Compliance officers
Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.
Compliance officers examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere. The role reports a median annual salary of $78,420 in the US and is projected to grow 3% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.64 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Listening, Writing, Judgment and Decision Making.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £33,000 a year for National government administrative occupations (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £29,021 to £41,617 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 4111). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Technicians and associate professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Compliance officers, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 3. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
The usual route into this career in India. Each step links to the official page it comes from.
- 1 · Qualification Class 12 for CSEET, or a graduate degree for direct entry to the CS Executive Programme[1]
- 2 · Certification Company Secretary course with ICSI: Executive Programme, then Professional Programme[1][2]
- 3 · Certification 21 months of practical training with a practising Company Secretary or a company[3]
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- ICSI — CSEET FAQs (read on 2026-09-27)
- ICSI — Professional Programme (read on 2026-09-27)
- ICSI — Long Term Practical Training Guidelines (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
- Administrative
- Education and Training
A day in the life
You start the day checking your caseload in the tracking system and reviewing applications for licences waiting on your desk. You work through each file, checking records and documents to decide whether the applicant meets the rules. Mid-morning you interview an applicant and a technical expert to clarify some gaps in their submission. After lunch you visit a business to inspect whether it is following the conditions of its permit, and you warn the owner about a breach and the penalties it could bring. Back in the office you write up your findings and refer a serious violation to the relevant authority. Later you answer calls from people confused about licensing rules and explain the steps clearly. Much of the job is paperwork and checklists, which can feel dry. But knowing you help keep businesses safe and fair for the public makes the effort worthwhile.
Illustrative: one typical day, written from the O*NET task statements for this occupation. Real days vary by employer and seniority.
What you'd actually do
- Warn violators of infractions or penalties.
- Evaluate applications, records, or documents to gather information about eligibility or liability issues.
- Advise licensees or other individuals or groups concerning licensing, permit, or passport regulations.
- Prepare reports of activities, evaluations, recommendations, or decisions.
- Report law or regulation violations to appropriate boards or agencies.
- Confer with or interview officials, technical or professional specialists, or applicants to obtain information or to clarify facts relevant to licensing decisions.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Compliance officers do?
Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.
What does a typical day look like in Compliance officers?
You start the day checking your caseload in the tracking system and reviewing applications for licences waiting on your desk. You work through each file, checking records and documents to decide whether the applicant meets the rules. Mid-morning you interview an applicant and a technical expert to clarify some gaps in their submission.
How much does Compliance officers earn?
The median annual salary for Compliance officers in the US is $78,420.
What is the job outlook for Compliance officers?
The role is projected to grow 3% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 418,000 workers.
How do I become compliance officers?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Compliance officers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Listening, Writing, Judgment and Decision Making, Critical Thinking. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Compliance officers?
Our AI-durability model gives Compliance officers a score of 0.64 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Compliance officers has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.