Mid-Level

Ethics Manager

Owning the ethics function for a company, you build and run the program that helps people make better decisions — code of conduct, hotline operations, conflict-of-interest reviews, investigations, and training. Where culture meets compliance.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
E
S
I
R
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Ethics Managers
Employment concentration · ~382 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Ethics Manager

Days tend to mix case handling, training delivery, policy work, and the occasional executive escalation — reviewing a conflict-of-interest disclosure, scoping an investigation triggered by a hotline tip, drafting a refresher module after a recent incident. You're often operating with one foot in compliance and one in HR, neither side fully claiming you. Hotline metrics, investigation cycle time, and training completion are the visible measures.

What's harder than people expect is the line between policy and judgment — most ethics calls aren't in the manual, and your interpretive work carries weight. Variance across employers is real: large multinationals run mature programs with global hotlines; smaller companies treat ethics as part of legal or HR, with you wearing several hats.

People who tend to thrive here have a confidential disposition, a strong moral compass, and the diplomatic touch to deliver hard findings. CCEP credentials anchor the senior path. The trade-off is the isolation of carrying confidential cases and the political weight of investigations that involve senior leaders.

AchievementAbove avg
SupportAbove avg
RecognitionModerate
RelationshipsModerate
IndependenceModerate
Working ConditionsModerate
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.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Ethics Managers (SOC 11-9199.02), 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.
Exploring the Ethics Manager 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.

$69K–$228K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
631K
U.S. Employment
+4.5%
10yr Growth
107K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

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

Skills & Requirements

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWritingSpeakingActive LearningCoordinationMonitoringPersuasionSocial Perceptiveness
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
11-9199.02

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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.