Financial Actuary Salary in the United States

How much does a Financial Actuary make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Financial Actuary in the United States is $79,747 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

However, a Financial Actuary's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $94,150
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $71,698 to $87,286
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $64,369

Key Factors That Influence Financial Actuary Salaries

A Financial Actuary's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Financial Actuary Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Financial Actuary's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $81,424
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $93,857
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $108,720
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $141,868
  • Expert (over 8 years): $166,163
Levels Salary
Financial... Level Financial Actuary$81,424
Actuary I... Level Financial Actuary$93,857
Actuary I... Level Financial Actuary$108,720
Actuary I... Level Financial Actuary$141,868
Actuary V... Level Financial Actuary$166,163

Top Paying Cities for Financial Actuaries

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $100,585
  • San Francisco: $99,484
  • Oakland: $97,387

What Skills Can Increase a Financial Actuary's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 9.91% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Economics (Mentioned in 2.2% Job Postings): Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.
  • Collective Bargaining (Mentioned in 1.06% Job Postings): Collective bargaining is a process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at agreements to regulate working salaries, working conditions, benefits, and other aspects of workers' compensation and rights for workers. The interests of the employees are commonly presented by representatives of a trade union to which the employees belong. The collective agreements reached by these negotiations usually set out wage scales, working hours, training, health and safety, overtime, grievance mechanisms, and rights to participate in workplace or company affairs. The union may negotiate with a single employer (who is typically representing a company's shareholders) or may negotiate with a group of businesses, depending on the country, to reach an industry-wide agreement. A collective agreement functions as a labour contract between an employer and one or more unions. Collective bargaining consists of the process of negotiation between representatives of a union and employers (generally represented by management, or, in some countries such as Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands, by an employers' organization) in respect of the terms and conditions of employment of employees, such as wages, hours of work, working conditions, grievance procedures, and about the rights and responsibilities of trade unions. The parties often refer to the result of the negotiation as a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) or as a collective employment agreement (CEA).
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 9.91%
Economics 2.2%
Collective Bargaining 1.06%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Financial Actuary's salary.

  • SAS/SQL: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
SAS/SQL $85,329
7%
Time Management $84,532
6%
Coaching $84,532
6%

Financial Actuary Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Financial Actuary roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Financial Actuary positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Financial Actuary as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Financial Actuary

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$111,646$54.040%
Pharmaceuticals$103,671$50.030%
Software & Networking$99,684$48.025%
Aerospace & Defense$91,709$44.015%
Energy & Utilities$87,722$42.010%

How Education impacts a Financial Actuary's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Financial Actuaries enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Financial Actuary with a Associate's Degree is between $75,555 and $80,541).

Financial Actuary Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Financial Actuary
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 8.9%
Associates 3.9%
Bachelors 64.0%
Masters 20.5%
Doctorate 2.1%

Financial Actuary Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Financial Actuary's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$71,698
Average $79,747/year
$87,286
$5,975
Average $6,646/month
$7,274
$1,379
Average $1,534/week
$1,679
$34
Average $38/hour
$42
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $87,286 $7,274 $1,679 $42
Average $79,747 $6,646 $1,534 $38
25th Percentile $71,698 $5,975 $1,379 $34

Most common benefits for Financial Actuary

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Financial Actuary

Here are companies hiring for Financial Actuary and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Financial Actuary

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Financial Actuary?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Financial Actuary roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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