Overview
SourcedExamine, 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.
O*NET definition of Compliance Officers (SOC 13-1041) · Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed.
Occupation figures cover every job classified under SOC 13-1041, including Death Investigator / Coroner, DMV Clerk / Driver License Examiner, OSHA / Workplace Safety Inspector.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership; U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database; GovJobs Wiki (editorial). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Requirements
Sourced- Education needed to enter
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.
How to get hired
SourcedCompliance officers typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. They often receive training on the job. Employers may prefer or require candidates to have experience related to the position.
From the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile “Compliance Officers”, published August 27, 2026 · Read the full profile. National guidance; each employer runs its own hiring process.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–35 edition (XML compilation). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Academy and training
Sourced- SOC 13-1041
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job zone
- Considerable Preparation Needed
Academy length, curriculum and paid-training policies are set by each employer and state; they are part of the employer collection stage.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — education and training assignments by detailed occupation (Tables 5.3, 5.4). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Promotion ladder
EditorialCivil-service class series: civil-service class series I → II → III → senior → supervisor → manager, each with a salary range. Typical structure for a civil-service class series; titles, steps and timing differ by employer.
- Trainee / Assistant
- Level I
- Level II (journey)
- Level III / Senior
- Lead / Principal
- Supervisor
- Manager
- Director / Division Chief
Source: GovJobs Wiki (editorial).
Pay
SourcedMedian annual wage by employer type, national, May 2025. Federal includes the U.S. Postal Service; state and local include public schools and hospitals.
| Employer type | Workers | 10th pct. | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | 68,250 | $61,110 | $78,330 | $105,500 | $122,370 | $137,470 |
| State | 51,140 | $45,090 | $54,420 | $68,300 | $86,390 | $107,020 |
| Local | 38,040 | $46,210 | $56,740 | $69,520 | $89,900 | $112,700 |
| All government | 157,430 | $48,960 | $61,780 | $80,810 | $109,180 | $128,790 |
| Private sector | 259,640 | $47,800 | $60,950 | $80,700 | $108,910 | $137,590 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
State government pay plans
Official pay ranges for the job classes that match Environmental Compliance Inspector in 8 state civil-service plans. They cover state employees only, not cities, counties or school districts.
| State | Job classes in the state plan | Annual range |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | Environmental Compliance Specialist 1 (35 Hour), Environmental Compliance Specialist 1 (37.5 Hour), Environmental Compliance Specialist 2 (35 Hour), +6 more 9 classes · effective June 26, 2026 · Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Statewide Human Resources | $50,862 – $110,258 |
| Delaware | Environmental Compliance Specialist, Senior Environmental Compliance Specialist 2 classes · effective July 12, 2026 · Delaware Department of Human Resources, Classification and Compensation | $33,143 – $59,900 |
| Georgia | Environmental Complnc Spec 1–4, Environmental Complnc Spec 1 Non Exempt, Environmental Complnc Spec 2 Non Exempt, +2 more 8 classes · effective July 10, 2024 · Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS), Human Resources Administration — Compensation | $35,619 – $81,720 |
| Hawaii | Environmental Compliance Offcr 1 class · effective July 1, 2026 · State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Resources Development (DHRD) | $117,852 – $188,532 |
| New Jersey | Environmental Compliance Inspector 2–1 2 classes · effective July 11, 2026 · New Jersey Civil Service Commission | $59,763 – $101,951 |
| Oklahoma | Environmental Investigator I–IV 4 classes · effective August 30, 2026 · Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), Human Capital Management | $30,593 – $186,919 |
| Tennessee | Env Investigator 1 class · effective September 1, 2026 · Tennessee Department of Human Resources | $67,764 – $108,060 |
| Vermont | Environmental Enforcement Officer II–III 3 classes · effective July 12, 2026 · Vermont Department of Human Resources | $55,120 – $102,856 |
Lowest class minimum to highest class maximum. Hourly rates are converted at 2,080 hours a year, and other rates at the plan's pay periods; the plans publish the exact rates. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Sources: 8 official state pay plans, linked in each row.
Day-to-day work
Sourced- Warn violators of infractions or penalties.4.4
- Evaluate applications, records, or documents to gather information about eligibility or liability issues.4.4
- Advise licensees or other individuals or groups concerning licensing, permit, or passport regulations.4.4
- Prepare reports of activities, evaluations, recommendations, or decisions.4.3
- Report law or regulation violations to appropriate boards or agencies.4.2
- Confer with or interview officials, technical or professional specialists, or applicants to obtain information or to clarify facts relevant to licensing decisions.4.1
The 6 most important of 6 core tasks for Compliance Officers, ranked by importance (1–5) in the O*NET survey of November 2020.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), O*NET 31.0 Database. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Related jobs
DerivedBy state
SourcedMedian annual wage for Compliance Officers (SOC 13-1041) in each state, all employers (BLS state estimates do not separate government from private). Highest first.
