How to become a Compliance Officer

Official title: Compliance Officers

Also called: Driver Examiner, Driver License Agent, Driver License Examiner, Examiner, License Examiner, License Registration Examiner, Licensing Analyst, Motor Vehicle Clerk, Public Service Representative (PSR), Transportation Services Representative (TSR)

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

Main tasks

• Warn violators of infractions or penalties.
• Evaluate applications, records, or documents to gather information about eligibility or liability issues.
• Advise licensees or other individuals or groups concerning licensing, permit, or passport regulations.
• Prepare reports of activities, evaluations, recommendations, or decisions.
• Report law or regulation violations to appropriate boards or agencies.
• Confer with or interview officials, technical or professional specialists, or applicants to obtain information or to clarify facts relevant to licensing decisions.

How to become one

Compliance officers typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. They often receive training on the job. Employers may prefer or require candidates to have experience related to the position.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• College: Science degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
• Licence: A licence is required in 26 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $80,730 a year The middle half earn $61,280 to $109,010.
• About 436,400 people work in this job now, and about 453,100 are projected by 2035. (+3.8%)
• People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Related jobs

• Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
• Environmental Compliance Inspectors
• Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
• Coroners
• Regulatory Affairs Specialists
• Customs Brokers

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Compliance Officer?

Compliance officers typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation. They often receive training on the job. Employers may prefer or require candidates to have experience related to the position.

How much does a Compliance Officer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $80,730 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $61,280 to $109,010.

Is a Compliance Officer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 436,400 to about 453,100 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Compliance Officer?

Usually. 65% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Compliance Officer?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.