Actuary Pay

Actuary Salary in District of Columbia: $149,310 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across District of Columbia's 1 metropolitan areas, the average median actuary pay sits at $149,310/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 15-2011. Because District of Columbia sits at BEA RPP 117.0 (17% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $127,615 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Washington ($144,680).

Actuary Salary in District of Columbia - 2025 BLS Data Infographic
District of Columbia actuary salary overview (2026)
$149,310
Avg Median Salary
$71.79
Avg Hourly Rate
520
Metro Employed
1
Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for actuaries in the District of Columbia is projected at $149,310, which is 11.3% higher than the national median of $134,160. The city of Washington represents both the highest and lowest paying environment for actuaries in the area, with no variance in salary, remaining at $149,310. The relatively consistent salary points to a uniform demand for actuaries throughout the capital, driven in part by the presence of government agencies and financial institutions. District of Columbia actuaries must adhere to state licensing requirements, and there are specific regulations that govern their scope of practice, impacting job roles and responsibilities. The continuous demand for risk assessment and financial planning in various sectors helps drive job opportunities. With a projected annual growth rate of 3.20%, the job market for actuaries shows promise. Currently, there are 520 actuaries employed in the District, and this number is expected to grow, reflecting a strong outlook for those entering the profession. Those considering a career in this field can expect stability and competitive salaries, clearly illustrated by the strong median earnings.

District of Columbia Actuary Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)
$90,475
avg across 1 cities
Median
$149,310
state average
Top Earners (90th %ile)
$214,119
avg across 1 cities

Overall salary range in District of Columbia: $90,475 (lowest entry-level) to $214,119 (highest top earner)

District of Columbia vs National Average

District of Columbia
$149,310
National Median
$134,160

District of Columbia actuaries earn 11.29% more than the national median (+$15,150/year difference).

District of Columbia Actuary Salary Distribution (2026)

Vertical bar chart showing District of Columbia actuary salary percentiles: 10th percentile $90,475, 25th $115,770, Median $149,310, 75th $176,874, 90th $214,119. US national median is $134,160.$60.0K$119.9K$179.9K$239.8K$90.5K10thEntry Level$115.8K25thEarly Career$149.3KMedianMid Career$176.9K75thExperienced$214.1K90thTop EarnerUS Median $134.2K

Actuary salaries in District of Columbia range from $90,475 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $214,119 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $149,310. The District of Columbia median is $15,150 above the US national median of $134,160. The average hourly rate is $71.79/hr. Approximately 520 actuarys are employed across 1 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$108,090

2025 BLS Actual

$144,680

2026 Current Est.

$149,310

2019–2027 Growth

+42.6%

Salary Trajectory for Actuaries in District of Columbia (20192027)

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

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for actuaries in District of Columbia. Baseline $108,090 in 2025, projected to $154,088 by 2027.$98.9K$115.0K$131.1K$147.2K$163.3K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$108.1K$123.6K$125.0K$137.7K$134.4K$137.6K$144.7K$149.3K$154.1K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$108,090Actual
2020$123,568Actual
2021$124,950Actual
2022$137,710Actual
2023$134,410Actual
2024$137,610Actual
2025$144,680Actual
2026(current)$149,310Estimated
2027$154,088Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the District of Columbia metropolitan area, the median actuary salary grew 33.9% from $108,090 (2019) to $144,680 (2025). At a 3.20% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $154,088 by 2027 — a total increase of $45,998 (42.56%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the District of Columbia metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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 1 Highest Paying Cities in District of Columbia

#1
Washington
520 employed · $71.79/hr
$149,310

Salary by Experience Level in District of Columbia

Experience LevelEstimated Annual
Entry Level (0-2 years)$90,475
Mid Career (3-7 years)$149,310
Experienced (7+ years)$214,119

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

All 1 Cities in District of Columbia

#CityMedian Salary
1Washington$149,310

More District of Columbia Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore actuary hourly pay in District of Columbia cities.

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new actuaries.

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced actuaries.

Explore More Actuary Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do actuaries make in District of Columbia in 2026?

The average median actuary salary in District of Columbia is $149,310/year across 1 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $149,310 in Washington to $149,310 in Washington. This makes District of Columbia one of the higher-paying states, at 11.29% above the national median of $134,160. The state employs approximately 520 actuaries.

What is the highest paying city for actuaries in District of Columbia?

Washington offers the highest actuary salary in District of Columbia at $149,310/year ($71.79/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Washington ($149,310). 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 District of Columbia actuary pay compare to the national average?

District of Columbia's average actuary salary of $149,310 is 11.29% above the national median of $134,160 in 2026. The state employs approximately 520 actuaries across 1 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 District of Columbia?

Entry-level actuaries (10th percentile) in District of Columbia earn approximately $90,475/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $90,475 in lower-paying areas to $90,475 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 District of Columbia?

District of Columbia employs approximately 520 actuaries across 1 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. The smaller workforce means positions may be less competitive but also fewer in number. Demand continues to grow as the actuarial science field expands and the population ages.

Which District of Columbia city offers the best value for actuaries?

When adjusted for cost of living, Washington offers the highest purchasing power for actuaries in District of Columbia, with an adjusted salary of $137,128 (nominal: $149,310, CoL index: 108.884). This means your dollar goes 8% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.
MC

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 District of Columbia. State averages are employment-weighted across 1 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, 6-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

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