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Actuarial Director Salary in the United States

How much does an Actuarial Director make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Actuarial Director in the United States is $239,392 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $115.

However, an Actuarial Director's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $278,749
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $231,653 to $259,993
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $224,607
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Actuarial Director Salaries

An Actuarial Director'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 Actuarial Director Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Actuarial Director'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): $181,742
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $171,512
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $225,466
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $237,878
  • Expert (over 8 years): $397,840
Levels Salary
Actuarial... Level Actuarial Director$181,742
Actuarial... Level Actuarial Director$171,512
Actuarial... Level Actuarial Director$225,466
Actuarial... Level Actuarial Director$237,878
VP of Act... Level Actuarial Director$397,840
View as Graph

How Do Actuarial Director Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Actuarial Directors. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $265,055.
  • California: $264,049.
  • Massachusetts: $260,530.

Top Paying Cities for Actuarial Directors

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: $301,945
  • San Francisco: $298,639
  • Oakland: $292,346

What Skills Can Increase an Actuarial Director's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Consulting (Mentioned in 4.43% Job Postings): Providing technical or business expertise and advice to internal or external clients.
  • Financial Risk (Mentioned in 3.16% Job Postings): Financial risk is any of various types of risk associated with financing, including financial transactions that include company loans in risk of default. Often it is understood to include only downside risk, meaning the potential for financial loss and uncertainty about its extent. A science has evolved around managing market and financial risk under the general title of modern portfolio theory initiated by Dr. Harry Markowitz in 1952 with his article, "Portfolio Selection". In modern portfolio theory, the variance (or standard deviation) of a portfolio is used as the definition of risk.
  • Balance Sheet (Mentioned in 1.27% Job Postings): Balance Sheet is a summary of the financial balances of an individual or organization, whether it be a sole proprietorship, business partnership, corporation, private limited company or other organization such as government or not-for-profit entity.
Skills Demand Percentage
Consulting 4.43%
Financial Risk 3.16%
Balance Sheet 1.27%
See More Skills

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 an Actuarial Director's salary.

  • Building Regulations: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Persuasion: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Billing: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Building Regulations $265,725
11%
Persuasion $263,331
10%
Billing $263,331
10%
Get Latest Data

Actuarial Director Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Actuarial Director roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Actuarial Director positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Actuarial Director as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Actuarial Director

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$311,210$150.030%
Financial Services$299,240$144.025%
Internet$287,270$138.020%
Energy & Utilities$275,301$132.015%
Aerospace & Defense$263,331$127.010%

How Education impacts an Actuarial Director's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Actuarial Directors enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Actuarial Director with a No Diploma is between $258,974 and $279,773).

Actuarial Director Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Actuarial Director
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 100.0%
High School 0.0%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 100.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Actuarial Director Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Actuarial Director'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 September 01, 2026
$231,653
Average $239,392/year
$259,993
$19,304
Average $19,949/month
$21,666
$4,455
Average $4,604/week
$5,000
$111
Average $115/hour
$125
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $259,993 $21,666 $5,000 $125
Average $239,392 $19,949 $4,604 $115
25th Percentile $231,653 $19,304 $4,455 $111

Most common benefits for Actuarial Director

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

Common company salaries for Actuarial Director

Here are companies hiring for Actuarial Director and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Actuarial Director

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Actuarial Director?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Actuarial Director roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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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