Compliance Officer Salary
Last updated: July 2026 · Written by Shev Dilay, Live Digital · 12 min read
Compliance Salary UK — 2026 Quick Reference
- Trainee / Junior Compliance Officer: £22,000–£30,000
- Compliance Officer: £35,000–£55,000 (financial services £45,000–£65,000)
- Senior Compliance Officer: £52,000–£72,000 general · £70,000–£100,000 financial services
- Compliance Manager: £50,000–£110,000
- Head of Compliance: £70,000–£160,000
- Chief Compliance Officer (CCO): £90,000–£300,000+
- Related roles: Risk Analyst £40k–£85k · AML Officer £35k–£65k · MLRO £70k–£110k+
Contents
- Average compliance officer salary UK 2026
- Salary by experience
- Compliance Manager salary
- Head of Compliance salary
- Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) salary
- Salary by sector
- London vs the rest of the UK
- Related roles: risk, AML & KYC
- What affects compliance salary
- FAQs
Average Compliance Officer Salary UK 2026
The average compliance officer salary in the UK is around £36,000 according to Indeed and Glassdoor — but that headline figure is misleading, because it blends trainees with experienced professionals and general industry with financial services. In practice, an experienced compliance officer earns £45,000–£65,000, and those in banking and financial services considerably more.
Compliance is one of the widest-banded career paths in UK business: pay runs from around £22,000 for a trainee to £300,000+ for a Chief Compliance Officer at a regulated bank. The two biggest drivers are seniority and sector — a compliance officer in financial services typically earns 20–40% more than a counterpart in general industry at the same level. This guide breaks down every rung of the ladder.
Compliance Officer Salary by Experience
Trainee / Junior Compliance Officer — £22,000–£30,000
Entry-level roles and apprenticeships. Trainees start around £22,000–£25,000, rising toward £30,000 in the first couple of years. Financial-services entry roles pay at the top of this band.
Compliance Officer — £35,000–£55,000
The core role, with a few years’ experience owning day-to-day compliance monitoring and advice. General industry pays £35,000–£50,000; financial-services officers earn £45,000–£65,000.
Senior Compliance Officer — £52,000–£100,000
A senior compliance officer in the UK earns £52,000–£72,000 in general industry and £70,000–£100,000 in financial services. In London’s banking sector, senior officers sit at the top of that range, often with a bonus on top.
Compliance Manager Salary UK 2026
A Compliance Manager leads a team or compliance area and typically earns £50,000–£75,000 in general industry and £75,000–£110,000 in financial services. Robert Half puts London compliance managers at £85,000–£127,000, and specialist recruiters place deputy-head-level managers as high as £140,000 at investment firms.
| Compliance Manager | Salary range |
|---|---|
| General industry | £50,000–£75,000 |
| Financial services | £75,000–£110,000 |
| London / large firms | £85,000–£140,000 |
Head of Compliance Salary UK 2026
The Head of Compliance leads the compliance function, typically reporting to a director or the CCO. The average UK salary is around £70,000–£90,000 (Glassdoor £78,900, Indeed £73,000), but financial-services and London roles pay much more — Morgan McKinley quotes £120,000–£150,000 for London, and specialist surveys place UK Heads of Compliance at investment managers between £115,000 and £175,000, with bonuses of 25–65% on top.
| Head of Compliance | Base salary |
|---|---|
| UK national average | £70,000–£95,000 |
| Financial services / London | £115,000–£160,000 |
| Global Head (large firm) | £140,000–£175,000+ |
Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) Salary UK 2026
The Chief Compliance Officer is the most senior compliance role and the highest paid. Glassdoor reports a UK average around £77,000 (skewed by smaller firms), while Indeed puts it at £148,000, and specialist recruiters quote £180,000–£300,000+ for CCOs at regulated financial-services firms. In banking, the CCO is usually an FCA Senior Manager (SMF16) role, sitting firmly at the top end, with bonuses of 25–65% that can push total compensation beyond £400,000.
| Chief Compliance Officer | Base salary |
|---|---|
| General industry / smaller firms | £90,000–£140,000 |
| Financial services (SMF16, mid-size) | £150,000–£220,000 |
| Banking / large regulated firms | £200,000–£300,000+ |
Head of Compliance vs Chief Compliance Officer: the CCO holds ultimate, board-level accountability for the compliance framework — and the personal regulatory liability that comes with it — while the Head of Compliance runs the function operationally. At larger firms the two are distinct; at smaller firms one person often holds both, paid toward the CCO range.