| State | Workers | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 4,380 | $69,140 | $111,030 | $156,750 |
| Massachusetts | 13,190 | $63,340 | $102,060 | $161,920 |
| New Jersey | 13,310 | $58,860 | $100,000 | $158,540 |
| California | 49,880 | $57,530 | $96,980 | $158,280 |
| Connecticut | 3,610 | $60,050 | $91,810 | $137,690 |
| Delaware | 2,150 | $51,930 | $91,050 | $137,540 |
| Vermont | 1,960 | $53,570 | $90,420 | $118,270 |
| New York | 23,500 | $53,330 | $90,080 | $142,370 |
| Washington | 11,130 | $60,650 | $88,790 | $142,350 |
| Rhode Island | 970 | $60,000 | $87,620 | $135,260 |
| Minnesota | 6,140 | $55,830 | $85,920 | $134,040 |
| Pennsylvania | 19,810 | $49,910 | $85,580 | $130,990 |
| Maryland | 10,100 | $56,310 | $84,720 | $132,620 |
| Maine | 1,790 | $50,480 | $83,740 | $118,060 |
| Oregon | 5,360 | $55,200 | $82,990 | $120,950 |
| New Hampshire | 1,730 | $54,980 | $82,800 | $123,020 |
| Hawaii | 1,270 | $53,270 | $82,590 | $117,350 |
| Colorado | 7,740 | $57,990 | $82,450 | $133,520 |
| Illinois | 10,650 | $50,040 | $80,550 | $132,290 |
| Virginia | 15,190 | $48,640 | $80,380 | $133,620 |
| Wyoming | 580 | $51,110 | $79,890 | $132,360 |
| North Dakota | 990 | $56,260 | $79,440 | $116,370 |
| Wisconsin | 5,710 | $56,010 | $78,800 | $125,160 |
| Indiana | 5,120 | $47,650 | $78,770 | $134,820 |
| North Carolina | 11,320 | $45,690 | $78,500 | $131,180 |
| Nevada | 4,400 | $43,120 | $78,290 | $124,280 |
| Michigan | 9,720 | $46,290 | $77,390 | $120,560 |
| Alaska | 920 | $47,290 | $76,430 | $126,920 |
| Iowa | 3,660 | $49,940 | $75,620 | $114,460 |
| South Carolina | 4,760 | $44,990 | $75,460 | $133,820 |
| Idaho | 1,660 | $42,080 | $75,450 | $128,750 |
| Texas | 42,900 | $45,170 | $75,370 | $126,920 |
| Ohio | 11,240 | $47,230 | $75,030 | $124,230 |
| Arizona | 12,430 | $47,630 | $74,920 | $132,620 |
| Florida | 29,680 | $44,130 | $74,920 | $127,420 |
| Nebraska | 3,470 | $48,060 | $73,920 | $115,920 |
| Alabama | 3,770 | $41,620 | $72,990 | $126,870 |
| South Dakota | 1,130 | $57,140 | $72,630 | $115,920 |
| Louisiana | 3,970 | $39,850 | $70,290 | $119,990 |
| Georgia | 14,390 | $42,500 | $70,200 | $131,210 |
| Kansas | 3,560 | $42,620 | $69,740 | $121,370 |
| Kentucky | 4,360 | $43,120 | $69,240 | $109,300 |
| New Mexico | 2,400 | $44,550 | $67,990 | $120,760 |
| Mississippi | 1,720 | $37,040 | $67,450 | $109,300 |
| Utah | 3,760 | $41,230 | $67,370 | $120,520 |
| Missouri | 7,000 | $44,060 | $67,270 | $118,850 |
| Montana | 1,480 | $50,350 | $66,660 | $109,300 |
| Arkansas | 3,120 | $43,160 | $64,680 | $132,760 |
| West Virginia | 1,720 | $44,420 | $64,270 | $115,210 |
| Tennessee | 7,990 | $41,460 | $63,960 | $117,250 |
| Oklahoma | 4,230 | $42,340 | $63,000 | $105,360 |
51 states with published estimates.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Not yet collected
These dimensions are part of every job page. We publish them only once they are sourced from official documents such as job postings, pay plans, union contracts and state standards.
- 05 ProbationNot yet collectedProbation length and what ends it
- 08 ScheduleNot yet collectedShift patterns (24/48, 4/10, 5/8, split), seniority bidding, holidays and mandatory overtime
- 09 Benefits and pensionNot yet collectedPension plan and formula, retirement age and years, DROP, retiree health, Social Security coverage, 457(b) and PSLF eligibility
- 10 Union contractsNot yet collectedBargaining unit, union and the current contract, with its source and effective dates
- 11 Transfers and lateral entryNot yet collectedLateral entry policy, certification reciprocity, lateral bonuses and moves between agencies
- 14 Exam practiceNot yet collectedNamed entrance and licensing exams, with free practice tests where they exist
- 15 Employer directoryNot yet collectedEvery public employer that hires this job, with its own pay and rules