Actuary Hourly Pay (2026): How Much Do FSAs / FCAS Make Per Hour?
The median actuary hourly pay is $64.50 per hour in 2026, equivalent to $134,160 annually. Effective hourly rates reach $80–$200+ for FSA / FCAS-credentialed senior consulting actuaries at Milliman / Mercer / WTW / Aon and chief actuaries / Appointed Actuaries at major carriers, with 1099 consulting actuaries billing $150–$350+/hour.
2019 BLS
$52.09/hr
2025 BLS
$62.50/hr
2026 Current Est.
$64.50/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+27.8%
National Actuary Hourly Rate Trend
2019–2025: BLS OEWS actual data. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Median Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $52.09/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $53.38/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $50.91/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $54.80/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $57.69/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $60.47/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $62.50/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $64.50/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $66.56/hr | Projected |
The national median hourly rate for actuaries has grown steadily over the past 7 years of BLS data, reflecting strong demand for actuarial science services. At the current 3.20% CAGR, hourly rates are projected to continue rising through 2027.
Note: BLS actual data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Estimated and projected values are calculated using a 3.20% historical CAGR. Actual compensation may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Actuary Salary Per Hour by State
Hourly rates for actuaries vary widely by state. Western and Northeastern states consistently top the rankings, while Southeastern states tend to fall below the national median of $64.50/hour.
| # | State | Avg Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $82.53 |
| 2 | New York | $77.48 |
| 3 | Nevada | $74.77 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $72.75 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $71.79 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $67.83 |
| 7 | Washington | $67.74 |
| 8 | Arizona | $66.38 |
| 9 | Maryland | $65.60 |
| 10 | Maine | $65.18 |
| 11 | Oregon | $64.74 |
| 12 | California | $64.60 |
| 13 | Utah | $63.19 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $63.11 |
| 15 | Colorado | $62.66 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $62.42 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $62.13 |
| 18 | Virginia | $62.05 |
| 19 | Florida | $61.75 |
| 20 | Missouri | $61.54 |
| 21 | Iowa | $61.34 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $61.19 |
| 23 | Delaware | $60.68 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $60.45 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $59.76 |
| 26 | Alabama | $59.72 |
| 27 | Texas | $59.06 |
| 28 | Georgia | $58.28 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $58.23 |
| 30 | Illinois | $57.88 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $57.81 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $56.80 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $56.16 |
| 34 | Alaska | $55.92 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $55.83 |
| 36 | Kansas | $55.08 |
| 37 | Ohio | $54.87 |
| 38 | Indiana | $54.15 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $53.82 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $53.59 |
| 41 | Michigan | $53.43 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $53.27 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $52.92 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $52.78 |
| 45 | Vermont | $52.64 |
| 46 | Idaho | $50.57 |
| 47 | Montana | $50.28 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $50.10 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $49.74 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $48.50 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $44.01 |
| 52 | Puerto Rico | $33.79 |
How Much Do Actuaries Make Per Hour? Top 20 Cities
These 20 metro areas offer the highest hourly rates for actuaries in the United States. Rates reflect the median hourly wage reported by BLS, or estimated from annual salary data.
| # | City | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgeport, CT | $96.32 |
| 2 | Stamford, CT | $95.03 |
| 3 | Danbury, CT | $94.30 |
| 4 | Oakland, CA | $88.97 |
| 5 | Fremont, CA | $87.01 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $86.99 |
| 7 | Hartford, CT | $82.76 |
| 8 | Jersey City, NJ | $81.49 |
| 9 | East Hartford, CT | $81.34 |
| 10 | Las Vegas, NV | $81.05 |
| 11 | West Hartford, CT | $80.76 |
| 12 | North Las Vegas, NV | $80.70 |
| 13 | Henderson, NV | $80.29 |
| 14 | Newark, NJ | $80.23 |
| 15 | New York, NY | $80.11 |
| 16 | Yonkers, NY | $76.68 |
| 17 | Troy, NY | $75.47 |
| 18 | East Orange, NJ | $75.33 |
| 19 | Franklin, NJ | $75.33 |
| 20 | Woodbridge, NJ | $75.31 |
Actuary Hourly Rate: Carrier Staff, Consulting, Chief Actuary, and 1099 Consulting Pay
Actuary compensation varies meaningfully by employer (carrier vs consulting vs 1099) and credential level (exam-progressing vs ASA / ACAS vs FSA / FCAS vs chief actuary). FSA / FCAS Fellow credential typically adds 20–40% over ASA / ACAS at same career stage.
