | $250k | $170k | $240k | $155k | $215k | $140k | $195k | $135k | $190k |
| Senior Specialist | |||||||||||||
| Senior Compliance Manager | Senior Specialist | $140k | $200k | $125k | $175k | $120k | $170k | $110k | $155k | $95k | $140k | $95k | $135k |
| Senior AML Compliance Manager | Senior Specialist | $150k | $210k | $130k | $185k | $125k | $180k | $115k | $160k | $100k | $145k | $100k | $140k |
| Senior Sanctions Analyst / Manager | Senior Specialist | $135k | $195k | $120k | $170k | $115k | $165k | $105k | $150k | $90k | $135k | $90k | $130k |
New York sets the regional ceiling
New York remains the highest-paying East Coast market for compliance, legal and financial crime leadership due to concentration of regulated banks, fintechs and payments firms.
AML and payments expertise is in demand
Licensed fintechs, consumer lenders and payments businesses continue to prioritise AML/BSA, sanctions, KYC, consumer compliance and regulatory change experience.
Broadgate benchmarks compliance hiring
Broadgate supports salary benchmarking for compliance, legal, AML, sanctions, KYC and financial crime governance appointments across the East Coast market.
Compliance Salary Guide: West Coast
West Coast compliance compensation is shaped by demand across licensed fintechs, consumer lenders, payments businesses, digital banking platforms and technology-led financial services firms. San Francisco continues to set the regional benchmark, while Los Angeles and Seattle remain active markets for regulatory compliance, AML/BSA, sanctions, KYC, financial crime governance and legal counsel.
Salary levels are influenced by licensing complexity, product risk, regulator exposure, growth stage, compliance programme maturity and the ability to build scalable controls across fast-moving environments. Senior professionals with payments, consumer compliance, AML, sanctions and regulatory affairs experience continue to command the strongest packages.
| Role / Title | Level | San Francisco, CA | Los Angeles, CA | Seattle, WA | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | ||
| C-Suite | |||||||
| Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) | C-Suite | $245k | $410k+ | $210k | $350k+ | $215k | $360k+ |
| Chief Legal Officer / General Counsel | C-Suite | $280k | $485k+ | $240k | $420k+ | $245k | $425k+ |
| Deputy CCO / Head of Compliance | C-Suite | $210k | $320k | $180k | $275k | $185k | $280k |
| VP / Director | |||||||
| VP of Compliance | VP / Director | $190k | $275k | $165k | $235k | $170k | $240k |
| VP of Regulatory Affairs | VP / Director | $200k | $280k | $170k | $240k | $175k | $245k |
| Director of Compliance – Consumer | VP / Director | $180k | $250k | $155k | $215k | $155k | $220k |
| Director of Compliance – Payments | VP / Director | $180k | $255k | $155k | $220k | $155k | $225k |
| Director of Regulatory Change | VP / Director | $180k | $250k | $155k | $215k | $155k | $220k |
| Head of Compliance Monitoring & Testing | VP / Director | $175k | $245k | $150k | $210k | $150k | $215k |
| BSA/AML Officer (BSAO) | VP / Director | $165k | $250k | $145k | $215k | $145k | $220k |
| VP of Financial Crime / Head of AML | VP / Director | $190k | $280k | $165k | $240k | $170k | $245k |
| Director of AML & Financial Crime | VP / Director | $180k | $255k | $155k | $220k | $155k | $225k |
| Head of Sanctions & Financial Crime | VP / Director | $185k | $260k | $160k | $225k | $160k | $230k |
| Director of KYC / CDD | VP / Director | $165k | $235k | $145k | $205k | $145k | $205k |
| MLRO / Deputy MLRO | VP / Director | $190k | $270k | $165k | $230k | $170k | $235k |
| Senior Specialist | |||||||
| Senior Compliance Manager | Senior Specialist | $135k | $190k | $115k | $165k | $120k | $170k |
| Senior AML Compliance Manager | Senior Specialist | $140k | $200k | $120k | $170k | $125k | $175k |
| Senior Sanctions Analyst / Manager | Senior Specialist | $130k | $185k | $110k | $160k | $110k | $160k |
San Francisco leads the region
San Francisco remains the highest-paying West Coast market for compliance, legal and financial crime leadership, driven by fintech, payments and technology-led financial services firms.
