How much does an Actuary make?
The median pay for an Actuary in the United States is $130,000 per year — about $62.50 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $78,570, while the most experienced Actuaries in the top 10% earn $215,100.
That is $68,610 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Actuary salary range by percentile
Half of all Actuaries earn between $97,680 and $170,650 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,570 | $37.77 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $97,680 | $46.96 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $130,000 | $62.50 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $170,650 | $82.04 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,100 | $103.41 |
Highest-paying states for Actuary
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Connecticut leads the country for Actuary pay at $166,800 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($166,230) and New York ($156,480). At the other end, Louisiana posts the lowest median at $80,860 — a gap of $85,940 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $166,800 | $80.19 | +28% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $166,230 | $79.92 | +28% |
| 3 | New York | $156,480 | $75.23 | +20% |
| 4 | New Jersey | $142,800 | $68.65 | +10% |
| 5 | Alabama | $136,950 | $65.84 | +5% |
Actuary salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 36 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 27,000 people work as Actuaries in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $141,480 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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