Actuary Salary in Great Falls, MT: $104,880 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time actuary in Great Falls, MT earns a median $104,880/year (≈ $50.42/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-2011). Once you factor in Great Falls's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.2), that paycheck buys what $109,023 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.3% below the Montana state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Great Falls, MT, actuaries can expect a median annual salary of $104,880 in 2026, reflecting a significant position in both the finance and insurance sectors. With a salary range spanning from $60,830 at the 10th percentile to as high as $162,564 at the 90th percentile, there is considerable earning potential depending on specialty and experience level. The local actuarial market is influenced heavily by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) and the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS), with professionals typically leaning towards life and health versus property and casualty sectors. Salaries here are adjusted based on estimates derived from BLS state-level data with localized cost considerations, underscoring the unique dynamics of the Great Falls job market for actuaries.
About the Great Falls Market
Salary estimated from Montana average ($105,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $60,830 | $29.25 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $76,091 | $36.58 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $104,880 | $50.42 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $134,247 | $64.54 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $162,564 | $78.15 |
Median Salary Position
21.82% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Great Falls
In Great Falls, MT, the actuary salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $101,734 (2026 est.). At $104,880, the local median is 21.82% below the national median of $134,160.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Great Falls: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Great Falls Actuary Pay Compares
Great Falls median: $104,880/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Great Falls Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Average | $105,196 | -0.30% less |
| National Average | $134,160 | -21.82% less |
Actuarys in Great Falls, MT earn a median of $104,880 per year (2026 est.), which is 21.82% lower than the national median of $134,160 and 0.30% below the Montana state average of $105,196.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Great Falls has a cost of living 3.80% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Great Falls, MT has a cost-of-living index of 96.2 (below the national average of 100). A actuary earning $104,880 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $109,023 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.95% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$84,703
2025 BLS Actual
$101,628
2026 Current Est.
$104,880
2019–2027 Growth
+27.8%
Salary Trajectory for Actuaries in Great Falls (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $84,703 | Actual |
| 2020 | $86,798 | Actual |
| 2021 | $82,788 | Actual |
| 2022 | $89,112 | Actual |
| 2023 | $93,810 | Actual |
| 2024 | $100,740 | Actual |
| 2025 | $101,628 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $104,880 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $108,236 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Great Falls metropolitan area, the median actuary salary grew 20.0% from $84,703 (2019) to $101,628 (2025). At a 3.20% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $108,236 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,533 (27.78%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Great Falls 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $60,830 – $76,091 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $76,091 – $104,880 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $104,880 – $134,247 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $134,247 – $162,564 |
ASA, FSA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual actuary compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Actuary Job Market in Great Falls
The local job market employs only 12 actuaries, indicating a competitive environment where niche skills are highly valued. With a cost-of-living index of 96.2, actuaries see their purchasing power enhanced relative to more expensive regions, making the effective take-home pay more beneficial. Key employers in Great Falls include regional life and health insurance firms, which often pay competitively, especially for those with advanced credentials such as Fellowship status. The salary variance within the community is largely driven by factors such as exam progression, where each passed exam enhances pay potentially by $3,000 to $8,000, and the transition from Associate to Fellow status. Cooling the exam study burden with effective benefit packages and strategic sign-on bonuses are key considerations for maximizing pay in this market. Emphasizing predictive analytics and data-related skills can further enhance an actuary's value, responding to the evolving needs of employers in the region.
More salary data for Great Falls, MT:
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
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 BLS reported a median annual salary of $101,628 for actuariesin the Great Falls metropolitan area. A 3.20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Great Falls 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