Actuary Salary in Chicago, IL
Actuaries in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $113,730 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $83,354 take-home, or $6,946 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$16,191
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,051
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,649
- Illinois income tax$5,485
- Take-home pay$83,354
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Actuary pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,640 | $38.29 | $61,059 | $5,088 |
| 25th percentile | $95,970 | $46.14 | $71,739 | $5,978 |
| Median (50th) | $113,730 | $54.68 | $83,354 | $6,946 |
| 75th percentile | $163,690 | $78.70 | $115,190 | $9,599 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,260 | $100.61 | $145,533 | $12,128 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $113,730 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median actuary's $83,354 take-home pay has the buying power of $80,462 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 2.0× the national concentration of actuary jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for actuaries, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 8 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hartford, CT | $166,800 | $117,416 | $114,278 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $161,460 | $113,138 | $100,511 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $127,690 | $98,542 | $95,588 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $144,680 | $100,825 | $92,599 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $127,770 | $94,674 | $92,316 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $125,960 | $90,305 | $86,151 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $113,730 | $83,354 | $80,462 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $101,040 | $76,960 | $80,422 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 8 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a actuary make in Chicago, IL?
The median actuary salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $113,730 a year, or about $54.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $95,970 and $163,690.
What is a actuary’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $113,730 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $83,354 a year ($6,946 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,485 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a actuary?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $130,000. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $80,462 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a actuary afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median actuary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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