Actuary Salary in California: $134,360 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 156 metropolitan areas, the average median actuary pay sits at $134,360/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 15-2011. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $118,798 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Oakland ($179,321), Fremont ($175,365), San Francisco ($175,330).

Actuary Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California actuary salary overview (2026)

$134,360

Avg Median Salary

$64.60

Avg Hourly Rate

4,502

Metro Employed

156

Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for actuaries in California is projected at $134,359, slightly above the national median of $134,160, reflecting a margin of just +0.1%. The disparity between the highest and lowest paying cities is considerable, with Oakland leading at $185,059 and Carlsbad at $110,412, highlighting a salary gap of $74,647. Factors contributing to this difference include variations in local economies, demand for actuarial services, and the concentration of industries such as insurance and finance in urban areas. Actuaries in California must meet state licensing requirements, which include passing examinations and fulfilling continuing education obligations. The state's scope of practice laws allow for a diverse range of actuarial functions, driving demand across multiple sectors. As of 2026, there are 4,502 actuaries employed in California, with a projected annual growth rate of 3.20%, indicating a positive job market outlook. The top five cities for projected actuarial salaries in 2026 include Oakland, Fremont at $180,977, San Francisco at $180,941, Fresno at $140,277, and Bakersfield at $139,297, providing various options for aspiring actuaries in the state.

California Actuary Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$80,982

avg across 156 cities

Median

$134,360

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$209,891

avg across 156 cities

Overall salary range in California: $64,654 (lowest entry-level) to $286,842 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$134,360

National Median

$134,160

California actuaries earn 0.15% more than the national median (+$200/year difference).

California Actuary Salary Distribution (2026)

Actuary salaries in California range from $80,982 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $209,891 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $134,360. The California median is $200 above the US national median of $134,160. The average hourly rate is $64.60/hr. Approximately 4,502 actuarys are employed across 156 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$111,650

2025 BLS Actual

$130,193

2026 Current Est.

$134,360

2019–2027 Growth

+24.2%

Salary Trajectory for Actuaries in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$111,650	Actual
2020	$112,684	Actual
2021	$116,555	Actual
2022	$126,349	Actual
2023	$113,547	Actual
2024	$160,902	Actual
2025	$130,193	Actual
2026(current)	$134,360	Estimated
2027	$138,659	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median actuary salary grew 16.6% from $111,650 (2019) to $130,193 (2025). At a 3.20% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $138,659 by 2027 — a total increase of $27,009 (24.19%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Oakland

78 employed · $88.97/hr

$185,059

+37.73% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $87.01/hr

$180,977

+34.70% vs avg

San Francisco

220 employed · $86.99/hr

$180,941

+34.67% vs avg

Fresno

84 employed · $67.44/hr

$140,277

+4.40% vs avg

Bakersfield

101 employed · $66.97/hr

$139,297

+3.67% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Carlsbad	$110,412	-17.82%	$53.09
San Diego	$111,342	-17.13%	$53.53
Chula Vista	$111,471	-17.04%	$53.59
Roseville	$119,815	-10.83%	$57.61
Sacramento	$120,311	-10.46%	$57.84

Best Value Cities for Actuaries in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for actuaries.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Oakland	$185,059	113.1	$163,624
Fremont	$180,977	113.1	$160,015
San Francisco	$180,941	115.613	$156,506
Fresno	$140,277	113.1	$124,029
Bakersfield	$139,297	113.1	$123,163

