Checked
Actuaries Salary
Actuaries earn a median $130,000 a year in the U.S., with 26,670 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $130,000 a year
- Employment
- 26,670
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +9.2%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 1,500
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $130,000 · $62.50 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $141,480 · $68.02 an hour (estimate error ±2.3%)
- 10th percentile
- $78,570 · $37.77 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $97,680 · $46.96 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $170,650 · $82.04 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $215,100 · $103.41 an hour
- Employment
- 26,670 (estimate error ±3.2%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. May ascertain insurance rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 31,200
- Projected for 2035
- 34,100
- Change
- +2,900 (+9.2%)
- Openings each year
- 1,500
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Self-employed
- Not reported
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $166,800 | 1,380 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $166,230 | 160 |
| 3 | New York | $156,480 | 2,630 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $142,800 | 1,260 |
| 5 | Alabama | $136,950 | 190 |
| 6 | Arizona | $135,870 | 200 |
| 7 | Washington | $134,720 | 360 |
| 8 | Utah | $132,720 | 180 |
| 9 | Nevada | $132,370 | 120 |
| 10 | Florida | $132,110 | 1,300 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 2,630 | $156,480 |
| Illinois | 2,280 | $115,430 |
| Texas | 1,750 | $105,020 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,710 | $125,040 |
| Georgia | 1,470 | Not reported |
| Connecticut | 1,380 | $166,800 |
| Florida | 1,300 | $132,110 |
| California | 1,280 | $130,510 |
| New Jersey | 1,260 | $142,800 |
| Minnesota | 1,170 | $128,100 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $194,130 | 220 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $175,330 | 220 |
| 3 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $166,800 | 960 |
| 4 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $161,460 | 2,780 |
| 5 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $144,680 | 520 |
| 6 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $142,180 | 120 |
| 7 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $139,810 | 310 |
| 8 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $138,570 | 170 |
| 9 | Madison, WI | $135,330 | 170 |
| 10 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $134,720 | 230 |
| 11 | Birmingham, AL | $132,840 | 130 |
| 12 | Jacksonville, FL | $132,830 | 130 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,780 | $161,460 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,560 | $113,730 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,200 | Not reported |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,020 | $125,960 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 960 | $166,800 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 780 | $127,770 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 520 | $144,680 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 510 | $127,690 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 490 | $101,040 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 400 | $120,440 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 400 | $130,540 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 390 | $81,670 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)319 certified filingsMedian offered wage $130,148
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)99 certified filingsMedian offered wage $132,213
Actuaries pay by state
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
Related occupations
Frequently asked questions
- How much do actuaries make?
- The median wage for actuaries in the U.S. is $130,000 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $97,680 and $170,650.
- Which state pays actuaries the most?
- Connecticut has the highest median wage for this occupation at $166,800 a year.
- What is the job outlook for actuaries?
- BLS projects employment to grow 9.2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,500 openings each year on average.
- What education do actuaries need?
- The typical entry-level education is: bachelor's degree.