Senior Actuary Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$154,000
national median salary
$120,000 to $200,000. Last updated April 2026.
Highest Paying
$213,000
San Jose, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$161,000
Providence, RI
Lowest Paying
$121,000
Little Rock, AR
Salary data sourced from SEC filings, H-1B Labor Condition Applications (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and aggregated job postings across 50+ platforms. Ranges reflect 25th to 75th percentile for full-time positions. Cost-of-living adjustments use Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2025 index). Last updated April 2026. Baseline derived from BLS SOC 15-2051. Full methodology.
The average Senior Actuary salary in the United States is $154,000 in 2026, with the full range spanning $120,000 at the 25th percentile to $200,000 at the 75th. San Jose pays the most at $213,000, while Providence offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Senior Actuary compensation is driven by years of experience, specialization depth, and the industry domain.
Senior Actuary salary by city
Skills that increase Senior Actuary pay
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Senior Actuarys based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $21,560 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$21,560 per year
≈ +$20,020 per year
≈ +$18,480 per year
≈ +$16,940 per year
≈ +$16,940 per year
≈ +$15,400 per year
≈ +$15,400 per year
≈ +$13,860 per year
What you should know
Senior Actuary compensation is driven by years of experience, specialization depth, and the industry domain. Signing bonuses near $12K are standard for lateral hires and reset every 2 to 4 years. Within tech-sector Senior Actuarys specifically, employer tier (FAANG and frontier-AI labs vs mid-stage startups vs traditional enterprise) drives 67%+ variance across the compensation band.
Senior Actuarys progress from entry to senior over 5 to 8 years, with lead and management levels requiring 10+ years and demonstrated cross-functional scope. For Senior Actuarys specifically, the seniority anchor typically means 7 to 12 years of experience with demonstrated independent scope.
Total compensation for Senior Actuarys includes a meaningful signing bonus near $12K, which resets every 2 to 4 years for lateral hires. Base plus bonus (12% of base at target) forms the bulk of ongoing annual comp; signing bonuses are best thought of as a 4-year amortized component. At tech companies specifically, equity and sign-on are often the largest delta between offers — two roles with matching base can differ by $100K+ at total when equity is included.
Total compensation breakdown
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Senior Actuarys typically earn $139,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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