Compliance Salary by Sector
Sector is the second-biggest driver of compliance pay after seniority. Banking, investment management and fintech pay a clear premium over general industry, reflecting regulatory complexity and personal accountability under the FCA’s Senior Managers regime.
| Sector | Compliance Officer | Head of Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Banking / investment management | £45,000–£70,000 | £120,000–£175,000 |
| Fintech | £40,000–£65,000 | £100,000–£150,000 |
| Insurance | £38,000–£60,000 | £90,000–£130,000 |
| General industry / corporate | £35,000–£52,000 | £70,000–£100,000 |
Hiring compliance talent in fintech, banking or financial services? Our fintech recruitment team benchmarks these packages daily and can help you set a competitive offer.
Compliance Salary in London vs the Rest of the UK
London carries a 15–25% premium on compliance pay, driven by the concentration of banks, investment managers and fintechs in the City. Morgan McKinley’s London figures run well above the national average at every level, and the highest CCO and Head of Compliance packages are almost exclusively London-based. Outside London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Leeds are the strongest regional markets for financial-services compliance.
Related Roles: Risk Analyst, AML Officer & KYC Analyst
Risk Analyst — £25,000–£85,000
Risk analysts work alongside compliance to identify and manage financial, operational and regulatory risk. The UK average is around £45,000 (Indeed £44,700), rising to a £60,000 median for credit risk and £70,000–£85,000 for operational risk analysts in London.
AML Officer, KYC Analyst & MLRO
Financial-crime roles sit within compliance and are in strong demand. A KYC Analyst typically earns £30,000–£50,000 (senior to £70,000); an AML Officer £35,000–£65,000; and an MLRO (Money Laundering Reporting Officer, an FCA SMF17 role) £70,000–£110,000+.
| Role | Salary range |
|---|---|
| KYC Analyst | £30,000–£50,000 (senior to £70,000) |
| AML Officer | £35,000–£65,000 |
| MLRO (SMF17) | £70,000–£110,000+ |
| Risk Analyst | £40,000–£85,000 |
What Factors Affect Compliance Salary?
- Seniority. The single biggest driver — pay multiplies from officer to manager to Head of Compliance to CCO.
- Sector. Banking, investment management and fintech pay 20–40% more than general industry at the same level.
- Regulatory status. FCA Senior Manager roles (SMF16 CCO, SMF17 MLRO) carry personal accountability and command a premium.
- Location. London adds a 15–25% premium, widening at senior levels.
- Specialism. Financial crime, AML, and regulatory-change expertise lift pay, as does relevant qualification (e.g. ICA, CISI).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a compliance officer earn in the UK?
The average compliance officer salary in the UK is around £36,000, but experienced officers earn £45,000–£65,000, and those in financial services more again. Pay ranges from about £22,000 for a trainee to £100,000 for a senior officer in banking.
Are compliance officers well paid?
Yes, particularly in financial services. While general-industry pay is moderate, compliance is a well-paid and secure career with a clear progression path — senior and leadership roles reach well into six figures, and Chief Compliance Officers at banks can earn £300,000+.
What is a senior compliance officer salary in the UK?
A senior compliance officer earns £52,000–£72,000 in general industry and £70,000–£100,000 in financial services, with London banking roles at the top of that range plus bonus.
How much does a compliance manager earn in the UK?
A compliance manager earns £50,000–£75,000 in general industry and £75,000–£110,000 in financial services, rising to £85,000–£140,000 in London and at large firms.
What is the highest-paying job in compliance?
The Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) is the highest-paying compliance role, earning £90,000–£140,000 in general industry and £150,000–£300,000+ in regulated financial services, plus bonuses of 25–65%.
What is the difference between a Head of Compliance and a Chief Compliance Officer?
The Chief Compliance Officer holds ultimate, board-level accountability for the compliance framework and the personal regulatory liability, while the Head of Compliance runs the function operationally and often reports to the CCO. At smaller firms one person frequently holds both roles.
How much does a risk analyst earn in the UK?
The average risk analyst salary in the UK is around £45,000 in 2026, ranging from £25,000–£35,000 at entry level to £60,000–£85,000 for senior, London and specialist credit or operational risk roles.
Do compliance officers get bonuses?
In financial services, yes — bonuses of 10–30% are common for officers and managers, rising to 25–65% for Heads of Compliance and CCOs. General-industry compliance roles are less likely to include large bonuses.
Hiring Compliance Talent or Benchmarking Your Team’s Pay?
Live Digital is a specialist fintech recruitment agency, placing compliance, risk and financial-crime professionals across fintech, banking and financial services — from Compliance Officer to Chief Compliance Officer. Whether you’re benchmarking a role or hiring your next compliance leader, we can help you get the level and package right. Get in touch to talk it through.
Related Salary Guides
- CTO Salary UK 2026
- Business Analyst Salary UK
- Chief Revenue Officer Salary UK
- Product Manager Salary UK