Fintech regulation drives hiring
Licensed fintechs and digital finance businesses continue to prioritise regulatory affairs, AML/BSA, sanctions, KYC and consumer compliance expertise.
Broadgate benchmarks compliance hiring
Broadgate supports salary benchmarking for compliance, legal, AML, sanctions, KYC and financial crime governance appointments across West Coast markets.
Compliance Salary Guide: Midwest
Midwest compliance compensation is shaped by demand across banks, payments businesses, consumer lenders, licensed fintechs and mid-market financial services organisations. Chicago remains the regional benchmark, while Minneapolis and Kansas City provide strong markets for regulatory compliance, AML/BSA, sanctions, KYC and financial crime governance talent.
Salary levels are influenced by programme maturity, regulator exposure, product risk, licensing complexity and the ability to manage compliance requirements across both established and scaling financial institutions. Senior compliance leaders with AML, payments, consumer compliance and regulatory change experience continue to command the strongest packages.
| Role / Title | Level | Chicago, IL | Minneapolis, MN | Kansas City, MO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | ||
| C-Suite | |||||||
| Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) | C-Suite | $205k | $345k | $180k | $305k | $170k | $285k |
| Chief Legal Officer / General Counsel | C-Suite | $240k | $410k+ | $210k | $365k+ | $195k | $340k |
| Deputy CCO / Head of Compliance | C-Suite | $180k | $270k | $160k | $240k | $145k | $220k |
| VP / Director | |||||||
| VP of Compliance | VP / Director | $160k | $230k | $145k | $205k | $135k | $190k |
| VP of Regulatory Affairs | VP / Director | $165k | $240k | $150k | $210k | $140k | $195k |
| Director of Compliance – Consumer | VP / Director | $150k | $210k | $135k | $185k | $125k | $175k |
| Director of Compliance – Payments | VP / Director | $150k | $215k | $135k | $190k | $125k | $180k |
| Director of Regulatory Change | VP / Director | $150k | $210k | $135k | $185k | $125k | $175k |
| Head of Compliance Monitoring & Testing | VP / Director | $145k | $205k | $130k | $180k | $120k | $170k |
| BSA/AML Officer (BSAO) | VP / Director | $140k | $210k | $125k | $185k | $115k | $175k |
| VP of Financial Crime / Head of AML | VP / Director | $160k | $240k | $145k | $210k | $135k | $195k |
| Director of AML & Financial Crime | VP / Director | $150k | $215k | $135k | $190k | $125k | $180k |
| Head of Sanctions & Financial Crime | VP / Director | $155k | $220k | $140k | $195k | $130k | $180k |
| Director of KYC / CDD | VP / Director | $140k | $200k | $125k | $180k | $115k | $165k |
| MLRO / Deputy MLRO | VP / Director | $160k | $225k | $145k | $200k | $135k | $185k |
| Senior Specialist | |||||||
| Senior Compliance Manager | Senior Specialist | $115k | $160k | $100k | $145k | $95k | $135k |
| Senior AML Compliance Manager | Senior Specialist | $120k | $165k | $105k | $150k | $100k | $140k |
| Senior Sanctions Analyst / Manager | Senior Specialist | $110k | $155k | $95k | $140k | $90k | $130k |
Chicago anchors Midwest compensation
Chicago remains the strongest Midwest benchmark for senior compliance, legal, AML and financial crime leadership across banks, fintechs and payments firms.
AML/BSA expertise remains critical
Employers continue to prioritise AML/BSA, sanctions, KYC, compliance monitoring and consumer compliance experience across licensed financial services businesses.
Broadgate benchmarks compliance hiring
Broadgate supports salary benchmarking for compliance, legal, AML, sanctions, KYC and financial crime governance appointments across Midwest markets.
