Hiring for Risk & Compliance in Australia
The Risk & Compliance market remained resilient in 2025, driven by regulatory deadlines, emerging risk areas, and sustained demand across financial services and the broader corporate sector.
Since then, hiring has continued with a shift toward more permanent appointments as organisations look to embed long-term capability.
Recruitment processes have lengthened as employers place greater emphasis on cultural fit, technical depth, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
In-Demand Risk & Compliance Roles in Australia
- Cyber and IT risk roles, including AI-related risk
- Technology Risk Managers
- Operational Risk Managers and Senior Managers
- Risk in Change Managers
- Third-Party Risk Analysts, Managers, and Senior Managers
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) Managers
In-Demand Risk & Compliance Skills in Australia
- AI, automation, and technology-related risk capability
- Experience dealing with Australian regulators (AUSTRA, ASIC, APRA, ACCC and AFCA)
- Compliance, AML and CTF expertise
- Use of governance, risk and compliance tools and risk systems
- Experience with payment platforms
- Proven ability to deliver uplift, remediation, or transformation programs
Up, Down, or Flat? Risk & Compliance Salary Trends in Australia
Salaries across Risk & Compliance have remained largely stable, with modest increases in specialist areas where skills are scarce. Employers are managing costs carefully, often prioritising broader role scope over title inflation, while candidates are increasingly valuing flexibility, hybrid working, and role impact as part of their total remuneration.
Risk & Compliance Salaries in Australia
| Job Title |
Search job title
|
Sub Sector | Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Job Title | Sector | Sub Sector | Location | Low | Median | High |
Chief Risk Officer Risk Management Risk Management Annual rate |
Financial Services | Risk Management | Sydney | $300,000 | $400,000 | $600,000+ |
Head of Market Risk Risk Management Risk Management Annual rate |
Financial Services | Risk Management | Sydney | $270,000 | $350,000 | $450,000+ |
Manager - Market Risk Risk Management Risk Management Annual rate |
Financial Services | Risk Management | Sydney | $120,000 | $150,000 | $170,000 |
Head of Operational Risk Risk Management Risk Management Annual rate |
Financial Services | Risk Management | Sydney | $280,000 | $350,000 | $500,000+ |
Senior Manager - Operational Risk Risk Management Risk Management Annual rate |
Financial Services | Risk Management | Sydney | $180,000 | $200,000 | $230,000 |
Manager - Operational Risk Risk Management Risk Management Annual rate |
Financial Services | Risk Management | Sydney | $120,000 | $150,000 | $180,000 |
Senior Analyst - Operational Risk Risk Management Risk Management Annual rate |
Financial Services | Risk Management | Sydney | $90,000 | $120,000 | $130,000 |
Compliance Analyst Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Commerce and Industry | Compliance | Sydney | $80,000 | $100,000 | $120,000 |
Compliance Manager Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Commerce and Industry | Compliance | Sydney | $120,000 | $150,000 | $160,000 |
Senior Compliance Manager Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Commerce and Industry | Compliance | Sydney | $150,000 | $180,000 | $220,000 |
Head of Compliance Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Commerce and Industry | Compliance | Sydney | $200,000 | $250,000 | $380,000+ |
Compliance Analyst Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Retail and Wealth | Compliance | Sydney | $80,000 | $100,000 | $120,000 |
Compliance Manager Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Retail and Wealth | Compliance | Sydney | $120,000 | $150,000 | $170,000 |
Senior Compliance Manager Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Retail and Wealth | Compliance | Sydney | $150,000 | $180,000 | $220,000 |
Head of Compliance Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Retail and Wealth | Compliance | Sydney | $250,000 | $350,000 | $500,000+ |
Compliance Analyst Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Investment Banking | Compliance | Sydney | $100,000 | $110,000 | $120,000 |
Compliance Manager Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Investment Banking | Compliance | Sydney | $130,000 | $150,000 | $180,000 |
Senior Compliance Manager Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Investment Banking | Compliance | Sydney | $160,000 | $190,000 | $230,000 |
Head of Compliance Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Investment Banking | Compliance | Sydney | $400,000 | $550,000 | $700,000 |
Compliance Analyst Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Financial Crime | Compliance | Sydney | $80,000 | $100,000 | $110,000 |
Senior Compliance Analyst Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Financial Crime | Compliance | Sydney | $90,000 | $120,000 | $130,000 |
Compliance Manager Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Financial Crime | Compliance | Sydney | $120,000 | $150,000 | $180,000 |
Senior Compliance Manager Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Financial Crime | Compliance | Sydney | $150,000 | $180,000 | $200,000 |
Head of Compliance Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Financial Crime | Compliance | Sydney | $200,000 | $260,000 | $350,000 |
Head of Anti Money Laundering Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Financial Crime | Compliance | Sydney | $270,000 | $350,000 | $600,000 |
Compliance Analyst Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Regulatory Projects | Compliance | Sydney | $80,000 | $100,000 | $110,000 |
Senior Compliance Analyst Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Regulatory Projects | Compliance | Sydney | $90,000 | $120,000 | $130,000 |
Compliance Manager Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Regulatory Projects | Compliance | Sydney | $120,000 | $150,000 | $180,000 |
Senior Compliance Manager Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Regulatory Projects | Compliance | Sydney | $150,000 | $180,000 | $200,000 |
Head of Compliance Compliance Compliance Annual rate |
Regulatory Projects | Compliance | Sydney | $300,000 | $350,000 | $500,000 |
Download Your 2026 Risk & Compliance Salary Guide for Australia.
Permanent, temporary and contract salary data for a range of Risk & Compliance roles, as well as insights and advice to guide your talent strategies.
