Actuary Salary: What Do Actuaries Make in 2026?

The BLS reports a median annual wage of approximately $120,000 for actuaries. The lowest 10% earn around $73,000, while the highest 10% earn more than $196,000. Actuaries who complete all professional exams and reach Fellow status typically see significant salary jumps at each credential milestone.

This median of $120,000 places actuaries well above the financial analyst salary median of $99,890 and the financial advisor salary median of $99,580 — reflecting how the SOA/CAS credentialing path drives compensation growth more predictably than in many other finance roles.

Understanding salary negotiation at each exam milestone is important for capturing competitive offers.

For a complete breakdown of how any hourly wage in these ranges translates to annual, monthly, weekly, and after-tax take-home, see our hourly-to-annual salary conversion guides.

Entry-level actuaries who have passed one or two exams typically earn between $65,000 and $85,000.

Each additional exam passed generally corresponds to a salary increase.

Fully credentialed Fellows of the SOA or CAS with 10+ years of experience commonly earn $150,000 or more, with some reaching $200,000+ in senior consulting or management roles.

Understanding negotiating a job offer at each credential milestone can meaningfully increase lifetime earnings.

Actuaries should also consider the long-term implications of their career earnings: at this income level, a well-structured 401(k) contribution strategy and consistent Roth IRA contributions during early career years — before income grows too high for Roth eligibility — are important financial planning moves.

Insurance carriers employ the largest share of actuaries and pay competitively.

Management consulting firms and reinsurance companies often pay premium rates for experienced actuaries.

Government agencies also employ actuaries in roles related to Social Security, Medicare, and pension regulation, though public-sector pay may be lower than private-sector equivalents.

Actuaries working in private equity or alternative investment contexts may earn the most in fee-and-carry structures. For those considering what an actuary does and the steps toward credentialing, the career guide to how to become an actuary provides a detailed pathway.

The BLS projects employment of actuaries to grow by approximately 23% through 2032, much faster than the national average.

This growth reflects expanding use of risk analysis across industries beyond insurance, including healthcare, financial services, and enterprise risk management.

Actuaries practicing in major financial hubs — particularly in New York and Connecticut — typically access the highest salaries.

At high income levels, actuaries benefit from understanding how compound interest works in investment portfolios and how to use tools like annuities and mutual funds in retirement planning — the same tools they help design for insurance clients.