Entry-Level Actuary Salary in Davenport, IA: $62,993 (2026)
Quick Answer:New actuaries entering the Davenport, IA job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $62,993 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 15-2011, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Davenport's local price level (BEA RPP 89.1 — 11% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $70,716 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($107,545) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
Starting your career as an actuary in Davenport, IA, offers new graduates a realistic entry-level salary around $62,993, a figure significantly lower than the city's median annual salary of $107,545. The gap between initial earnings and the median reflects common trajectories in this field; in the first three to five years, many early-career actuaries see salary increases as they gain experience and begin to pass professional exams. With expected growth at a rate of 3.20% annually, entry-level actuaries can anticipate a gradual climb from the starting pay towards the 25th percentile, which sits at $85,006. Davenport currently represents a viable job market for recent graduates eager to embark on an actuarial career, as demand persists alongside ongoing efforts from local employers to attract new talent.
Career Earnings Timeline in Davenport
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Davenport
Entry-level actuarys in Davenport, IA typically start between $62,993 and $85,006 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $136,905 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $107,545 — 19.84% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average actuarial science program cost in Iowa of $45,000 represents just 71.44% of the starting actuary pay ($62,993/year) in Davenport. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates cover bachelor's degree tuition at public and private universities, plus estimated actuarial exam fees and study materials. Employers often cover exam costs once employed.
ASA, FSA Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Davenport
- 1Research the Davenport market: entry-level actuary pay ranges from $62,993 to $85,006, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the actuarial science field — employers in IA often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Davenport, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Davenport for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Davenport's below-average cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Actuary Compensation Range
The actuary wage spread in Davenport is $136,905 ( 217.33%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $62,993, experienced hygienists can earn up to $199,898.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$50,389
2025 BLS Actual
$61,040
2026 Current Est.
$62,993
2019–2027 Growth
+29.0%
Salary Trajectory for Actuaries in Davenport (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $50,389 | Actual |
| 2020 | $51,298 | Actual |
| 2021 | $49,146 | Actual |
| 2022 | $64,910 | Actual |
| 2023 | $58,562 | Actual |
| 2024 | $75,020 | Actual |
| 2025 | $61,040 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,993 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65,009 | Projected |
Entry-level actuary compensation (10th percentile) in Davenport, IA grew 21.1% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $50,389 in 2019 to $61,040 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $65,009. New graduates entering the Davenport job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Davenport metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.20% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Your actuarial science Career in Davenport
Across Davenport, numerous reputable companies actively recruit early-career actuaries, making the city a favorable starting point for new graduates. Insurance giants like Prudential and MetLife, alongside health insurers and consulting firms such as Milliman and Mercer, typically engage students through campus recruitment and structured internship programs. These roles often prioritize candidates with strong educational backgrounds in mathematics or actuarial science and those who have begun their exam journeys with the Society of Actuaries (SOA) or the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS). Credentials play a pivotal role in enhancing entry-level actuary pay in IA; for instance, passing foundational actuarial exams can raise starting salaries substantially. Given that each passed exam can yield an increase of $3,000 to $8,000, new actuaries in their first three years should strategically prioritize exam completion to boost overall earnings and position themselves favorably in a competitive job landscape.
More salary data for Davenport, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Entry-level salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new actuarial science graduates. A 3.20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Davenport. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 3-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.20%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for actuarys (SOC 15-2011).
Compiled and verified by Maria Chen, FSA, MAAA, a licensed actuary with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov