Actuary salary
From 788 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 15-2011: Actuaries
- Also filed as: Associate Actuary, Assistant Actuary
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 34% of Actuary filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: EY. 93 filings (12% of the total), median $171,411.
- Median up 25% since FY2020. From $105,025 in FY2020 to $130,800 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Actuary H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 788 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Actuary jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 15-2011, Actuaries). The median base salary is $130,095, 6% above the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $101,419 and $160,306. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 34% of filings. New York, NY has the most filings (240), and EY is the employer that files the most (93).
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Actuary
EY93 filings · 12%$171,411
New York Life Insurance Company40 filings · 5%$124,581
American General Life Insurance Company35 filings · 4%$110,810
The Prudential Insurance Company of America27 filings · 3%$148,400
Milliman26 filings · 3%$135,990
RGA Enterprise Services Company24 filings · 3%$111,525
SCOR Global Life Americas Reinsurance Company21 filings · 3%$151,154
ACE American Insurance Company20 filings · 3%$133,350
Aon Consulting20 filings · 3%$133,950
Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company17 filings · 2%$158,000
Employers with the most Actuary filings. Bar: share of all Actuary filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 31% of filings
Mid-level · 34% of filings
Senior · 19% of filings
Expert · 16% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $93,027 | 222 |
| Level II · Qualified | $130,095 | 248 |
| Level III · Experienced | $161,000 | 141 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $182,100 | 115 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Actuary pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 16 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $142,675 | 240 |
| Chicago, IL | $132,356 | 73 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $129,661 | 51 |
| Boston, MA | $139,500 | 31 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $141,452 | 30 |
| Houston, TX | $112,905 | 26 |
| Charlotte, NC | $120,750 | 25 |
| St. Louis, MO | $113,106 | 19 |
| Atlanta, GA | $116,500 | 18 |
| Dallas, TX | $118,000 | 18 |
| San Francisco, CA | $143,770 | 17 |
| Seattle, WA | $131,566 | 14 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $180,000 | 13 |
| Austin, TX | $89,900 | 11 |
| Des Moines, IA | $85,000 | 11 |
| Hartford, CT | $120,023 | 10 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Actuary does
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.
Typical tasks
- Analyze data to determine premium rates required and cash reserves and liabilities necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.
- Analyze statistical information to estimate mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates.
- Design, review, and help administer insurance, annuity and pension plans, determining financial soundness and calculating premiums.
- Collaborate with programmers, underwriters, accounts, claims experts, and senior management to help companies develop plans for new lines of business or improvements to existing business.
- Provide advice to clients on a contract basis, working as a consultant.
- Determine, or help determine, company policy, and explain complex technical matters to company executives, government officials, shareholders, policyholders, or the public.
Preparation
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET occupation: Actuaries (15-2011.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Actuaries), the median annual wage was $130,000 in May 2025, with 26,670 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $130,095, 0% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $87,181 | $78,570 |
| 25th percentile | $101,419 | $97,680 |
| Median | $130,095 | $130,000 |
| 75th percentile | $160,306 | $170,650 |
| 90th percentile | $194,862 | $215,100 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $87,181 |
| 25th | $101,419 |
| 50th (median) | $130,095 |
| 75th | $160,306 |
| 90th | $194,862 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $105,025 | $83,400 | $130,000 | 546 |
| FY2021 | $114,878 | $88,525 | $136,514 | 444 |
| FY2022 | $115,000 | $90,450 | $146,000 | 529 |
| FY2023 | $124,800 | $95,800 | $151,195 | 487 |
| FY2024 | $123,531 | $97,718 | $160,638 | 449 |
| FY2025 | $128,000 | $100,000 | $160,000 | 489 |
| FY2026 | $130,800 | $107,397 | $165,000 | 299 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Actuary make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Actuary jobs is $130,095 (788 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $101,419 and $160,306.
What does an entry-level Actuary earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $93,027. Level I accounts for 31% of Actuary filings.
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Actuarys?
EY (93), New York Life Insurance Company (40) and American General Life Insurance Company (35) filed the most Actuary LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.
Do H-1B Actuarys earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($130,095) is 0% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($130,000, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.