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$80,982	$38.93	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$134,360	$64.60	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$209,891	$100.91	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 156 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Oakland	$185,059	$88.97	$107,334	$286,842	78
2	Fremont	$180,977	$87.01	$104,967	$280,514	43
3	San Francisco	$180,941	$86.99	$96,874	$239,651	220
4	Fresno	$140,277	$67.44	$81,361	$217,429	84
5	Bakersfield	$139,297	$66.97	$80,792	$215,911	101
6	Sunnyvale	$138,409	$66.54	$82,177	$214,533	26
7	Santa Ana	$137,834	$66.26	$79,944	$213,643	69
8	Santa Clara	$137,500	$66.11	$80,187	$213,125	32
9	Fontana	$135,283	$65.04	$78,464	$209,688	32
10	San Jose	$135,233	$65.02	$89,443	$268,165	120
11	Irvine	$135,134	$64.96	$80,675	$209,458	72
12	Pomona	$134,475	$64.65	$79,301	$208,436	36
13	Anaheim	$134,416	$64.62	$77,961	$208,344	51
14	Simi Valley	$134,401	$64.61	$79,544	$208,323	23
15	Escondido	$134,369	$64.60	$79,611	$208,273	31
16	Fairfield	$134,128	$64.49	$78,945	$207,898	25
17	Stockton	$133,877	$64.37	$77,649	$207,509	71
18	Fullerton	$133,634	$64.24	$77,507	$207,133	25
19	Daly City	$133,518	$64.19	$77,440	$206,953	20
20	El Monte	$133,476	$64.17	$77,657	$206,887	20
21	Vista	$133,403	$64.14	$77,497	$206,774	24
22	Concord	$133,371	$64.12	$77,428	$206,724	29
23	Clovis	$133,171	$64.03	$77,239	$206,415	19
24	Garden Grove	$133,035	$63.96	$77,161	$206,205	37
25	Temecula	$133,003	$63.94	$77,142	$206,154	25
26	Santa Clarita	$132,914	$63.90	$79,884	$206,017	41
27	Lancaster	$132,740	$63.82	$76,989	$205,747	40
28	Inglewood	$132,740	$63.82	$76,989	$205,747	21
29	Corona	$132,572	$63.74	$76,891	$205,487	24
30	Richmond	$132,551	$63.73	$76,880	$205,455	25
31	Long Beach	$132,504	$63.71	$76,852	$205,380	89
32	Rialto	$132,488	$63.70	$76,843	$205,357	17
33	Torrance	$132,320	$63.61	$76,746	$205,096	26
34	Salinas	$132,172	$63.54	$76,660	$204,867	29
35	Elk Grove	$132,067	$63.50	$76,599	$204,704	25
36	Los Angeles	$132,065	$63.50	$86,502	$219,826	380
37	Oceanside	$132,036	$63.48	$76,581	$204,656	28
38	Whittier	$131,997	$63.46	$80,241	$204,595	22
39	San Rafael	$131,987	$63.46	$80,083	$204,580	11
40	Modesto	$131,928	$63.43	$76,518	$204,488	45
41	Rancho Cucamonga	$131,868	$63.40	$76,484	$204,395	46
42	Hayward	$131,795	$63.36	$76,441	$204,281	23
43	Woodland	$131,761	$63.34	$79,575	$204,229	15
44	Buena Park	$131,740	$63.33	$79,664	$204,197	20
45	Encinitas	$131,730	$63.33	$79,640	$204,181	16
46	Downey	$131,720	$63.32	$76,398	$204,167	22
47	Dublin	$131,647	$63.29	$79,456	$204,053	14
48	Redlands	$131,606	$63.27	$79,364	$203,989	16
49	Chino	$131,534	$63.24	$79,068	$203,877	17
50	Westminster	$131,492	$63.22	$78,571	$203,813	21
51	Santa Monica	$131,482	$63.21	$78,952	$203,797	20
52	San Mateo	$131,469	$63.21	$76,251	$203,777	21
53	Tulare	$131,430	$63.19	$78,838	$203,717	17
54	San Buenaventura	$131,384	$63.17	$82,936	$203,646	19
55	Visalia	$131,300	$63.13	$76,154	$203,516	35
56	Mission Viejo	$131,296	$63.13	$78,672	$203,509	23
57	Moreno Valley	$131,295	$63.13	$77,007	$203,507	53
58	Pleasanton	$131,276	$63.12	$78,627	$203,477	16
59	Pasadena	$131,090	$63.02	$79,066	$203,189	35
60	Santee	$130,998	$62.98	$78,008	$203,047	9
61	Glendale	$130,880	$62.92	$81,829	$202,864	36
62	Thousand Oaks	$130,859	$62.91	$82,308	$202,831	32
63	Mountain View	$130,812	$62.89	$77,596	$202,759	13
64	Pittsburg	$130,802	$62.89	$77,037	$202,743	19
65	Novato	$130,761	$62.87	$77,347	$202,679	11
66	Costa Mesa	$130,712	$62.84	$78,247	$202,603	23
67	Berkeley	$130,575	$62.78	$81,164	$202,391	23
68	Huntington Beach	$130,544	$62.77	$81,488	$202,343	50
69	Jurupa Valley	$130,428	$62.70	$81,236	$202,164	24
70	Hemet	$130,390	$62.68	$76,661	$202,105	14
71	Union City	$130,380	$62.68	$76,638	$202,088	11
72	West Covina	$130,364	$62.67	$81,098	$202,065	25
73	Chino Hills	$130,328	$62.65	$76,391	$202,009	21
74	Chico	$130,155	$62.57	$80,640	$201,739	20
75	Gilroy	$130,142	$62.57	$76,116	$201,721	10
