Actuary Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$126,000
estimated national base salary
$91,000 to $165,000. Last updated September 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $130,000 for Actuaries (SOC 15-2011) across the United States, based on 26,670 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$78,570
25th percentile
$97,680
Median
$130,000
75th percentile
$170,650
90th percentile
$215,100
Workers surveyed
26,670
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$125,770
May 2025 release
$130,000
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
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 national 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 15-2011Highest Paying
$177,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$131,000
Seattle, WA
Lowest Paying
$97,000
Jackson, MS
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated September 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 15-2011. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Actuary salary in the United States at $126,000 in 2026, within a range of $91,000 to $165,000. 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. San Jose is the highest of the 81 cities at $177,000, while Seattle offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Exam progress is the single most predictive salary factor for actuaries.
Actuary salary by city.
Skills that increase Actuary pay.
The premiums below are Orbyt's modelled scenarios for Actuarys, not effects measured from job postings: each is a fixed percentage applied to the estimated base. At the top premium that works out to $17,640 a year.
≈ +$17,640 per year
≈ +$16,380 per year
≈ +$15,120 per year
≈ +$13,860 per year
≈ +$13,860 per year
≈ +$12,600 per year
≈ +$12,600 per year
≈ +$11,340 per year
What you should know.
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.
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.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Actuarys typically earn $113,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Actuary pay.
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