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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
The gap between the highest and lowest-paying cities is striking. The national median salary for Actuarys in 2026 is $139,242, with entry-level positions averaging $75,191 and senior roles reaching $220,002. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $254,400, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
A career as a Actuary sits at the intersection of Business & Finance and Finance & Strategy. Most professionals enter with Bachelor's + exams, and the field is characterized by high demand. The work itself is hybrid/remote. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$154,800 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Actuary in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $254,400 — $154,800 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($99,600). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The three-tier salary picture for Actuarys in 2026: $75,191 at entry (P10), $139,242 at midpoint, and $220,002 at the senior end (P90). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The $144,811 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $58,875 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $237,600, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $100,400. The $137,200 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Actuary in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $254,400 — $154,800 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($99,600). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Actuary is $75,191, while senior-level (P90) earners average $220,002. That $144,811 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Actuarys at $168,570 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $148,200) is $20,370.
At the 90th percentile, Actuarys pull in an average of $220,002. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $75,191 | $139,242 | $220,002 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £58,233 | £80,879 | £114,848 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$81,222 | CA$112,808 | CA$160,187 |
| Australia | 13 | A$93,813 | A$130,296 | A$185,021 |
| Sweden | 24 | 542,932 kr | 754,073 kr | 1,070,783 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $91,028 | $168,570 | $266,341 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $87,966 | $162,900 | $257,382 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $87,480 | $162,000 | $255,960 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $81,000 | $150,000 | $237,000 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $80,028 | $148,200 | $234,156 |
| Washington | 8 | $78,489 | $145,350 | $229,653 |
| New York | 5 | $73,872 | $136,800 | $216,144 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $73,872 | $136,800 | $216,144 |
| Florida | 22 | $73,312 | $135,764 | $214,507 |
| Colorado | 11 | $72,046 | $133,418 | $210,801 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $71,928 | $133,200 | $210,456 |
| Nevada | 5 | $71,798 | $132,960 | $210,077 |
| Arizona | 12 | $71,442 | $132,300 | $209,034 |
| Oregon | 5 | $71,280 | $132,000 | $208,560 |
| Idaho | 3 | $71,064 | $131,600 | $207,928 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $70,502 | $130,560 | $206,285 |
| Utah | 4 | $70,308 | $130,200 | $205,716 |
| Virginia | 7 | $69,151 | $128,057 | $202,330 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $68,256 | $126,400 | $199,712 |
| Alaska | 1 | $68,040 | $126,000 | $199,080 |
| Illinois | 5 | $67,262 | $124,560 | $196,805 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $65,592 | $121,467 | $191,917 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $64,800 | $120,000 | $189,600 |
| Montana | 1 | $64,800 | $120,000 | $189,600 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $64,584 | $119,600 | $188,968 |
| Texas | 40 | $64,265 | $119,010 | $188,036 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $64,152 | $118,800 | $187,704 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $63,828 | $118,200 | $186,756 |
| Georgia | 6 | $63,612 | $117,800 | $186,124 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $63,504 | $117,600 | $185,808 |
| Kansas | 4 | $63,180 | $117,000 | $184,860 |
| Michigan | 6 | $62,964 | $116,600 | $184,228 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $62,208 | $115,200 | $182,016 |
| Maryland | 1 | $62,208 | $115,200 | $182,016 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $61,560 | $114,000 | $180,120 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $61,560 | $114,000 | $180,120 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $59,940 | $111,000 | $175,380 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $59,616 | $110,400 | $174,432 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $58,806 | $108,900 | $172,062 |
| Missouri | 4 | $58,806 | $108,900 | $172,062 |
| Alabama | 5 | $58,579 | $108,480 | $171,398 |
| Indiana | 3 | $57,672 | $106,800 | $168,744 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $57,672 | $106,800 | $168,744 |
| Iowa | 2 | $57,024 | $105,600 | $166,848 |
| Ohio | 6 | $56,916 | $105,400 | $166,532 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $54,432 | $100,800 | $159,264 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Actuary median of $168,570 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($162,900) and Hawaii ($162,000). The demand picture adds context to these salary numbers. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $100,800 and $105,600. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($254,400 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $120,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $254,400 | 212 | $120,000 | $141,688 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $237,600 | 198 | $120,000 | $134,104 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $220,800 | 184 | $120,000 | $126,200 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $217,200 | 181 | $120,000 | $124,506 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $213,600 | 178 | $120,000 | $122,812 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $212,400 | 177 | $120,000 | $122,248 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $212,400 | 177 | $120,000 | $122,248 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $207,600 | 173 | $120,000 | $119,989 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $207,600 | 173 | $120,000 | $119,989 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $202,800 | 169 | $120,000 | $117,731 |
Career economics for Actuarys: entry level averages $75,191, mid-career hits $139,242, and experienced professionals reach $220,002. That's a 2.9× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Bachelor's + exams, and the work is hybrid/remote. The outlook: high demand. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The weighted national median salary for Actuarys is $139,242 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $75,191, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $220,002.
The highest-paying city for Actuarys is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $254,400. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($254,400), Santa Clara ($237,600), Irvine ($220,800). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Actuary salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $99,600. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Actuarys (10th percentile) average $75,191 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $137,376. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Actuarys average $220,002 nationally — $144,811 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Actuarys can earn up to $401,952.
The top-paying states for Actuarys are California ($168,570 median), Massachusetts ($162,900 median), Hawaii ($162,000 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Actuary involves Bachelor's + exams. The field is in the Finance & Strategy sector (Business & Finance), and the career outlook is high demand. Work style is typically hybrid/remote.
With a national median of $139,242 and representation across 288 metro areas, Actuary offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $144,811 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: high demand.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.