76	Santa Maria	$130,102	$62.55	$80,657	$201,658	16
77	Santa Cruz	$130,101	$62.55	$82,636	$201,657	12
78	San Marcos	$130,070	$62.53	$75,440	$201,608	17
79	Tustin	$129,958	$62.48	$75,375	$201,434	18
80	San Ramon	$129,947	$62.48	$75,686	$201,419	19
81	Ontario	$129,839	$62.43	$75,307	$201,250	42
82	Eastvale	$129,824	$62.42	$75,414	$201,227	10
83	Murrieta	$129,818	$62.42	$80,042	$201,218	25
84	Vacaville	$129,818	$62.42	$80,042	$201,218	15
85	Brentwood	$129,762	$62.38	$75,278	$201,131	13
86	Hesperia	$129,700	$62.35	$75,226	$201,035	14
87	Lake Elsinore	$129,689	$62.35	$75,219	$201,018	18
88	Citrus Heights	$129,524	$62.27	$75,124	$200,762	19
89	El Cajon	$129,409	$62.22	$75,057	$200,584	18
90	San Clemente	$129,370	$62.20	$75,035	$200,524	10
91	Bellflower	$129,319	$62.17	$75,005	$200,444	11
92	Palmdale	$129,261	$62.15	$78,709	$200,355	29
93	La Mirada	$129,260	$62.15	$80,752	$200,354	10
94	Apple Valley	$129,236	$62.14	$74,957	$200,316	19
95	Menifee	$129,198	$62.12	$78,702	$200,258	20
96	Yucaipa	$129,143	$62.09	$74,904	$200,172	14
97	Norwalk	$129,135	$62.09	$78,437	$200,159	22
98	Yuba City	$129,082	$62.05	$74,867	$200,076	10
99	Rancho Cordova	$129,020	$62.03	$74,831	$199,980	20
100	Montebello	$128,896	$61.97	$74,759	$199,788	16
101	Compton	$128,844	$61.94	$74,729	$199,709	25
102	Vallejo	$128,767	$61.91	$77,778	$199,589	26
103	Porterville	$128,752	$61.90	$74,677	$199,566	11
104	Lompoc	$128,735	$61.89	$79,677	$199,539	8
105	Hawthorne	$128,536	$61.80	$74,551	$199,231	13
106	Antioch	$128,494	$61.78	$77,065	$199,167	17
107	Burbank	$128,483	$61.78	$74,520	$199,148	22
108	Santa Rosa	$128,326	$61.69	$76,834	$198,906	44
109	Redding	$128,278	$61.67	$78,571	$198,830	13
110	San Bernardino	$128,271	$61.67	$74,398	$198,821	33
111	Napa	$128,247	$61.66	$82,246	$198,783	17
112	Alhambra	$128,185	$61.63	$82,108	$198,687	13
113	Livermore	$128,185	$61.63	$77,842	$198,687	21
114	Orange	$128,147	$61.61	$76,454	$198,627	21
115	South Gate	$128,143	$61.61	$81,491	$198,623	25
116	Victorville	$128,116	$61.59	$76,388	$198,580	30
117	Riverside	$128,112	$61.60	$85,367	$199,207	40
118	West Sacramento	$128,072	$61.57	$81,331	$198,512	9
119	Poway	$128,038	$61.56	$78,080	$198,459	8
120	San Leandro	$127,866	$61.48	$81,266	$198,193	23
121	Indio	$127,721	$61.40	$80,553	$197,969	23
122	Lake Forest	$127,721	$61.40	$80,553	$197,969	14
123	Petaluma	$127,556	$61.32	$80,710	$197,713	12
124	Carson	$127,495	$61.30	$80,573	$197,618	21
125	Rocklin	$127,475	$61.29	$80,527	$197,586	10
126	Newport Beach	$127,258	$61.18	$80,048	$197,250	12
127	Redwood City	$127,248	$61.18	$79,895	$197,234	13
128	Turlock	$127,217	$61.17	$79,827	$197,186	17
129	Manteca	$127,175	$61.15	$79,866	$197,122	13
130	Perris	$127,165	$61.14	$79,323	$197,106	12
131	Madera	$127,062	$61.08	$79,616	$196,946	8
132	Lodi	$127,010	$61.06	$79,372	$196,866	14
133	Baldwin Park	$126,836	$60.98	$78,987	$196,596	19
134	Palo Alto	$126,836	$60.98	$79,117	$196,596	15
135	Lakewood	$126,784	$60.95	$79,004	$196,516	19
136	San Luis Obispo	$126,767	$60.95	$75,063	$196,489	10
137	Hanford	$126,526	$60.83	$78,309	$196,116	10
138	Beaumont	$126,413	$60.77	$77,672	$195,940	9
139	Merced	$126,392	$60.76	$74,456	$195,908	20
140	Tracy	$126,382	$60.76	$78,122	$195,892	14
141	Alameda	$126,341	$60.74	$78,032	$195,828	12
142	Laguna Niguel	$126,310	$60.72	$77,447	$195,780	16
143	Milpitas	$126,249	$60.69	$77,830	$195,686	16
144	Camarillo	$125,980	$60.57	$77,245	$195,270	13
145	Oakley	$125,929	$60.55	$73,321	$195,189	8
146	Davis	$125,898	$60.53	$76,937	$195,142	14
147	Upland	$125,805	$60.49	$76,348	$194,997	18
148	La Habra	$125,620	$60.39	$76,333	$194,712	16
149	Lynwood	$125,569	$60.37	$76,349	$194,631	16
150	Brea	$123,425	$59.34	$77,873	$191,309	10
151	Folsom	$121,124	$58.24	$70,251	$187,741	17
152	Sacramento	$120,311	$57.84	$84,944	$194,522	110
153	Roseville	$119,815	$57.61	$75,227	$185,714	35
154	Chula Vista	$111,471	$53.59	$64,654	$172,781	51
155	San Diego	$111,342	$53.53	$85,068	$216,720	60
156	Carlsbad	$110,412	$53.09	$68,256	$171,138	23

