SOC 15-2011 · May 2025
Actuary Salary
Actuarys in the US earn a median of $130,000 a year ($68.02 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Actuary pay climbed from $120,970 in 2019 to $141,480 in 2025, a +17.0% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$130,000
Half of all Actuarys in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+17.0% since 2019 · +4.8% YoY
Hourly
$68.02
Job growth 2025-35
+9.2%
US workers
26,670
BLS series
Annual median wage for Actuaries in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Actuarys is $78,570 – $215,100.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$78,570
25th
$97,680
Median
$130,000
75th
$170,650
90th
$215,100
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Actuarys. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $78,570 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $97,680 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $130,000 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $170,650 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $215,100 |
Geography
Actuary pay by state
Actuarys earn the most in Connecticut ($166,800, +28% against the national median) and the least in Louisiana ($80,860). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 36 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$130,000
Highest-paying states for actuarys
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $166,800 | +28% | 1,380 |
| D.C. | $166,230 | +28% | 160 |
| New York | $156,480 | +20% | 2,630 |
| New Jersey | $142,800 | +10% | 1,260 |
| Alabama | $136,950 | +5% | 190 |
| Arizona | $135,870 | +5% | 200 |
| Washington | $134,720 | +4% | 360 |
| Utah | $132,720 | +2% | 180 |
| Nevada | $132,370 | +2% | 120 |
| Florida | $132,110 | +2% | 1,300 |
All 36 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $166,800 | 1,380 |
| D.C. | $166,230 | 160 |
| New York | $156,480 | 2,630 |
| New Jersey | $142,800 | 1,260 |
| Alabama | $136,950 | 190 |
| Arizona | $135,870 | 200 |
| Washington | $134,720 | 360 |
| Utah | $132,720 | 180 |
| Nevada | $132,370 | 120 |
| Florida | $132,110 | 1,300 |
| Virginia | $131,900 | 440 |
| Wisconsin | $131,640 | 890 |
| California | $130,510 | 1,280 |
| Oregon | $130,380 | 210 |
| Missouri | $129,220 | 390 |
| North Carolina | $128,730 | 610 |
| Iowa | $128,690 | 530 |
| Minnesota | $128,100 | 1,170 |
| Maryland | $126,950 | 580 |
| Massachusetts | $126,040 | – |
| Pennsylvania | $125,040 | 1,710 |
| Kansas | $125,010 | 180 |
| Colorado | $120,440 | 500 |
| Kentucky | $120,400 | 70 |
| Maine | $119,620 | 80 |
| Illinois | $115,430 | 2,280 |
| Rhode Island | $111,090 | 100 |
| Ohio | $110,980 | 1,090 |
| Oklahoma | $109,760 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $108,930 | 300 |
| Mississippi | $106,210 | 40 |
| Texas | $105,020 | 1,750 |
| Nebraska | $102,790 | 270 |
| Indiana | $100,690 | 780 |
| Michigan | $100,640 | 570 |
| Louisiana | $80,860 | 40 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Actuarys
Actuaries (BLS SOC 15-2011) analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty using mathematics, statistics, and financial theory. The role typically requires a bachelor's degree in mathematics, actuarial science, statistics, or business, plus passage of professional exams (Society of Actuaries or Casualty Actuarial Society). Fellow-level actuaries with 10+ years of exam progress substantially exceed the OEWS median.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $78,570 – $215,100. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Connecticut, D.C. and New York. Pay in Connecticut runs 2.1 times the level in Louisiana, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 1,500 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 9.2% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Actuary salary in the US?
How much does a Actuary make an hour?
How much do Actuarys make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Actuarys the most?
Is the average Actuary salary higher than the median?
Is Actuary a growing career?
Open positions
Open Actuary roles hiring now
Browse current Actuary listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 15-2011. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.