Actuary Pay

Salt Lake City vs Syracuse: Actuary Salary (2026)

Compare actuary salaries between Salt Lake City, UT and Syracuse, UT. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Salt Lake City, UT
$136,967
$65.85/hr
Syracuse, UT
$127,893
$61.49/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSalt Lake City, UTSyracuse, UT
Median Salary$136,967$127,893
Hourly Rate$65.85$61.49
Entry Level (P10)$86,729$75,274
25th Percentile$115,677$98,288
75th Percentile$136,967$163,703
Top Earner (P90)$176,751$198,234
Total Employed1506
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Salt Lake City ($136,967) and Syracuse ($127,893) actuary salaries.Salt Lake CitySyracuseMedian Salary$136,967$127,893Entry Level (P10)$86,729$75,274Top Earner (P90)$176,751$198,234US Median $134,160

Verdict

Salt Lake City, UT offers better overall compensation for actuaries, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Syracuse.

The salary gap between Salt Lake City and Syracuse is $9,074 (7.09%). Salt Lake City's median is +2.09% compared to the US national median of $134,160.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Salt Lake City spans $90,022,Syracuse spans $122,960. Syracuse has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced actuarys.

Salt Lake City
P10 (Entry)$86,729
P25$115,677
Median$136,967
P75$136,967
P90 (Top)$176,751
Syracuse
P10 (Entry)$75,274
P25$98,288
Median$127,893
P75$163,703
P90 (Top)$198,234

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Salt Lake City ($135,788 effective) pays 4.16% more than Syracuse ($130,370 effective).

Salt Lake City
Nominal: $136,967
CoL Index: 100.868
Adjusted: $135,788
Syracuse
Nominal: $127,893
CoL Index: 98.1
Adjusted: $130,370

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Salt Lake City if…

  • Higher median salary ($136,967/year)
  • Larger job market (150 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $135,788)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Choose Syracuse if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($198,234)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, actuary salaries in Salt Lake City grew 78.4% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 13.0% growth in Syracuse over the same period.

Salt Lake City, UT

+78.4%

$74,400 (2019) → $132,720 (2025)

Syracuse, UT

+13.0%

$109,628 (2024) → $123,927 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays actuarys more: Salt Lake City or Syracuse?

Salt Lake City has a higher median actuary salary at $136,967/year, compared to Syracuse at $127,893/year — a difference of $9,074 (7.09%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Salt Lake City and Syracuse?

Salt Lake City actuarys earn $65.85/hr while Syracuse hygienists earn $61.49/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Salt Lake City to Syracuse as a actuary?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Salt Lake City and Syracuse. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Salt Lake City = $135,788, Syracuse = $130,370), job availability (150 vs 6 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level actuarys earn in Salt Lake City vs Syracuse?

Entry-level (10th percentile) actuarys earn $86,729 in Salt Lake City and $75,274 in Syracuse. The Salt Lake City area offers higher starting salaries.
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