Average Actuaries Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Actuaries is $125,770 per year. The middle 50% earn between $90,970 and $164,860, with 28,340 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates . Data covers 40 states and 75 metro areas.
Wage range
Pay distribution
Here is how Actuaries pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $75,240
- 25th
- $90,970
- Median
- $125,770
- 75th
- $164,860
- 90th
- $206,430
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Actuaries are among the highest-paid occupations tracked by BLS, well into the top decile of US wages.
Pay varies significantly across workers. Seniority, employer size, and specialization all move the needle, so it is normal for two actuaries at different points in their careers to earn very different salaries.
BLS projections
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for actuaries from 2024 to 2034. Actuaries are projected to grow much faster than average, more than double the roughly 4% growth rate for all US occupations. Demand is strong and outpacing most of the labor market.
- Projected growth
- +21.8%
- 7,300 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 2,400
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave. Annual openings reflect typical replacement demand alongside any growth.
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
A bachelor's degree is the typical entry requirement for actuaries.
Where Actuaries earn the most
Location matters for pay. The top-paying state is noticeably above the national median, so relocating to a higher-paying market can meaningfully boost earnings. Right now, the top-paying state is District of Columbia at $153,340, about 21.9% above the national median. At the metro level, Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT leads with a median of $176,300.
By state
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $153,340 | 200 |
| Washington | $153,260 | 250 |
| Connecticut | $148,220 | 1,190 |
| Alabama | $143,230 | N/A |
| New Jersey | $137,330 | 1,280 |
| Virginia | $135,880 | 690 |
| New York | $133,730 | 3,090 |
| Maine | $132,970 | 90 |
By metro
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $176,300 | N/A |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $158,760 | 110 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $152,650 | 300 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $146,130 | 270 |
| Birmingham, AL | $143,230 | 190 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $142,750 | 40 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $140,640 | 3,160 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $140,290 | 270 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see actuaries pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2024, the national median salary for Actuaries rose from $108,350 to $125,770, a gain of +16.1% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +22.7%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $108,350 would need to be worth $132,945 in 2024 dollars.
The actual 2024 median of $125,770 is −$7,175 below that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of -5.4% in purchasing power.
Adjusted for inflation, pay has lost ground. Nominal growth of 16.1% has not kept up with rising prices.
- Nominal change
- +16.1%
- 2019–2024
- Cumulative inflation
- +22.7%
- US CPI, 2019–2024
- Real change
- -5.4%
- After adjusting for inflation
Annual history
Median salary over time
Actuaries median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2019
- $108,350
- 2020
- $111,030
- 2021
- $105,900
- 2022
- $113,990
- 2023
- $120,000
- 2024
- $125,770
Similar jobs
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Mathematicians
- $121,680
- Data Scientists
- $112,590
- Statisticians
- $103,300
- Operations Research Analysts
- $91,290
- Information Security Analysts
- $124,910
- Computer Network Architects
- $130,390
- Software Developers
- $133,080
Common salary questions for Actuaries
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Actuaries workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.