Actuary.
Houston.
$127,000
median salary, 1% above the national average
$92,000 to $166,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Orbyt estimates Actuary pay in Houston at $127,000, within a range of $92,000 to $166,000. That is 1% above the national average. Houston's economy is deeply rooted in energy, with a growing presence in healthcare, aerospace, and technology. 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 Houston, 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 $81,670 for Actuaries (SOC 15-2011) in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metropolitan area, based on 390 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$58,620
25th percentile
$58,620
Median
$81,670
75th percentile
$131,510
90th percentile
$183,170
Workers surveyed
390
Why this differs from the estimate above. The Orbyt estimate of $127,000 is 56% higher than this published figure. That is usually not an error in either number: BLS reports by occupation code, and Actuaries covers a different population than the Actuary title as it is typically advertised. Both are shown, unreconciled, so you can judge which one describes the job you mean.
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 Houston 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 $114,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$83,000
to $102,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$108,000
to $133,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$140,000
to $165,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$159,000
to $197,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $36,000 to the total package.
Base
$127,000
Equity
$20,000
Bonus
$13,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $163,000
How Houston compares.
Houston, TX
$127,000
Cost of living: 3% below average
National Average
$126,000
Houston is $1,000 above
Actuary salary by city.
Salary by role in Houston.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate an Actuary offer in Houston, understand the terrain. Houston's economy is deeply rooted in energy, with a growing presence in healthcare, aerospace, and technology. The Texas Medical Center is the world's largest, driving massive demand for clinical and research roles. Houston's low cost of living and no state income tax make it an attractive destination for professionals seeking strong purchasing power. 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 Houston, 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: texas has no state income tax, giving Houston workers strong take home pay. The city's overall cost of living is below the national average, further stretching your salary. When someone quotes you $127,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Emphasize industry specialization in energy or healthcare. Houston employers pay significant premiums for domain expertise in these sectors over generalist candidates. The range for Actuarys in Houston runs from $92,000 to $166,000. 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 Houston earns $126,000 (1% less)
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Common questions.
Actuary salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Houston.
Related salary pages
Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Actuarys in Houston.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Actuary Salary in Houston, TX." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/actuary/houston
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