U.S. Risk Management Salaries Hit $160,000 Milestone as Compensation Gains Momentum

The risk management profession continues its upward compensation trajectory, with U.S. professionals now earning a median base salary of $160,000—a milestone that reflects a decade-long trend of healthy growth in the field, according to the RIMS 2025 Compensation Survey.

Risk management compensation has demonstrated remarkable stability and sustained growth over the past 10 years, according to the report. The U.S. median base salary in 2025 has climbed steadily from $115,000 in 2015, marking a 39% increase over that period.

The latest survey data shows a 4.4% year-over-year increase from June 2024 to June 2025, maintaining a growth rate consistent with historical patterns: In 2023, base salary was 4.9% higher than the prior year, and in 2015, base salary was up $3.7% over 2014.

Canadian risk management professionals have also experienced steady increases, with median salaries reaching $140,000 CAD as of June 2025, up from $122,000 CAD in 2023. This represents a 4.1% annual increase, demonstrating similar momentum in the Canadian market.

Additional cash compensation has equally strengthened, according to the compensation report. Among eligible U.S. professionals who remained in the same position, the median cash bonus jumped to $26,000 in 2025, up from $23,000 in 2023. Roughly 87% of those receiving additional compensation received it as bonuses, with smaller percentages receiving incentive pay (12%), profit sharing (11%), or other forms.

Competing Priorities Drive Compensation Disparities

Three primary factors shape salary outcomes within the industry: education level, years of experience, and supervisory responsibilities. Each creates measurable compensation spreads that underscore the industry’s value hierarchy.

A U.S. professional with advanced education beyond a bachelor’s degree earns $14,500 more than a bachelor’s-degree holder, and $54,500 more than those without a bachelor’s degree. Experience creates even more dramatic differences—professionals with at least 25 years in risk management earn $78,000 more than those with fewer than five years. Those supervising 20 or more employees command an additional $73,000 compared to those with no supervisory duties.

Position titles also determine earnings significantly, the survey showed. Chief Risk Officers and Vice Presidents of Risk Management earn substantially more than their peers, commanding median salaries of $245,000 in the U.S.—up from $212,500 in 2023. Risk managers in insurance roles, by contrast, typically earned $135,000 in 2025, a $110,000 gap from the top tier.

Gender compensation differences persist, though the underlying data suggests complexity, according to RIMS. U.S. males earn more than females, yet males also hold higher educational credentials (95% versus 85% with bachelor’s degrees), possess slightly greater experience in the field (median of 20 versus 17 years), and are more likely to hold supervisory positions (72% versus 64%). Canadian males earn approximately $25,500 CAD more than females, though similar educational and supervisory advantages may contribute to this gap.

Additionally, approximately 40% of North American risk professionals who earned an industry-related designation or certification indicated that they were recognized by their employer – financially or otherwise – for their commitment to professional advancement, according to RIMS.

Benefits Remain Consistent

Employer-provided benefits in the profession show stability. Nearly all U.S. risk management professionals receive medical coverage, while 61% have access to a Preferred Provider Organization plan, 22% are offered a Health Savings Account and 11% are offed a Health Maintenance Organization, with the remainder receiving a fee for service plan or other. These are little changed from 2023’s survey, the report said.

Defined contribution retirement plans are offered to 84% of U.S. professionals, up significantly from 2015 levels, when this was offered to 60%. The typical risk management professional qualifies for four weeks of paid time off annually, unchanged over the past decade.

“There are many factors that reaffirm the immense value business leaders place on risk management, but few are more compelling than the salary increases highlighted in this year’s RIMS Compensation Survey,” said RIMS CEO Gary A. LaBranche. “Around the world risk professionals are driving organizational growth and innovation. RIMS is proud to provide this resource for them to sustain that momentum and advance their careers.”

Obtain a copy of the survey here. &