Actuary Pay

Indianapolis vs Richmond: Actuary Salary (2026)

Compare actuary salaries between Indianapolis, IN and Richmond, IN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Indianapolis, IN
$104,273
$50.13/hr
Richmond, IN
$119,198
$57.31/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricIndianapolis, INRichmond, IN
Median Salary$104,273$119,198
Hourly Rate$50.13$57.31
Entry Level (P10)$69,650$69,937
25th Percentile$84,056$94,464
75th Percentile$135,306$152,488
Top Earner (P90)$144,150$184,757
Total Employed4907
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Indianapolis ($104,273) and Richmond ($119,198) actuary salaries.IndianapolisRichmondMedian Salary$104,273$119,198Entry Level (P10)$69,650$69,937Top Earner (P90)$144,150$184,757US Median $134,160

Verdict

Richmond, IN offers better overall compensation for actuaries, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Indianapolis.

The salary gap between Indianapolis and Richmond is $14,925 (14.31%). Richmond's median is -11.15% compared to the US national median of $134,160.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Indianapolis spans $74,500,Richmond spans $114,820. Richmond has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced actuarys.

Indianapolis
P10 (Entry)$69,650
P25$84,056
Median$104,273
P75$135,306
P90 (Top)$144,150
Richmond
P10 (Entry)$69,937
P25$94,464
Median$119,198
P75$152,488
P90 (Top)$184,757

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Richmond ($130,556 effective) pays 19.82% more than Indianapolis ($108,963 effective).

Indianapolis
Nominal: $104,273
CoL Index: 95.696
Adjusted: $108,963
Richmond
Nominal: $119,198
CoL Index: 91.3
Adjusted: $130,556

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Indianapolis if…

  • Larger job market (490 employed)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Choose Richmond if…

  • Higher median salary ($119,198/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($184,757)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $130,556)
  • You prefer the Indiana area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, actuary salaries in Indianapolis grew 1.7% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 13.0% growth in Richmond over the same period.

Indianapolis, IN

+1.7%

$99,370 (2019) → $101,040 (2025)

Richmond, IN

+13.0%

$102,175 (2024) → $115,502 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays actuarys more: Indianapolis or Richmond?

Richmond has a higher median actuary salary at $119,198/year, compared to Indianapolis at $104,273/year — a difference of $14,925 (14.31%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Indianapolis and Richmond?

Indianapolis actuarys earn $50.13/hr while Richmond hygienists earn $57.31/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Indianapolis to Richmond as a actuary?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Indianapolis and Richmond. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Indianapolis = $108,963, Richmond = $130,556), job availability (490 vs 7 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level actuarys earn in Indianapolis vs Richmond?

Entry-level (10th percentile) actuarys earn $69,650 in Indianapolis and $69,937 in Richmond. The Richmond area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

MC

Written by Maria Chen, FSA, MAAA

Career Analyst

Maria has 10 years of experience in life insurance. She specializes in risk assessment and pricing strategies.

Clinically reviewed by David Patel, ASA, MAAAData verified by Aisha Khan, FSA, CERA

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.20% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Chen, FSA, MAAA, a licensed actuary with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov