Compliance Officer Salary UK (2026)
The UK median Compliance Officer salary is £52,000 per year. Entry-level: £32,000 · Senior: £105,000. Also known as: Compliance Manager, Regulatory Officer, Risk & Compliance Analyst.
UK-wide salary distribution
Compliance Officer hiring market in the UK
Demand for Compliance Officers in the UK has been strongly positive over the last three to five years, with employer hiring volumes outstripping qualified candidate supply in most major cities. The highest-paying UK city on this site for the role is London at £66,560 median, which is roughly what a competent mid-level practitioner can expect to earn there with three to five years of experience.
Pay progression for a Compliance Officer in the UK is rarely linear. Most of the gain happens at three points: the move from entry-level to mid (typically in years 2–3), the move into senior or principal positions (years 6–8), and — for those who pursue it — a lateral jump into management, consulting or independent contracting. Sitting in the same role waiting for inflationary increases is by some distance the slowest path; changing employer every three to four years remains the dominant pay-rise mechanism in the UK labour market.
Compliance Officer salary by UK city
| City | Lower quartile | Median | Upper quartile | vs UK avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £48,640 | £66,560 | £92,160 | +28% |
| Cambridge | £43,700 | £59,800 | £82,800 | +15% |
| Oxford | £42,940 | £58,760 | £81,360 | +13% |
| Reading | £42,560 | £58,240 | £80,640 | +12% |
| Edinburgh | £41,040 | £56,160 | £77,760 | +8% |
| Bristol | £40,280 | £55,120 | £76,320 | +6% |
| Brighton | £39,900 | £54,600 | £75,600 | +5% |
| Milton Keynes | £39,900 | £54,600 | £75,600 | +5% |
| Aberdeen | £39,520 | £54,080 | £74,880 | +4% |
| Southampton | £39,520 | £54,080 | £74,880 | +4% |
| Manchester | £38,760 | £53,040 | £73,440 | +2% |
| Leeds | £38,000 | £52,000 | £72,000 | +0% |
| Birmingham | £37,240 | £50,960 | £70,560 | -2% |
| Glasgow | £36,860 | £50,440 | £69,840 | -3% |
| Cardiff | £36,100 | £49,400 | £68,400 | -5% |
| Nottingham | £35,720 | £48,880 | £67,680 | -6% |
| Liverpool | £35,340 | £48,360 | £66,960 | -7% |
| Sheffield | £35,340 | £48,360 | £66,960 | -7% |
| Newcastle | £34,960 | £47,840 | £66,240 | -8% |
| Belfast | £34,200 | £46,800 | £64,800 | -10% |
Take-home pay calculator · 2024/25
Compliance Officer
£39,088/yr · £752/wk · effective rate 24.8%
| Gross salary | £52,000 |
| Pension (5%) | −£2,600 |
| Income tax | −£7,366 |
| National Insurance | −£2,946 |
| Net take-home | £39,088 |
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Core skills for Compliance Officers
- FCA regulations
- AML
- KYC
- Risk assessment
- Audit
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Compliance Officer salary in the UK?
The average UK Compliance Officer salary is £52,000 per year (ONS 2025). The lower quartile is £38,000 and the upper quartile is £72,000.
Where do Compliance Officers earn the most in the UK?
Compliance Officers earn most in London (£66,560 median), followed by Cambridge (£59,800) and Oxford (£58,760). See the full city table above.
What qualifications does a Compliance Officer need?
Core skills and qualifications for Compliance Officers include: FCA regulations, AML, KYC, Risk assessment, Audit. Entry-level roles start at around £32,000; senior positions reach £105,000+.
Is Compliance Officer a good career in the UK?
The career outlook for Compliance Officers is high. Salaries have grown broadly in line with wage inflation, with experienced professionals in high-cost cities (London, Cambridge, Oxford) earning 15–30% above the UK median.