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Careers›Roles›Compliance Specialist
Mid-Level

Compliance Specialist

You support the development of young children with special needs. As a Developmental Specialist, you're conducting assessments, designing interventions, and working with families to help children reach their potential. The work is highly individualized and centered on early childhood development.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
E
I
S
R
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Industries that often hire Compliance Specialists
Government · 36%Financial Services · 12%Professional Services · 10%Healthcare · 8%Administrative Services · 5%Manufacturing · 5%
Job markets for Compliance Specialists
Where Compliance Specialist jobs concentrate · ~400 metro areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
Business Operations
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
Jump to:What it's likeCareer pathsBy the numbers
What it's like

What it's like to be a Compliance Specialist

Compliance specialists typically work within financial services, healthcare, pharma, or other regulated industries, ensuring the organization follows applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies. The day-to-day often involves reviewing processes, conducting audits, drafting policies, and providing guidance to business units trying to understand what's permissible.

The relationship with business teams tends to define how effective you are. Compliance specialists who are seen as obstacles tend to get worked around; those who are seen as helpful advisors tend to be consulted proactively. Building credibility through accurate guidance and practical problem-solving matters more than regulatory expertise alone.

People who tend to thrive have strong analytical skills and genuine comfort with ambiguity—regulations rarely address every situation cleanly, and applying principles to new facts is constant. If you like intellectual rigor, are detail-oriented without being pedantic, and can communicate clearly to non-technical audiences, compliance work tends to be engaging. The field rewards people who stay current, since regulatory environments evolve continuously.

What people in this role value
IndependenceAbove avg
RelationshipsAbove avg
AchievementModerate
SupportModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

Earning potential across this track
$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
Technology & Information$101K+9%
Energy & Utilities$100K+8%
Professional Services$98K+6%
Financial Services$83K-11%
Government$76K-17%
Compared to Business Operations average across all industries
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Compliance Specialists (SOC 13-1041.00, 13-2061.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Related rolesExplore Business Operations →
Compliance SpecialistCompliance AuditorCompliance Operations ManagerCompliance CoordinatorCompliance AnalystSecurity Compliance AnalystEscrow CloserInternal AuditorCompliance ProfessionalCompliance InvestigatorEnvironmental Compliance InspectorMotor Vehicle ClerkCompliance OfficerMortician InvestigatorExaminerMotor Vehicle InspectorTreasury AnalystTest ExaminerForms ExaminerPassport ClerkDriver ExaminerLicense ExaminerScales InspectorLicense InspectorLicensing Analyst+1 more
Exploring the Compliance Specialist career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$46K–$172K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
461K
U.S. Employment
+10.75%
10yr Growth
39K
Annual Openings

How Compliance Specialist pay & employment are changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Critical ThinkingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningWritingSpeakingReading ComprehensionSpeakingMonitoringComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision Making
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
Mapped SOC Codes
13-1041.0013-2061.00

Explore related roles

Roles with similar work and overlapping career paths

directorCompliance Director$137KdirectorCorporate Compliance Director$137KseniorSenior Compliance Specialist$84KmidCompliance Auditor$82KmidCompliance Operations Manager$137KmidCompliance Coordinator$82K
View all Business Operations roles →

Common questions about what it's like to be a Compliance Specialist

What does a Compliance Specialist do?

You support the development of young children with special needs. As a Developmental Specialist, you're conducting assessments, designing interventions, and working with families to help children reach their potential. The work is highly individualized and centered on early childhood development.

How much does a Compliance Specialist make?

Median pay for a Compliance Specialist is about $84K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $46K to $172K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).

What skills does a Compliance Specialist need?

Core skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Writing, and Speaking.

What education do you need to be a Compliance Specialist?

Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.

Is a Compliance Specialist in demand?

Employment in this field is projected to grow about 10.75% through 2034, with roughly 460,600 people working in it today (BLS).

What jobs are similar to a Compliance Specialist?

Closely related roles include Compliance Director, Corporate Compliance Director, and Senior Compliance Specialist.

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.