Skip to salary data
Salaries

Actuary.

Denver.

$137,000

median salary, 9% above the national average

$99,000 to $180,000. Last updated August 2026.

Close the job.

Get the job.

Data points to own the conversation.

Denver is 8% more expensive than the national average. For Actuarys, that shakes out to a median of $137,000, with the full range spanning $99,000 to $180,000. Exam progress is the single most predictive salary factor for actuaries. Know the range before you walk in. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.

Salary range.

25th Percentile

$99,000

per year

Median

$137,000

per year

75th Percentile

$180,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$99,000$180,000

Orbyt estimate for Actuary in Denver, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.

Government benchmark for this occupation

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $120,440 for Actuaries (SOC 15-2011) in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metropolitan area, based on 400 employed workers (May 2025 release).

10th percentile

$78,610

25th percentile

$96,940

Median

$120,440

75th percentile

$162,220

90th percentile

$183,540

Workers surveyed

400

BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Actuaries (SOC 15-2011) rather than Actuary specifically. The Denver range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.

View the BLS source for SOC 15-2011

Salary by experience.

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $123,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$89,000

to $110,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$116,000

to $144,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$151,000

to $178,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$171,000

to $212,000

Total compensation.

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $39,000 to the total package.

Base

$137,000

Equity

$22,000

Bonus

$14,000

Signing

$3,000

Estimated total: $176,000

How Denver compares.

Denver, CO

$137,000

Cost of living: 8% above average

National Average

$126,000

Denver is $11,000 above

Actuary salary by city.

Actuary salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Jose, CA$177,000$128,000 to $232,0001.38x$128,000
San Francisco, CA$168,000$122,000 to $221,0001.35x$124,000
Honolulu, HI$167,000$121,000 to $219,0001.30x$128,000
New York, NY$166,000$120,000 to $218,0001.28x$130,000
Seattle, WA$162,000$117,000 to $213,0001.24x$131,000
Boston, MA$154,000$111,000 to $201,0001.22x$126,000
San Diego, CA$153,000$111,000 to $201,0001.17x$131,000
Washington DC, DC$151,000$109,000 to $198,0001.25x$121,000
Los Angeles, CA$147,000$106,000 to $193,0001.18x$125,000
Denver, CO$137,000$99,000 to $180,0001.08x$127,000

See all 81 cities for Actuary →

Salary by role in Denver.

Salary comparison by role in Denver
RoleMedianRange
CTO$311,000$243,000 to $404,000
CEO$309,000$225,000 to $427,000
General Counsel$308,000$240,000 to $401,000
MLOps Engineer$138,000$103,000 to $180,000
Federated Learning Engineer$138,000$103,000 to $180,000
AI Agent Engineer$138,000$103,000 to $180,000
Backend Developer$138,000$107,000 to $175,000
Actuary$137,000$99,000 to $180,000

What you should know.

The Actuary landscape in Denver is not what most salary sites will tell you. Denver has emerged as a secondary tech hub with strong aerospace, telecom, and outdoor industry employers. The city attracts remote workers and relocating companies seeking lower costs than the coasts. Salaries have climbed steadily as national employers open satellite offices and compete for Denver's growing talent pool. Exam progress is the single most predictive salary factor for actuaries. Each passed SOA or CAS exam adds approximately $5,000 to $15,000 in base salary. Fully credentialed fellows earn 40 to 60% more than entry-level associates. Consulting actuaries typically earn more than insurance company actuaries at equivalent experience levels.

Entry-level actuarial analysts with zero to two exams earn $65,000 to $85,000. Associates (ASA) earn $90,000 to $120,000. Fellows (FSA/FCAS) reach $130,000 to $180,000. Chief actuaries and actuarial directors earn $175,000 to $280,000. Consulting principals can exceed $350,000. In Denver, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.

Base salary is not the full picture. Exam bonuses of $2,000 to $5,000 per passed exam are standard, plus paid study time (typically 100 to 200 hours). Annual bonuses of 10 to 20% are common. Consulting firms offer higher variable pay. Many employers cover exam fees, study materials, and raise base salary with each credential milestone. And on the tax side: colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax. Denver has no additional city income tax, making the overall tax burden lighter than most coastal metros. When someone quotes you $137,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Position yourself as a remote talent anchor. Many companies pay near coastal rates for Denver based employees to save on office costs while retaining top performers. The range for Actuarys in Denver runs from $99,000 to $180,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology

Interactive

Is your offer competitive?

Enter your Actuary offer to see where you stand in Denver.

$

25th

$99,000

Median

$137,000

75th

$180,000

Considering a related role?

  • A MLOps Engineer in Denver earns $138,000 (1% more)
  • The highest-paying role in Denver is CTO at $311,000

Common questions.

Each passed exam typically increases salary by $5,000 to $15,000, with earlier exams at the lower end and later exams commanding larger raises. The total salary increase from zero exams to full fellowship (FSA or FCAS) is approximately $50,000 to $80,000 in cumulative base salary gains.

Yes, consulting actuaries earn 10 to 25% more in base salary at equivalent credential levels. However, insurance company actuaries often receive better benefits, more predictable hours, and pension plans. The gap widens at senior levels, where consulting principals significantly outearn insurance company chief actuaries.

In 2026, the average Actuary salary in Denver, CO is $137,000. The estimated range runs from $99,000 to $180,000. Where you land depends on your experience, the company's size, and the specific skills you bring.

Denver has emerged as a secondary tech hub with strong aerospace, telecom, and outdoor industry employers. The city attracts remote workers and relocating companies seeking lower costs than the coasts. For Actuarys specifically, exam progress is the single most predictive salary factor for actuaries, which signals sustained demand. The current compensation range of $99,000 to $180,000 reflects a market that is competing for talent.

Colorado has a flat 4.4% state income tax. Denver has no additional city income tax, making the overall tax burden lighter than most coastal metros. When comparing offers across states, your take home pay matters more than the number on the offer letter. A lower salary in a no income tax state can net more than a higher one elsewhere.

Relevant certifications can add 5 to 15% to an Actuary's base salary in Denver. Specifically, exam progress is the single most predictive salary factor for actuaries. In a market where the range spans $99,000 to $180,000, certifications often bridge the gap between the median and the top of the range.

Entry level Actuary positions in Denver typically start near $99,000. Candidates with relevant internships, certifications, or portfolio work often negotiate closer to the median of $137,000. Entry-level actuarial analysts with zero to two exams earn $65,000 to $85,000.

Actuary salary in other cities.

Other salaries in Denver.

Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Actuarys in Denver.

Related tools.

Do you work as an actuary in Denver?

Your individual figure is never published. Submissions appear only as aggregate percentiles, and nothing is shown for a role and city until at least five people have reported. It is stored against your account, which is what keeps the dataset clean.

Add your salary

Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"Actuary Salary in Denver, CO." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/actuary/denver

Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget. One script tag, free forever.

Share

LinkedInX

Was this helpful?

You have the data.

Now own the conversation.

Start tracking your offers

Related tools

Salary CalculatorTake-Home PayTotal CompensationInterview PrepResume ScoreOrbyt JobsIntelligence API