Actuary Salary Guide

Actuaries use mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to assess risk, design insurance products, set pricing and reserves, model future events, and advise businesses on managing financial uncertainty.

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What is the average Actuary salary?

Entry Level

$70,000 - $95,000

Mid Level

$95,000 - $140,000

Senior Level

$140,000 - $220,000

How does Actuary salary grow with experience?

$70,000 - $95,000
0-2
$95,000 - $125,000
3-5
$120,000 - $160,000
6-9
$140,000 - $220,000++
10+
Base (min)
Top of range (max)
Max: $220k

Actuary salary by location

New York, NY$95,000 - $200,000
San Francisco Bay Area, CA$100,000 - $210,000
Chicago, IL$90,000 - $185,000
Boston, MA$90,000 - $180,000
Dallas / Houston, TX$80,000 - $165,000
Base (min)
Top of range (max)

What factors affect a Actuary's salary?

  • Progress toward actuarial credentials (ASA/FSA or ACAS/FCAS)
  • Industry specialization (life, property & casualty, health, pensions, enterprise risk)
  • Geographic location and local cost of living
  • Technical skills (statistical modeling, programming in R/Python, SQL) and leadership responsibilities
  • Employer type and size (large insurers, consultancies, reinsurers, fintech)

How to compare Actuary pay figures

The generated ranges in this guide have not been independently source-verified. Check the underlying occupation, location and data period before using a range as a market benchmark. Keep the original source alongside any figure you save. A page updated recently can still contain wages measured in an earlier year, and a broad occupational category may cover several different job titles.

Compare the work as well as the title

Read a vacancy's responsibilities, required experience, working hours and location before placing it beside another role. Two positions called Actuary can have different scope. Record the duties you would own, the team or customers you would support, and any supervisory expectations. Use those details to decide whether a comparison is relevant instead of assuming that a matching title means matching pay.

Keep compensation definitions consistent

Confirm the currency and whether a figure is hourly, monthly or annual. Check the paid hours before converting between periods. Separate guaranteed base pay from bonuses, commissions, overtime, equity and benefits. Ask which parts are guaranteed and which depend on targets, company results or vesting conditions. Compare the same components across offers; a total-compensation figure and a base-salary figure answer different questions.

Identify the statistic too. A median divides the measured workforce into two equal halves. A percentile describes a point in that distribution; it does not automatically describe an entry-level or senior employee. Do not turn national survey percentiles into a personal experience-based pay prediction. Use local, role-relevant evidence when it is available and record any mismatch in coverage.

Build a comparison you can check later

For each job listing, survey or offer, save the role, responsibilities, location, currency, pay period, compensation components, source link and date checked. Mark missing information as unknown. Keep the employer's stated range separate from any expectation you calculate yourself. If the figures differ, first check their definitions and scope rather than averaging incompatible numbers into a new estimate.

When discussing an offer, prepare clear examples of the responsibilities and results you can support with your experience. Ask the recruiter about the role's level, the approved range and how the package is structured. Keep those answers with your comparison so you can assess the offer using confirmed information. This guide gives you questions to investigate; the employer's written terms establish the actual package being offered.

Read the salary source and comparison checklist

Frequently Asked Questions About Actuary Salaries

What is the average starting salary for an entry-level actuary?

Entry-level actuaries typically earn between $70,000 and $95,000 annually, depending on exam progress, employer, and location.

How much can a senior actuary make?

Senior actuaries commonly earn between $140,000 and $220,000 per year; total compensation can be higher with bonuses, leadership roles, or specialized expertise.

Which factors most affect an actuary's salary?

Key factors include actuarial exam progress and credentials, industry (life, P&C, health, pensions), location, years of experience, and technical or leadership skills.

Do actuary salaries vary by location?

Yes. Major financial centers like New York and San Francisco pay premium salaries, while regional markets or smaller firms often pay less.

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