Entry-Level Actuary Salary in Grand Island, NE: $74,957 (2026)
Quick Answer:New actuaries entering the Grand Island, NE job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $74,957 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 15-2011, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Grand Island's local price level (BEA RPP 91.5 — 8% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $81,920 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($119,822) within a few years of clinical practice.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Starting your career as an actuary in Grand Island, Nebraska, can yield a beginning salary of around $74,957, a figure that reflects the lower end of the range for entry-level positions. In comparison, the median annual salary for actuaries in the city stands at $119,822, indicating a noticeable gap for new graduates that highlights the incremental growth potential in the early years of an actuarial career. Entry-level professionals can expect salary growth as they advance, with compensation moving gradually through the first few years—from $74,957 to approximately $88,417 at the 25th percentile before reaching the median level. Given the projected CAGR of 3.20%, Grand Island presents a relatively stable market for new graduates in 2026, offering opportunities for career development in a city where the cost of living is below the national average.
About the Grand Island Market
Salary estimated from Nebraska average ($118,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Career Earnings Timeline in Grand Island
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 Grand Island
Entry-level actuarys in Grand Island, NE typically start between $74,957 and $88,417 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $110,768 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $119,822 — 10.69% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average actuarial science program cost in Nebraska of $45,000 represents just 60.03% of the starting actuary pay ($74,957/year) in Grand Island. 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 Grand Island
- 1Research the Grand Island market: entry-level actuary pay ranges from $74,957 to $88,417, 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 NE often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Grand Island, 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 Grand Island for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Grand Island'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 Grand Island is $110,768 ( 147.78%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $74,957, experienced hygienists can earn up to $185,725.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$59,959
2025 BLS Actual
$72,633
2026 Current Est.
$74,957
2019–2027 Growth
+29.0%
Salary Trajectory for Actuaries in Grand Island (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $59,959 | Actual |
| 2020 | $61,041 | Actual |
| 2021 | $58,480 | Actual |
| 2022 | $66,338 | Actual |
| 2023 | $69,684 | Actual |
| 2024 | $65,281 | Actual |
| 2025 | $72,633 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $74,957 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $77,356 | Projected |
Entry-level actuary compensation (10th percentile) in Grand Island, NE grew 21.1% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $59,959 in 2019 to $72,633 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $77,356. New graduates entering the Grand Island job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Grand Island 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 Grand Island
In Grand Island, various employers actively seek new graduates for actuarial roles. Large life insurance companies like Prudential and MetLife, as well as consulting firms such as Milliman and Mercer, often recruit through campus pipelines, providing structured study time for actuarial exams, which can significantly impact starting pay. Health insurers also hire entry-level actuaries, making this an appealing landscape for new professionals. To enhance earning potential in Nebraska, aspiring actuaries should focus on credentials like a bachelor's degree in mathematics, statistics, or actuarial science, as well as passing required exams and gaining VEE credits in economics and accounting. In the first few years, passing additional exams can result in base salary increases of $3,000 to $8,000, and achieving an ASA or FSA designation can open doors to higher-paying opportunities in consulting roles where firms typically offer a premium for advanced credentials. Considering this trajectory, new grads can expect realistic salary progress over the initial years, especially in a market where demand for data analytics skills is on the rise, making it vital for recent graduates to remain proactive in their professional development.
More salary data for Grand Island, NE:
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 Grand Island. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Grand Island is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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