Actuaries: salary, outlook & degrees
Analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. May ascertain insurance rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.
Middle half $97,680–$170,650. 26,670 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
99% hold a bachelor's or higher. Those with one: $120,689.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 1,500 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
Considerable preparation (usually a bachelor's).
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Degrees that lead to this career
What workers ages 25-34 in this job studied, among those with a bachelor's or higher. This is what people actually did, not a requirement.
| Field of bachelor's degree | Share | Degree pages |
|---|---|---|
| Actuarial Science | 28% | — |
| Mathematics | 27% | Mathematics |
| Statistics And Decision Science | 5% | Statistics |
| Finance | 5% | Finance · Insurance |
| Economics | 4% | Economics |
| Applied Mathematics | 4% | Applied Mathematics |
| Accounting | 3% | Accounting |
| Business Management And Administration | 2% | Business Administration |
| Biology | 1% | Biology |
| Physics | 1% | Physics |
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, employed, bachelor's or higher; top 10 fields); EducationGuide calculation.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $166,800 |
| District of Columbia | $166,230 |
| New York | $156,480 |
| New Jersey | $142,800 |
| Alabama | $136,950 |
| Arizona | $135,870 |
| Washington | $134,720 |
| Utah | $132,720 |
| Nevada | $132,370 |
| Florida | $132,110 |
| Virginia | $131,900 |
| Wisconsin | $131,640 |
| California | $130,510 |
| Oregon | $130,380 |
| Missouri | $129,220 |
| North Carolina | $128,730 |
| Iowa | $128,690 |
| Minnesota | $128,100 |
| Maryland | $126,950 |
| Massachusetts | $126,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $125,040 |
| Kansas | $125,010 |
| Colorado | $120,440 |
| Kentucky | $120,400 |
| Maine | $119,620 |
| Illinois | $115,430 |
| Rhode Island | $111,090 |
| Ohio | $110,980 |
| Oklahoma | $109,760 |
| Tennessee | $108,930 |
| Mississippi | $106,210 |
| Texas | $105,020 |
| Nebraska | $102,790 |
| Indiana | $100,690 |
| Michigan | $100,640 |
| Louisiana | $80,860 |
| PR | $68,100 |
Florida metro areas
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater$106,490
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach$139,810
- Jacksonville$132,830
- Tallahassee$125,670
- Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford$122,250
Virginia metro areas
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$144,680
- Richmond$131,900
- Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk$101,490
California metro areas
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$127,970
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$175,330
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$131,040
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$116,580
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$107,890
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$124,140
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
What the work takes
Top skills
- Mathematics
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
Knowledge used
- Mathematics
- Economics and Accounting
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Administration and Management
Work styles
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Dependability
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Integrity
People in this job tend to have Conventional (organizing), Investigative (analytical), Enterprising (leading) interests.
O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0): skills and knowledge by importance; work styles; interest high points.
Actuaries: questions
How much do actuaries make?
Actuaries earn a U.S. median $130,000 a year; the middle half earn $97,680 to $170,650 (BLS, May 2025). Workers ages 25-34 in this job earn a median $120,689 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is actuaries a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 9.2% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,500 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be an actuarie?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree. Among workers ages 25-34 with a bachelor's, the most common field of degree is actuarial Science (28%).
How much do actuaries make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $132,110 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $130,000 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 15-2011. Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all careers
Cite this: “Actuaries: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/actuaries.