Risk Management Specialist Salaries & Wage Percentiles
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Methodology
Analyze and manage exposure to enterprise financial and operational risks across capital markets, insurance, and investment portfolios.
National Wage Percentile Spectrum
Empirical distribution from entry-level apprentice (10th percentile) to senior principal / master tier (90th percentile).
Nationwide State Salary Rankings
State-by-state empirical labor compensation benchmarked against local cost of living and purchasing power.
| Rank | State | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | CoL Adjusted Real Wage | Total Employed | Top Metro in State | CoL Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | District of Columbia DC | $126,510 | $60.82/hr | $79,616 | 1,400 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 158.9 |
| #2 | Maine ME | $126,430 | $60.78/hr | $96,881 | Not published | Portland-South Portland, ME | 130.5 |
| #3 | Delaware DE | $122,930 | $59.10/hr | $104,889 | 40 | Dover, DE | 117.2 |
| #4 | Washington WA | $121,435 | $58.38/hr | $94,428 | 620 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 128.6 |
| #5 | California CA | $120,443 | $57.91/hr | $72,819 | 4,420 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 165.4 |
| #6 | Maryland MD | $119,720 | $57.56/hr | $97,096 | 390 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 123.3 |
| #7 | Colorado CO | $116,742 | $56.13/hr | $91,562 | 920 | Colorado Springs, CO | 127.5 |
| #8 | Connecticut CT | $116,715 | $56.11/hr | $89,988 | 520 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 129.7 |
Top Metropolitan Areas for Maximum Earnings
High-yield metros commanding premier compensation, rent affordability, and living wage coverage.
Career Ladder & Progression Stages
Typical milestones from entry level to senior roles.
Financial modeling, risk metric calculations (VaR), portfolio analysis
Credit risk, market risk modeling, regulatory reporting (Basel/Dodd-Frank)
Enterprise risk frameworks, capital stress testing, counterparty hedging
Board risk committee reporting, institutional risk appetite governance
Skill-Adjacent Career Opportunities
Direct lateral transitions capitalizing on shared occupational competencies and BLS wage differentials.
Risk Management Specialist: Career Ladder, Industry Hub & Regional Parity
Navigate parent industry benchmarks, lateral career progressions, and cross-pillar living cost calculators.
Finance Directory
Compare wage percentiles, required certifications, and senior salary caps across all Finance occupations.
Adjacent Career Paths
Living Cost & Tax Parity
Occupational Labor Economics & Frequently Asked Questions
Explore national wage percentiles (10th to 90th), top-paying metropolitan areas, and career ladder progression for Risk Management Specialist. Official 2026 economic data for Risk Management Specialist compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
National compensation benchmarks for Risk Management Specialist range across the 10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentiles based on BLS OEWS labor market statistics.
Risk Management Specialist: Where the Pay Is Highest
The national median for Risk Management Specialist is $117,330 per year ($56.41/hour). BLS OEWS publishes this occupation in 121 metropolitan areas, where median pay ranges from $62,850 in Monroe, LA to $167,440 in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA.
Top-paying metropolitan areas for Risk Management Specialist
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs national |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $167,440 | +42.7% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $166,240 | +41.7% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $139,670 | +19.0% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $134,330 | +14.5% |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $133,530 | +13.8% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $132,580 | +13.0% |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $132,480 | +12.9% |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $131,630 | +12.2% |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $130,880 | +11.5% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $126,510 | +7.8% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $126,500 | +7.8% |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $126,430 | +7.8% |