Staff actuary hourly equivalent — at $64.50/hour median (annualized from $134,160 at 2,080 hours).
Chief Actuary / Appointed Actuary (top tier) — chief actuaries and Appointed Actuaries at large carriers earn $300,000–$600,000+ annually with bonus and equity. Effective hourly $145–$290+.
Senior consulting actuary at Big 4 / Milliman / Mercer / WTW / Aon — senior managers and partners $250,000–$500,000+. Effective hourly $120–$240.
1099 consulting actuary — established 1099 consulting actuaries with niche specialty (captive insurance, ERM, M&A actuarial due diligence) bill $200–$400+/hour direct.
FSA / FCAS Fellow carrier staff — Fellow-credentialed senior staff at major carriers $150,000–$250,000. Pension and benefits strong at insurance HQ states.
ASA / ACAS Associate carrier staff — Associate-level senior staff $90,000–$150,000.
Exam-progressing entry-level — $60,000–$95,000 with exam study time and bonus structure.
Big 4 actuarial practice — Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG actuarial. Salary plus bonus.
Reinsurance actuary — Munich Re America, Swiss Re NY, Hannover Re, Gen Re. Strong specialty premium.
Predictive analytics / ML actuary — actuaries with Python / R / ML expertise command premium especially in P&C pricing and health.
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual (50 wks) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days/week (24 hrs) | $1,548 | $6,703 | $77,400 |
| 4 days/week (32 hrs) | $2,064 | $8,937 | $103,200 |
| Full-time (40 hrs) | $2,580 | $11,171 | $129,000 |
* Based on the national median hourly rate of $64.50. Actual earnings vary by location.
Actuary Pay Per Hour vs Similar Healthcare Roles
How does actuary hourly pay compare to similar allied health professions? Here's a side-by-side comparison using BLS 2025 national median data:
| Occupation | Hourly |
|---|---|
| Actuary ★ | $64.50 |
| Statistician | $51.53 |
| Mathematician | $56.16 |
| Financial Analyst | $47.61 |
| Data Scientist | $54.40 |
★ = Actuary (2026 projected). Other roles: BLS OEWS 2025 national median wages.
Factors That Drive Actuary Hourly Pay Differences
Actuary hourly pay varies by employer (carrier vs consulting vs 1099), credential level (ASA / ACAS vs FSA / FCAS), specialty (life vs P&C vs health vs pension), and career stage. The national median sits at $64.50/hour, but actuary effective hourly rates reach $96.32+ in top markets like Bridgeport, CT and exceed $150/hour for FSA / FCAS senior consulting actuaries and chief actuaries.
This guide breaks down the five biggest drivers of actuary hourly pay differences. Whether you're an exam-progressing entry-level actuary, a working ASA / FSA considering consulting transition, or a chief actuary benchmarking competitive wages, the framework below is the central reference.
1. Employer: Carrier / Consulting / Big 4 / 1099
- Chief Actuary / Appointed Actuary (top tier) — major carriers.
- Senior consulting partner — Milliman, Mercer, WTW, Aon, Oliver Wyman.
- 1099 consulting actuary — established niche specialty $200–$400+/hour.
- FSA / FCAS senior carrier staff — major carrier Fellow credentialed.
- Big 4 actuarial practice — Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG.
- ASA / ACAS Associate carrier staff — mid-tier credentialed.
- Reinsurance actuary — Munich Re, Swiss Re, Hannover Re, Gen Re.
- Pension actuary at Mercer / WTW — pension and benefits consulting.
- Captive insurance actuary — niche specialty.
2. SOA vs CAS Credential Path
- SOA (Society of Actuaries) — life, health, pension, retirement, finance — concentrate at life carriers, health, pension consulting.