Compliance Salary Guide: South / Southeast
South and Southeast compliance compensation is shaped by demand across licensed fintechs, consumer lenders, payments businesses, mid-market banks and expanding financial services hubs. Charlotte, Atlanta and Miami remain key regional anchors, while Nashville, Tampa and Jacksonville continue to support growing compliance, AML/BSA, sanctions, KYC and financial crime governance teams.
Salary levels are influenced by licensing complexity, regulator exposure, product risk, programme maturity and the ability to manage compliance obligations across high-growth and established financial institutions. Senior leaders with experience in payments compliance, AML, sanctions, consumer regulation and regulatory change continue to command the strongest packages.
| Role / Title | Level | Charlotte, NC | Atlanta, GA | Miami, FL | Nashville, TN | Tampa, FL | Jacksonville, FL | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | ||
| C-Suite | |||||||||||||
| Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) | C-Suite | $180k | $305k | $180k | $305k | $200k | $335k | $175k | $300k | $175k | $300k | $175k | $290k |
| Chief Legal Officer / General Counsel | C-Suite | $210k | $360k+ | $210k | $365k+ | $230k | $400k+ | $205k | $355k+ | $205k | $355k+ | $200k | $345k |
| Deputy CCO / Head of Compliance | C-Suite | $155k | $240k | $160k | $240k | $175k | $260k | $155k | $230k | $155k | $230k | $150k | $230k |
| VP / Director | |||||||||||||
| VP of Compliance | VP / Director | $140k | $205k | $145k | $205k | $160k | $225k | $140k | $200k | $140k | $200k | $135k | $195k |
| VP of Regulatory Affairs | VP / Director | $145k | $210k | $150k | $210k | $165k | $230k | $145k | $205k | $145k | $205k | $140k | $200k |
| Director of Compliance – Consumer | VP / Director | $135k | $185k | $135k | $185k | $145k | $205k | $130k | $180k | $130k | $180k | $125k | $175k |
| Director of Compliance – Payments | VP / Director | $135k | $190k | $135k | $190k | $145k | $210k | $130k | $185k | $130k | $185k | $125k | $180k |
| Director of Regulatory Change | VP / Director | $135k | $185k | $135k | $185k | $145k | $205k | $130k | $180k | $130k | $180k | $125k | $175k |
| Head of Compliance Monitoring & Testing | VP / Director | $130k | $180k | $130k | $180k | $140k | $200k | $125k | $175k | $125k | $175k | $125k | $175k |
| BSA/AML Officer (BSAO) | VP / Director | $125k | $185k | $125k | $185k | $135k | $205k | $120k | $180k | $120k | $180k | $120k | $175k |
| VP of Financial Crime / Head of AML | VP / Director | $140k | $210k | $145k | $210k | $160k | $230k | $140k | $205k | $140k | $205k | $135k | $200k |
| Director of AML & Financial Crime | VP / Director | $135k | $190k | $135k | $190k | $145k | $210k | $130k | $185k | $130k | $185k | $125k | $180k |
| Head of Sanctions & Financial Crime | VP / Director | $140k | $195k | $140k | $195k | $150k | $215k | $135k | $190k | $135k | $190k | $130k | $185k |
| Director of KYC / CDD | VP / Director | $125k | $175k | $125k | $180k | $135k | $195k | $120k | $170k | $120k | $170k | $120k | $170k |
| MLRO / Deputy MLRO | VP / Director | $140k | $200k | $145k | $200k | $160k | $220k | $140k | $195k | $140k | $195k | $135k | $190k |
| Senior Specialist | |||||||||||||
| Senior Compliance Manager | Senior Specialist | $100k | $140k | $100k | $145k | $110k | $160k | $100k | $140k | $100k | $140k | $95k | $135k |
| Senior AML Compliance Manager | Senior Specialist | $105k | $145k | $105k | $150k | $115k | $165k | $100k | $145k | $100k | $145k | $100k | $140k |
| Senior Sanctions Analyst / Manager | Senior Specialist | $95k | $140k | $95k | $140k | $105k | $150k | $95k | $135k | $95k | $135k | $90k | $130k |
Charlotte anchors regional compliance hiring
Charlotte remains a major South / Southeast hub for compliance, AML/BSA and financial crime governance hiring across banking, lending and payments employers.
