Head of Risk Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$276,000
national median salary
$235,000 to $359,000. Last updated July 2026.
Highest Paying
$388,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$288,000
Phoenix, AZ
Lowest Paying
$213,000
Charleston, WV
Salary data sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), state pay-transparency job postings, and community submissions. Most ranges are anchored to BLS OES occupation wage percentiles and placed by seniority level (entry near the 25th, mid at the median, senior at the 75th); a minority of emerging roles retain a modeled estimate where BLS has no matching series. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated July 2026. Baseline derived from BLS SOC 11-3031. Full methodology.
The average Head of Risk salary in the United States is $276,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $235,000 at the 25th percentile to $359,000 at the 75th. San Francisco pays the most at $388,000, while Phoenix offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Head of Risk compensation scales with team size under management, scope of organizational responsibility, and track record of hiring and retaining talent.
Head of Risk salary by city.
Skills that increase Head of Risk pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Head of Risks based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $38,640 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$38,640 per year
≈ +$35,880 per year
≈ +$33,120 per year
≈ +$30,360 per year
≈ +$30,360 per year
≈ +$27,600 per year
≈ +$27,600 per year
≈ +$24,840 per year
What you should know.
Head of Risk compensation scales with team size under management, scope of organizational responsibility, and track record of hiring and retaining talent. Equity is a major component at roughly 28% of base — candidates should weight stock grants as heavily as salary when comparing offers. Within finance and business operations, licensure (CFA, CPA, FP&A) and industry (tech, banking, consulting) shift the compensation band by 20–40%.
Head of Risks progress Analyst → Manager → Senior Manager → Director → VP over 10 to 15 years in corporate finance, or Associate → VP → Director → MD in investment banking. Certifications (MBA, CFA) unlock specific transitions. For Head of Risks specifically, the seniority anchor means roughly 12+ years of experience and demonstrated P&L or strategic leadership.
Total compensation for Head of Risks runs roughly $333K at median when factoring base + equity (28% of base annually) + bonus (18% of base). Equity is the single largest non-base component — candidates should model vesting schedules (typically 4-year with 1-year cliff) and compare grant values across offers carefully. In corporate finance and banking, bonus is a major component and can double the base in top-performing years (investment banking) or add 20–40% (corporate finance).
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Head of Risks typically earn $262,000 (5% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Head of Risk pay.
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