Ethics Officer: career path and pay in the US
Where a Ethics Officer goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 3 steps, from Ethics Officer to Chief Ethics Officer / Director of Ethics.
Also for the United Kingdom: Ethics Officer in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 3 to 7 years
Ethics Officer
$75K to $115K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Ethics Certification (optional) - Global, CCEP (in progress) - US, Ethics & Compliance Certification (optional) - Global.
Step 2 · 7 to 12 years
Ethics Officer / Senior Ethics Officer
$120K to $175K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Ethics Certification - Global, CCEP - US, Ethics & Compliance Certification - Global, MBA (optional) - Global.
Step 3 · 12+ years
Chief Ethics Officer / Director of Ethics
$185K to $275K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Ethics Certification - Global, CCEP - US, Ethics & Compliance Certification - Global, MBA (preferred) - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
24% → 24%
Stays level across the path. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$75K to $115K → $185K to $275K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US. No US estimate was found for Senior Ethics Officer; this band is placed between the neighbouring steps.
What the work involves
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.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
Knowledge areas
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- Computers and Electronics
- Administration and Management
Education people bring
Job Zone 4, job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Other paths from here
- Compliance Officer
- General Counsel
- Chief Ethics Officer
- VP of Compliance
More Legal paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Compliance Managers, Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs, Government Property Inspectors and Investigators, Environmental Compliance Inspectors, Regulatory Affairs Specialists.
Your own role
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
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. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.