Payments and lending drive demand
Consumer lenders, fintech platforms and payments businesses continue to prioritise regulatory compliance, AML, sanctions, KYC and monitoring expertise.
Broadgate benchmarks compliance hiring
Broadgate supports salary benchmarking for compliance, legal, AML, sanctions, KYC and financial crime governance appointments across South and Southeast markets.
Compliance Salary Guide: South Central
South Central compliance compensation is shaped by demand across licensed fintechs, payments businesses, consumer lenders, banks and technology-enabled financial services firms. Dallas, Houston and Austin each support distinct hiring markets, with Austin continuing to attract growth-stage fintech and digital finance employers.
Salary levels are influenced by licensing complexity, product risk, regulator exposure, AML/BSA programme maturity and the ability to manage compliance obligations across payments, lending and financial crime governance. Senior leaders with regulatory affairs, sanctions, KYC and consumer compliance experience continue to command the strongest packages.
| Role / Title | Level | Dallas, TX | Houston, TX | Austin, TX | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | Base Low | Base High | ||
| C-Suite | |||||||
| Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) | C-Suite | $185k | $310k | $180k | $300k | $185k | $315k |
| Chief Legal Officer / General Counsel | C-Suite | $215k | $370k+ | $205k | $355k+ | $215k | $370k+ |
| Deputy CCO / Head of Compliance | C-Suite | $160k | $240k | $155k | $235k | $160k | $245k |
| VP / Director | |||||||
| VP of Compliance | VP / Director | $145k | $210k | $140k | $200k | $145k | $210k |
| VP of Regulatory Affairs | VP / Director | $150k | $215k | $145k | $205k | $150k | $215k |
| Director of Compliance – Consumer | VP / Director | $135k | $190k | $130k | $185k | $135k | $190k |
| Director of Compliance – Payments | VP / Director | $135k | $195k | $130k | $190k | $135k | $195k |
| Director of Regulatory Change | VP / Director | $135k | $190k | $130k | $185k | $135k | $190k |
| Head of Compliance Monitoring & Testing | VP / Director | $130k | $185k | $125k | $180k | $130k | $185k |
| BSA/AML Officer (BSAO) | VP / Director | $125k | $190k | $120k | $185k | $125k | $190k |
| VP of Financial Crime / Head of AML | VP / Director | $145k | $215k | $140k | $205k | $145k | $215k |
| Director of AML & Financial Crime | VP / Director | $135k | $195k | $130k | $190k | $135k | $195k |
| Head of Sanctions & Financial Crime | VP / Director | $140k | $200k | $135k | $195k | $140k | $200k |
| Director of KYC / CDD | VP / Director | $125k | $180k | $120k | $175k | $125k | $180k |
| MLRO / Deputy MLRO | VP / Director | $145k | $205k | $140k | $195k | $145k | $205k |
| Senior Specialist | |||||||
| Senior Compliance Manager | Senior Specialist | $100k | $145k | $100k | $140k | $105k | $145k |
| Senior AML Compliance Manager | Senior Specialist | $105k | $150k | $105k | $145k | $110k | $150k |
| Senior Sanctions Analyst / Manager | Senior Specialist | $95k | $140k | $95k | $135k | $100k | $140k |
Austin lifts fintech compliance demand
Austin continues to strengthen demand for compliance, regulatory affairs and financial crime professionals as fintech and digital finance employers scale.
Payments and lending shape hiring
Payments, consumer lending and banking employers continue to prioritise AML/BSA, sanctions, KYC, monitoring and consumer compliance experience.
Broadgate benchmarks compliance hiring
Broadgate supports salary benchmarking for compliance, legal, AML, sanctions, KYC and financial crime governance appointments across South Central markets.