- CAS (Casualty Actuarial Society) — property & casualty — concentrate at P&C carriers.
- FSA / FCAS Fellow — 20–40% premium over ASA / ACAS at same stage.
- Chief actuary track — requires Fellow credential.
- CERA (Chartered Enterprise Risk Analyst) — ERM specialty.
- Dual SOA / CAS — rare; valuable for consulting / reinsurance.
- Predictive analytics specialization — Python / R / ML expertise premium.
3. State Insurance HQ Concentration
- Connecticut (Hartford insurance corridor) — Aetna, Travelers, The Hartford, Cigna, Lincoln Financial, Voya, MassMutual nearby. Densest actuarial concentration per capita.
- New York — MetLife, AIG, NY Life, Guardian, Equitable, TIAA, Munich Re America, Swiss Re. Strong reinsurance.
- Massachusetts — MassMutual (Springfield), Liberty Mutual (Boston), Plymouth Rock, Hanover, Arbella.
- Ohio — Progressive, Nationwide, Cincinnati Financial, Erie. Strong P&C.
- Illinois — State Farm, Allstate, Country Financial, Zurich North America, CNA. Heavy P&C.
- Iowa — Principal Financial, Transamerica, AEGON. Strong life / annuity.
- Wisconsin — Northwestern Mutual, American Family, Sentry. Strong life and P&C.
- Texas — USAA (San Antonio), Liberty Mutual Dallas ops.
- Minnesota — Allianz Life, Securian, Thrivent.
- Indiana — Anthem. Strong health.
4. State Cost of Living and Tax
- State cost of living — Connecticut, NY, MA, CA, NJ, WA lead nominal.
- State income tax (senior level) — actuaries in TX, FL, TN, NV, WA, WY, SD, AK, NH keep more. Senior FSA savings $20K–$60K annually.
- Cost-of-living-adjusted leaders — Texas (USAA San Antonio), Iowa (Principal Des Moines), Wisconsin (Northwestern Mutual Milwaukee), Ohio (Nationwide Columbus).
5. Experience and Exam Progression
- Entry exam-progressing ($65,000–$95,000) — fresh BS / MS Statistics / Math / Actuarial Science.
- ASA / ACAS (3–5 years) — Associate credential. $90K–$150K.
- FSA / FCAS (6–8 years) — Fellow credential. $150K–$250K base + bonus.
- Senior actuary / actuarial director ($180K–$280K) — senior IC / manager.
- VP / SVP actuarial ($250K–$400K) — senior leadership.
- Chief actuary / Appointed Actuary ($300K–$600K+) — top executive actuarial role.
- Consulting partner — Milliman / Mercer / WTW / Aon partner $400K–$1M+.
- 1099 consulting actuary — established with niche specialty $200–$400+/hour direct.
2026 Actuary Hourly Pay Outlook
Actuary pay has grown at a compound annual rate of 3.20% nationally over the past five years — driven by structural actuary shortage in P&C pricing (especially post-Florida property market dislocation and California wildfire reinsurance pressure), expanding health actuary demand under ACA / Medicare Advantage expansion, sustained pension and retirement consulting demand under LDTI / IFRS 17 implementation, and rapidly growing predictive analytics specialization with Python / R / ML expertise. The BLS projects actuary employment growth at 22% through 2033 — much faster than average — keeping strong upward pay pressure especially for FSA / FCAS senior consulting actuaries and chief actuaries.
States with insurance HQ concentration (Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania), states with Big 4 / Milliman / Mercer / WTW major actuarial consulting offices (NY, IL, CA, TX, MA, NJ, PA, GA, NC, FL), and no-state-income-tax actuary hubs (Texas — USAA San Antonio, Florida) lead state-level actuary hourly pay rankings. Exam-progressing actuaries who complete FSA / FCAS Fellow credential within 6–8 years see the most aggressive pay progression, with chief actuary and consulting partner roles at the top of distribution.
More Salary Resources
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.
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
Methodology & Data Source
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. We applied a 3.20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS trends, to estimate current 2026 compensation.