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Actuary salary in California

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$130,510median pay per year in California, or $62.75 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $83,510lowest 10% earn less
  2. $101,60025th percentile
  3. $130,510median
  4. $188,39075th percentile
  5. $219,490top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $130,000[3]

The median pay for actuaries in California was $130,510 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $510 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
1,280[4]
Rank by median pay
13 of 36[5]
Compared with US median
+0.4%[6]

How much do actuaries make in California?

The median is the middle point. Half of actuaries in California earned more than $130,510 a year, which is $62.75 an hour, and half earned less[1]. The average was higher, at $145,330 a year[7]. Across the US, the median for actuaries was $130,000[3]. For all jobs in California, the median was $58,240[8], so actuaries earned $72,270 more[9]. California had the 13th highest median for actuaries out of the 35 states and DC with a published median[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $83,510[2]. The 25th percentile was $101,600[2]. At the top, the 75th percentile was $188,390 and the 90th percentile was $219,490[2].

Among the 6 California metro areas with a published median, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest, at $175,330[10]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had a median of $127,970[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed, and its wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for actuaries in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$130,510[1]$130,000[3]
Median per hour$62.75[1]$62.50[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$83,510[2]$78,570[13]
Top 10% earn more than$219,490[2]$215,100[13]
Jobs1,280[4]26,670[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for actuaries, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$127,970380
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$175,330220
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$131,040120
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$116,580110
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$107,89060
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$124,14040

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for actuaries in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Arizona[14]$135,870200
Nevada$132,370120
Oregon$130,380210

Median pay for actuaries in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for actuaries are projected to grow 9.2% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an actuary make in California?
The median pay for actuaries in California was $130,510 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $145,330 a year[7].
How much does an actuary make an hour in California?
The median was $62.75 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $40.15 an hour and the 90th percentile was $105.53[17].
Which city in California pays actuaries the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median among the 6 metro areas with a published figure, at $175,330 a year[10].
Is California a good state for actuaries?
California had the 13th highest median annual wage for actuaries out of the 35 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $510 higher than the US median[6].
What do you need to become an actuary in California?
Across the US, the typical entry path is a bachelor's degree with no related work experience and long-term on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not a California one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Actuaries in California was $130,510 per year and $62.75 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Actuaries in California: 10th percentile $83,510, 25th percentile $101,600, 75th percentile $188,390, 90th percentile $219,490. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Actuaries in the US as a whole was $130,000 per year and $62.50 per hour, with about 26,670 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,280 people worked as Actuaries in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 13th highest median annual wage for Actuaries out of the 35 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Actuaries in California ($130,510) was $510 (0.4%) higher than the US median ($130,000). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Actuaries in California was $145,330 per year and $69.87 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Actuaries in California was $72,270 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 6 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Actuaries, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median annual wage, $175,330. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Actuaries in the US: 10th percentile $78,570, 25th percentile $97,680, 75th percentile $170,650, 90th percentile $215,100. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Actuaries in states that border California (highest first): Arizona $135,870; Nevada $132,370; Oregon $130,380. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Actuaries is projected to grow 9.2% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,500 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Actuaries: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Actuaries in California: 10th percentile $40.15, 25th percentile $48.85, 75th percentile $90.57, 90th percentile $105.53. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.