Actuary.
Detroit.
$118,000
median salary, 6% below the national average
$85,000 to $154,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median Actuary salary in Detroit is $118,000, 6% below the national average. Entry level starts near $85,000. Experienced professionals push past $154,000. Detroit's economy is transforming as the automotive industry pivots to electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology. That spread is your negotiation window. 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.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Actuary in Detroit, 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 $105,640 for Actuaries (SOC 15-2011) in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metropolitan area, based on 240 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$67,580
25th percentile
$82,010
Median
$105,640
75th percentile
$135,150
90th percentile
$170,540
Workers surveyed
240
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 Detroit 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 15-2011Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $106,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$77,000
to $94,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$100,000
to $124,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$130,000
to $153,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$148,000
to $183,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $33,000 to the total package.
Base
$118,000
Equity
$19,000
Bonus
$12,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $151,000
How Detroit compares.
Detroit, MI
$118,000
Cost of living: 10% below average
National Average
$126,000
Detroit is $8,000 below
Actuary salary by city.
Salary by role in Detroit.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate an Actuary offer in Detroit, understand the terrain. Detroit's economy is transforming as the automotive industry pivots to electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology. Ford, GM, and a growing cluster of mobility startups are investing billions in the region. The city's low cost of living paired with rising tech salaries makes it one of the highest purchasing power metros for engineering roles. 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 Detroit, 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: michigan has a flat 4.25% state income tax. Detroit adds a city income tax of 2.4% for residents. Factor the city tax into your calculations if living within city limits. When someone quotes you $118,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight EV and autonomous vehicle expertise. Detroit employers are paying significant premiums for talent with electric vehicle, battery tech, or self driving experience. The range for Actuarys in Detroit runs from $85,000 to $154,000. 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
Considering a related role?
- A Machine Learning Engineer in Detroit earns $117,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Detroit is CTO at $265,000
Common questions.
Actuary salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Detroit.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Actuary Salary in Detroit, MI." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/actuary/detroit
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