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore actuary hourly pay in California cities.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new actuaries.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced actuaries.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Compare Cities in California

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Explore More Actuary Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do actuaries make in California in 2026?

The average median actuary salary in California is $134,360/year across 156 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $110,412 in Carlsbad to $185,059 in Oakland. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 0.15% above the national median of $134,160. The state employs approximately 4,502 actuaries.

What is the highest paying city for actuaries in California?

Oakland offers the highest actuary salary in California at $185,059/year ($88.97/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Oakland ($185,059), Fremont ($180,977), San Francisco ($180,941). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for actuarial science services, and competition among employers for licensed actuaries.

How does California actuary pay compare to the national average?

California's average actuary salary of $134,360 is 0.15% above the national median of $134,160 in 2026. The state employs approximately 4,502 actuaries across 156 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level actuary salary in California?

Entry-level actuaries (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $80,982/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $64,654 in lower-paying areas to $107,334 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many actuaries are employed in California?

California employs approximately 4,502 actuaries across 156 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. Job availability varies by metro area, with larger cities offering more opportunities. Demand continues to grow as the actuarial science field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for actuaries?

When adjusted for cost of living, Oakland offers the highest purchasing power for actuaries in California, with an adjusted salary of $163,624 (nominal: $185,059, CoL index: 113.1). This means your dollar goes 12% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

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.

Clinically reviewed by David Patel, ASA, MAAAData verified by Aisha Khan, FSA, CERA

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide 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. A 3.20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 actuary compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 156 metro areas — larger metro areas with more actuariescontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). 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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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