Entry-Level Actuary Salary in Portland, OR: $85,522 (2026)
Quick Answer:New actuaries entering the Portland, OR job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $85,522 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 15-2011, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Portland's local price level (BEA RPP 105.4 — 5% above national), a first-year paycheck buys what $81,124 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($133,231) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
Starting salaries for entry-level actuaries in Portland, Oregon, present a promising outlook for new graduates entering the workforce in 2026. With a projected minimum of $85,522, those just beginning their career can anticipate significant growth over their first few years. The median annual salary of $133,231 indicates a promising trajectory for ambitious actuaries, as they can realistically expect to bridge the gap from entry-level pay towards the median within a few years, with opportunities available to reach $104,954 by the 25th percentile. Portland's market appears to be favorable for early-career talent, offering growth within an 18% range from the lower to median salaries, coupled with a competitive environment that values the analytic skills essential to this field.
Career Earnings Timeline in Portland
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 Portland
Entry-level actuarys in Portland, OR typically start between $85,522 and $104,954 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $98,391 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $133,231 — 0.69% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average actuarial science program cost in Oregon of $58,000 represents just 67.82% of the starting actuary pay ($85,522/year) in Portland. 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 Portland
- 1Research the Portland market: entry-level actuary pay ranges from $85,522 to $104,954, 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 OR often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Portland, 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 Portland for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Portland's moderate cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Actuary Compensation Range
The actuary wage spread in Portland is $98,391 ( 115.05%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $85,522, experienced hygienists can earn up to $183,913.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$66,250
2025 BLS Actual
$82,870
2026 Current Est.
$85,522
2019–2027 Growth
+33.2%
Salary Trajectory for Actuaries in Portland (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $66,250 | Actual |
| 2020 | $76,620 | Actual |
| 2021 | $65,850 | Actual |
| 2022 | $66,940 | Actual |
| 2023 | $74,570 | Actual |
| 2024 | $80,420 | Actual |
| 2025 | $82,870 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $85,522 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $88,259 | Projected |
Entry-level actuary compensation (10th percentile) in Portland, OR grew 25.1% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $66,250 in 2019 to $82,870 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $88,259. New graduates entering the Portland job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Portland 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 Portland
Several prominent employers in the region actively recruit new graduates, providing structured career paths with solid growth potential. Major life insurance companies like Prudential, MetLife, and Northwestern Mutual often seek students with strong actuarial backgrounds and offer organized exam preparation. Additionally, consultancy firms such as Milliman, Mercer, Aon, and WTW provide higher starting salaries for entry-level professionals who hold ASA credentials and offer pathways to further enhance compensation through continued education and exam progression. For many new actuaries, passing each exam can translate to an increase of $3,000 to $8,000 in base salary. Given the high demand for skills in predictive analytics and data science, new grads who focus on these competencies, along with the necessary qualifications such as VEE credits and ASA to FSA progression, position themselves favorably for salary growth in Portland over the critical first few years of their careers.
More salary data for Portland, OR:
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 Portland. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-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