Compliance Officer salary in Wilmington, NC
Compliance Officers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn a median of $74,430 a year ($35.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $121,590 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $80,730. Pay here is 5% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $78,500. There are 1.5 compliance officers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.56). The average (mean) salary is $79,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for compliance officers in Wilmington, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,640 | $22.42 |
| 25th percentile | $60,730 | $29.20 |
| Median | $74,430 | $35.78 |
| 75th percentile | $99,420 | $47.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $121,590 | $58.46 |
| Average (mean) | $79,870 | $38.40 |
Half of compliance officers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,202.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,101.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,862.69 |
| Weekly | $1,431.35 |
| Hourly | $35.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $74,430 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Compliance Officer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $86,720 | 3,240 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $83,780 | 870 |
| Greenville, NC | $81,460 | 200 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $79,570 | 2,200 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $78,330 | 2,320 |
| Burlington, NC | $76,650 | 90 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $75,360 | 130 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $74,980 | 640 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $71,850 | 620 |
| Asheville, NC | $71,230 | 260 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $70,740 | 240 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $68,880 | 120 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $63,350 | 210 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $62,250 | 50 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $62,030 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for compliance officers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,030 |
| Massachusetts | $102,060 |
| New Jersey | $100,000 |
| California | $96,980 |
| Connecticut | $91,810 |
| Delaware | $91,050 |
| Vermont | $90,420 |
| New York | $90,080 |
| Washington | $88,790 |
| Rhode Island | $87,620 |
See Compliance Officer pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Wilmington, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management Specialist | $89,120 | $42.85 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $72,640 | $34.92 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $69,480 | $33.40 |
| Human Resources Specialist | $64,440 | $30.98 |
| Management Analyst | $86,960 | $41.81 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $62,340 | $29.97 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $70,800 | $34.04 |
| Cost Estimator | $72,900 | $35.05 |
| Logistician | $77,850 | $37.43 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $50,060 | $24.07 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $63,470 | $30.52 |
| Fundraiser | $67,780 | $32.59 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $70,250 | $33.77 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $77,920 | $37.46 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Wilmington, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a compliance officer make in Wilmington, NC?
The median salary for compliance officers in the Wilmington, NC metro area is $74,430 a year, or $35.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $121,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid compliance officers make in Wilmington, NC?
The top 10% of compliance officers in the Wilmington, NC metro area earn at least $121,590 a year. The top 25% earn $99,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for compliance officers in Wilmington, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,640 a year, and a quarter of compliance officers earn $60,730 or less.
How many compliance officers work in Wilmington, NC?
About 290 compliance officers are employed in the Wilmington, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.