Actuary Salary in Iowa (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Actuaries in Iowa, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
Iowa Median
$128,690
per year
Hourly Rate
$61.87
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-1% vs US median
US median $130,000
State Rank
#17 of 36
530 employed here

How much does an Actuary make in Iowa?

An Actuary working in Iowa earns a median salary of $128,690 per year, or about $61.87 per hour. That is 1% below the national median of $130,000 for this occupation.

Within Iowa, entry-level pay starts around $81,610 while the top 10% make $173,480 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $99,680 and $154,270 a year.

Actuary salary range in Iowa

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$81,610$39.24
25th percentile (early career)$99,680$47.92
50th percentile (median)$128,690$61.87
75th percentile (experienced)$154,270$74.17
90th percentile (top earners)$173,480$83.40

How Iowa compares

Iowa ranks 17th out of 36 states and territories for Actuary pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Connecticut$166,800
2District of Columbia$166,230
3New York$156,480
4New Jersey$142,800
5Alabama$136,950

Working as an Actuary in Iowa

Nationally, about 27,000 people work as Actuaries in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.

Considering a move? Compare Iowa pay ($128,690) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Actuary make in Iowa?
The median Actuary salary in Iowa is $128,690 per year, or about $61.87 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $81,610 at the entry level to $173,480 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Iowa pay compare to the national average?
Iowa pays Actuaries about 1% less than the national median of $130,000. Iowa ranks 17th out of 36 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Iowa a good state for Actuaries?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $128,690 a year. About 530 Actuaries are employed in Iowa. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Iowa?
The highest-paying occupations in Iowa include Emergency Medicine Physician ($429,050), Dermatologist ($424,970), Radiologist ($405,220), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Actuary salary report

Related salaries

Computer Network Architect

$134,050
median pay · 180,000 employed

Data Scientist

$120,230
median pay · 262,000 employed

Computer Programmer

$100,390
median pay · 92,000 employed

Computer and Information Research Scientists

$140,300
median pay · 37,000 employed

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

$99,130
median pay · 314,000 employed

Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

$104,300
median pay · 187,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.