Actuary Salary
Actuaries earn a median $130,000 a year nationally. Computer and Mathematical Occupations
U.S. median
$130,000
$62.50 per hour
Range
$78,570 – $215,100
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
26,670
across the U.S.
Actuary take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$100,121
per year · effective tax rate 23.0%
$8,343Monthly
$4,172Twice a month
$3,851Every 2 weeks
$48.14Hourly
- Federal income tax$19,934
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,060
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,885
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$100,121
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,570 | $37.77 | $64,104 |
| 25th percentile | $97,680 | $46.96 | $77,548 |
| Median (50th) | $130,000 | $62.50 | $100,121 |
| 75th percentile | $170,650 | $82.04 | $127,905 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,100 | $103.41 | $160,048 |
Best cities for actuaries (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford, CT | $166,800 | $117,416 | $114,278 | 960 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $161,460 | $113,138 | $100,511 | 2,780 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $127,690 | $98,542 | $95,588 | 510 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $144,680 | $100,825 | $92,599 | 520 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $127,770 | $94,674 | $92,316 | 780 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $125,960 | $90,305 | $86,151 | 1,020 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $113,730 | $83,354 | $80,462 | 1,560 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $101,040 | $76,960 | $80,422 | 490 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Hartford, CT — $166,800
- New York, NY — $161,460
- Washington, DC — $144,680
- Philadelphia, PA — $127,770
- Dallas, TX — $127,690
- Minneapolis, MN — $125,960
- Chicago, IL — $113,730
- Indianapolis, IN — $101,040
Actuary salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $166,800 | $117,416 | $99,430 – $228,810 | 1,380 |
| District of Columbia | $166,230 | $113,723 | $116,690 – $207,450 | 160 |
| New York | $156,480 | $110,028 | $82,250 – $239,200+ | 2,630 |
| New Jersey | $142,800 | $101,963 | $86,090 – $224,700 | 1,260 |
| Alabama | $136,950 | $98,289 | $71,240 – $160,740 | 190 |
| Arizona | $135,870 | $100,945 | $85,750 – $202,130 | 200 |
| Washington | $134,720 | $103,347 | $71,140 – $209,940 | 360 |
| Utah | $132,720 | $96,974 | $84,010 – $171,270 | 180 |
| Nevada | $132,370 | $101,741 | $77,090 – $207,580 | 120 |
| Florida | $132,110 | $101,563 | $80,450 – $206,700 | 1,300 |
| Virginia | $131,900 | $94,650 | $82,120 – $212,740 | 440 |
| Wisconsin | $131,640 | $95,646 | $76,890 – $204,790 | 890 |
| California | $130,510 | $90,865 | $83,510 – $219,490 | 1,280 |
| Oregon | $130,380 | $89,774 | $81,780 – $203,790 | 210 |
| Missouri | $129,220 | $94,452 | $77,780 – $207,080 | 390 |
| North Carolina | $128,730 | $94,625 | $72,420 – $193,830 | 610 |
| Iowa | $128,690 | $94,987 | $81,610 – $173,480 | 530 |
| Minnesota | $128,100 | $91,600 | $79,920 – $223,300 | 1,170 |
| Maryland | $126,950 | $92,319 | $76,670 – $185,220 | 580 |
| Massachusetts | $126,040 | $91,332 | $83,660 – $179,750 | — |
| Pennsylvania | $125,040 | $92,892 | $78,050 – $201,820 | 1,710 |
| Kansas | $125,010 | $90,534 | $75,260 – $207,040 | 180 |
| Colorado | $120,440 | $88,969 | $78,610 – $183,540 | 500 |
| Kentucky | $120,400 | $89,435 | $87,260 – $215,580 | 70 |
| Maine | $119,620 | $85,926 | $85,200 – $166,220 | 80 |
| Illinois | $115,430 | $84,466 | $77,790 – $202,160 | 2,280 |
| Rhode Island | $111,090 | $83,307 | $76,120 – $182,530 | 100 |
| Ohio | $110,980 | $84,635 | $77,110 – $175,190 | 1,090 |
| Oklahoma | $109,760 | $81,652 | $78,310 – $161,910 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $108,930 | $85,462 | $74,350 – $239,200+ | 300 |
| Mississippi | $106,210 | $80,032 | $63,480 – $239,200+ | 40 |
| Texas | $105,020 | $82,712 | $62,870 – $189,320 | 1,750 |
| Nebraska | $102,790 | $77,345 | $61,190 – $161,870 | 270 |
| Indiana | $100,690 | $76,725 | $65,690 – $142,220 | 780 |
| Michigan | $100,640 | $75,604 | $65,240 – $170,450 | 570 |
| Louisiana | $80,860 | $63,675 | $69,790 – $206,870 | 40 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a actuary make?
The national median salary for actuaries is $130,000 a year ($62.50 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $78,570 and the top 10% earn over $215,100. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays actuaries the most?
Connecticut has the highest median pay at $166,800. After taxes and local prices, Hartford, CT offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many actuaries are there in the U.S.?
About 26,670 people work as actuaries nationwide.