Actuary salary: how much does an actuary make?
An actuary in the US earns a median of $130,000 a year, about $62.50 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $78,570 and the top 10% earn over $215,100. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Connecticut, has a median of $166,800.
Actuary pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does an actuary make an hour?
The median actuary earns $62.50 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $37.77 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103.41 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $78,570 | $37.77 |
| Lower 25% | $97,680 | $46.96 |
| Median (typical) | $130,000 | $62.50 |
| Upper 25% | $170,650 | $82.04 |
| Top 10% | $215,100 | $103.41 |
Actuary salary by state
Median annual pay for actuarys by state, from BLS May 2025 data. “Not published” means BLS did not release a figure for that state, usually because too few employers reported this job there.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $136,950 | $65.84 |
| Alaska | Not published | – |
| Arizona | $135,870 | $65.32 |
| Arkansas | Not published | – |
| California | $130,510 | $62.75 |
| Colorado | $120,440 | $57.90 |
| Connecticut | $166,800 | $80.19 |
| Delaware | Not published | – |
| District of Columbia | $166,230 | $79.92 |
| Florida | $132,110 | $63.51 |
| Georgia | Not published | – |
| Hawaii | Not published | – |
| Idaho | Not published | – |
| Illinois | $115,430 | $55.50 |
| Indiana | $100,690 | $48.41 |
| Iowa | $128,690 | $61.87 |
| Kansas | $125,010 | $60.10 |
| Kentucky | $120,400 | $57.88 |
| Louisiana | $80,860 | $38.88 |
| Maine | $119,620 | $57.51 |
| Maryland | $126,950 | $61.03 |
| Massachusetts | $126,040 | $60.60 |
| Michigan | $100,640 | $48.38 |
| Minnesota | $128,100 | $61.59 |
| Mississippi | $106,210 | $51.06 |
| Missouri | $129,220 | $62.12 |
| Montana | Not published | – |
| Nebraska | $102,790 | $49.42 |
| Nevada | $132,370 | $63.64 |
| New Hampshire | Not published | – |
| New Jersey | $142,800 | $68.65 |
| New Mexico | Not published | – |
| New York | $156,480 | $75.23 |
| North Carolina | $128,730 | $61.89 |
| North Dakota | Not published | – |
| Ohio | $110,980 | $53.36 |
| Oklahoma | $109,760 | $52.77 |
| Oregon | $130,380 | $62.68 |
| Pennsylvania | $125,040 | $60.12 |
| Rhode Island | $111,090 | $53.41 |
| South Carolina | Not published | – |
| South Dakota | Not published | – |
| Tennessee | $108,930 | $52.37 |
| Texas | $105,020 | $50.49 |
| Utah | $132,720 | $63.81 |
| Vermont | Not published | – |
| Virginia | $131,900 | $63.41 |
| Washington | $134,720 | $64.77 |
| West Virginia | Not published | – |
| Wisconsin | $131,640 | $63.29 |
| Wyoming | Not published | – |
Highest-paying states for actuarys
- Connecticut: $166,800 median
- District of Columbia: $166,230 median
- New York: $156,480 median
- New Jersey: $142,800 median
- Alabama: $136,950 median
The lowest published medians are in Louisiana ($80,860), Michigan ($100,640), Indiana ($100,690), Nebraska ($102,790), Texas ($105,020). The most actuary jobs are in New York (2,630 jobs), Illinois (2,280 jobs), Texas (1,750 jobs), Pennsylvania (1,710 jobs), Connecticut (1,380 jobs).
How much does an actuary make a month?
At the median salary of $130,000, an actuary earns about $10,833 a month, $5,000 every two weeks or $2,500 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced actuary pay
New actuarys typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $78,570 a year and the lowest 25% under $97,680. The top 25% earn over $170,650 and the top 10% over $215,100. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Actuary salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Actuary | $130,000 |
| Financial analyst | $102,740 |
| Data scientist | $120,230 |
| Project manager | $102,320 |
Actuary pay and exams
Actuaries move up by passing professional exams from the Society of Actuaries (SOA, mostly life, health and retirement) or the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS, property and casualty). Passing the early exams leads to associate status (ASA or ACAS) and finishing the series to fellowship (FSA or FCAS). Many employers give a raise or bonus for each exam passed. BLS doesn't publish pay by credential, but its percentiles show the spread: entry-level actuaries are typically near the bottom 10% ($78,570), and credentialed fellows are near the top 25% ($170,650+) and top 10% ($215,100+).
Actuary take-home pay by state (2026)
2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 joint), and each state's 2026 income tax. Local income taxes, state disability or paid-leave payroll taxes and other deductions are not included. Estimate only, not tax advice.
Common questions
How much does an actuary make?
The US median is $130,000 a year ($62.50 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does an actuary make an hour?
The median is about $62.50 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $37.77 and the top 10% about $103.41 an hour.
Which state pays actuarys the most?
Connecticut has the highest median at $166,800, followed by District of Columbia ($166,230) and New York ($156,480).
How much does an actuary make a month?
At the US median of $130,000 a year, about $10,833 a month or $5,000 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level actuary make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $78,570 a year and the lowest 25% under $97,680, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of actuarys make?
The top 10% earn over $215,100 a year; the top 25% earn over $170,650.
How much does an actuary make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $130,510 in California, $105,020 in Texas, $132,110 in Florida, $156,480 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 15-2011, “Actuaries”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.