Entry-Level Actuary Salary in Pawtucket, RI: $78,444 (2026)
Quick Answer:New actuaries entering the Pawtucket, RI job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $78,444 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 15-2011, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Pawtucket's local price level (BEA RPP 100.5 — 1% above national), a first-year paycheck buys what $78,054 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($134,684) within a few years of clinical practice.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, new graduates pursuing a career in actuarial science can expect a starting actuary salary in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, around $78,444 annually. While this figure is significantly lower than the city's median salary of $134,684, it reflects realistic expectations for entry-level positions in the field. Actuaries typically experience a strong growth trajectory in their early careers, with possibilities of advancing to the 25th percentile at $97,974 within their first few years. With a 3.20% annual growth rate projected in the region, Pawtucket offers an encouraging market for recent graduates, especially as they embark on their journey to gain the credentials necessary for higher-paying roles in this lucrative field.
About the Pawtucket Market
Salary estimated from Rhode Island average ($120,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Career Earnings Timeline in Pawtucket
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 Pawtucket
Entry-level actuarys in Pawtucket, RI typically start between $78,444 and $97,974 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $130,316 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $134,684 — 0.39% above the national median.
Return on Investment
The average actuarial science program cost in Rhode Island of $68,000 represents just 86.69% of the starting actuary pay ($78,444/year) in Pawtucket. 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 Pawtucket
- 1Research the Pawtucket market: entry-level actuary pay ranges from $78,444 to $97,974, 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 RI often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Pawtucket, 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 Pawtucket for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Pawtucket'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 Pawtucket is $130,316 ( 166.13%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $78,444, experienced hygienists can earn up to $208,760.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$62,748
2025 BLS Actual
$76,012
2026 Current Est.
$78,444
2019–2027 Growth
+29.0%
Salary Trajectory for Actuaries in Pawtucket (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,748 | Actual |
| 2020 | $63,880 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,200 | Actual |
| 2022 | $69,424 | Actual |
| 2023 | $72,926 | Actual |
| 2024 | $69,872 | Actual |
| 2025 | $76,012 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $78,444 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $80,955 | Projected |
Entry-level actuary compensation (10th percentile) in Pawtucket, RI grew 21.1% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $62,748 in 2019 to $76,012 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $80,955. New graduates entering the Pawtucket job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Pawtucket 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 Pawtucket
Employers in Pawtucket actively seek fresh talent for entry-level actuarial roles, especially among large life insurers such as Prudential and MetLife, which offer structured recruitment initiatives targeting university actuary programs. Health insurance companies and consulting firms like Milliman and Mercer are also prominent in this area, often providing mentorship and dedicated study time for actuarial exams. For new hires in Rhode Island, a solid educational background in mathematics or actuarial science, combined with early exam success, significantly enhances starting salaries. Achieving credentials like the ASA via Society of Actuaries (SOA) before moving to Fellowship status (FSA) can elevate pay substantially—each passed exam correlating to an increase of $3,000 to $8,000 in base salary. Given the evolving demand for predictive analytics skills, new actuaries who invest in continued education and exam completion within the first three years can realistically anticipate salary advancements that align with industry standards in Pawtucket.
More salary data for Pawtucket, RI:
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 Pawtucket. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Pawtucket 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