2025 Trade Compliance Salary Survey Results
From the Desk of Garrett Stephenson, President of Gateway Recruiting
Greetings!
I’m excited to share the latest findings from our 2025 Trade Compliance Salary Survey!
As we navigate through another dynamic year shaped by shifting global policies and economic pressures, one thing remains clear: the shortage of qualified Trade Compliance talent has never been more pronounced. Across industries, companies continue to struggle to fill critical roles, with the root causes increasingly tied to the complexity of today’s geopolitical landscape—particularly the evolving tariffs, export controls, and regulatory challenges.
What sets 2025 apart is that, for the first time in decades, Trade Compliance teams are no longer operating quietly in the background. These professionals have now moved to the forefront, with C-suite executives recognizing the strategic value they bring. Organizations are reevaluating their entire supply chains—ranging from country-of-origin decisions to product design and manufacturing footprints—to align with political realities and reduce risk exposure. This shift has elevated the role of compliance professionals in global business planning like never before.
Regionally, we continue to see growth in compliance hiring across the EU, APAC, and LATAM. In the U.S., compensation trends have increased, with recent hires seeing base salaries 10-15% higher than in 2024—though this may not always be reflected in compensation surveys. While the overall U.S. hiring market has been soft, the importance of Trade Compliance in organizations means that we expect hiring to remain strong in the coming years. It will continue to be competitive to attract top talent, and candidate experience and compensation will be key factors in securing the right hires.
Workplace flexibility also continues to evolve. While hybrid schedules remain popular, we’ve seen a noticeable decline in fully remote roles across the U.S. However, the demand for skilled contractors remains strong, particularly as companies face hiring freezes or ramp up project-based compliance initiatives. At Gateway Recruiting, we’re proud to offer the largest and most responsive network of Trade Compliance contractors, ready to support your urgent needs.
I’d like to sincerely thank everyone who participated in this year’s survey and continues to support Gateway Recruiting as the leading recruiting firm in Trade Compliance. Your trust has helped make this report an industry standard for over 15 years. If you’re facing challenges hiring for permanent or contract Trade Compliance roles, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team is ready to help you grow, rebuild, or strengthen your compliance function.
Here’s to continued growth, resilience, and collaboration in 2025!
For your FREE copy of the report, please click here:
We greatly value your feedback on this report and welcome any suggestions for the next year. At Gateway Recruiting, we are incredibly grateful for the continuous support we receive from the Trade Compliance industry. It is this unwavering support that has established us as the preferred and leading choice in Trade Compliance Recruiting.
Whether you are seeking to hire a full-time employee or a contractor this year, we encourage you to reach out to us via email at Info@GatewayRecruiting.com. We are here to assist you every step of the way!
Stay informed about the latest job openings in Trade Compliance by subscribing to our bi-monthly newsletter. This way, you can ensure you never miss out on valuable opportunities. To take the next step in your career, kindly send your updated resume to Info@GatewayRecruiting.com. Our dedicated team members will promptly review your application and reach out to you.
View our Trade Compliance Salary Survey Results Archive:
2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020
