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Actuarial assistant: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$50,330median pay per year, or $24.20 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $35,990lowest 10% earn less
  2. $42,84025th percentile
  3. $50,330median
  4. $63,95075th percentile
  5. $81,990top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

An actuarial assistant, which BLS counts as a statistical assistant, had a median pay of $50,330 a year, close to the all-occupations median[1][2]. BLS projects the number of jobs to shrink 1.8% from 2025 to 2035[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-1.8%[3]
Openings per year
500[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do actuarial assistants make?

The median wage for statistical assistants was $50,330 a year, or $24.20 an hour, in May 2025[1]. The average was $55,650 a year, or $26.75 an hour[7]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

Pay spreads widely around the middle. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $35,990, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $42,840[4]. At the top, the highest-paid 25% earned more than $63,950, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $81,990[4]. In hourly terms, those boundaries run from $17.30 to $39.42[8].

A percentile is a boundary, not a job level. BLS publishes percentile wages and no starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 4,710 people held these jobs[11].

Pay by state and city

Among the 25 states with published data, California had the highest median at $82,580, followed by Connecticut at $76,140 and Massachusetts at $70,470[12]. Hawaii was last in that list at $40,240[12].

The most jobs were in Tennessee (390), Michigan (370) and Pennsylvania (280)[13]. Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Boston-Cambridge-Newton led on pay at $70,570, followed by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $63,660[14]. Louisville/Jefferson County had the most jobs of any metro area, at 320[15].

Show median pay in 25 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[12]$82,580110
Connecticut$76,140160
Massachusetts$70,470190
New Jersey$69,480110
Washington$63,660200
Illinois$63,410n/a
Maryland$59,690100
Nebraska$59,620170
South Carolina$58,97040
Missouri$58,61090
Minnesota$58,580n/a
Florida$57,20090
Arizona$56,900100
Wisconsin$53,40060
Michigan$49,660370
Pennsylvania$48,740280
Maine$48,05040
Ohio$47,98070
Tennessee$47,780390
Indiana$46,860270
New York$46,520n/a
Oklahoma$46,01030
Kentucky$45,660100
Texas$43,590n/a
Hawaii$40,24040

How to become an actuarial assistant

BLS describes the typical path like this[6]:

O*NET places the job in Job Zone Four, which it describes as needing considerable preparation, such as college study and related experience[16]. The facts here do not name a required major, license or exam.

What actuarial assistants do

O*NET says the job is about compiling and computing data for statistical studies. It also says the work can include actuarial computations and charts for actuaries[17]. Common tasks include:

Workers in O*NET reported job titles such as actuarial analyst, actuarial technician, research assistant and data technical specialist[19].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to fall 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 5,100 to 5,000 jobs[3]. All occupations together are projected to grow 3.5%[20]. These counts include self-employed workers[3].

Even so, BLS expects about 500 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or move to another occupation, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 6.7% move to a different occupation[21].

BLS names one factor behind the slower outlook. Workers in many fields can now do tasks such as compiling and analyzing data, which lowers this occupation's share of the work[22].

Is it a good fit?

The pay sits near the middle of all occupations, and the entry path calls for a bachelor's degree[1][2][6]. The job is small and is projected to shrink slightly, so it may suit someone who is comfortable with data work and flexible about related roles[11][3]. Related occupations in O*NET, such as data scientists, pay more and are projected to grow faster[23]. Openings still come up each year because people move on[5][21].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[23].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an actuarial assistant make an hour?
The median wage for statistical assistants was $24.20 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $26.75 an hour[1][7].
What degree do you need to be an actuarial assistant?
BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical education needed for entry, with no related work experience typically required[6].
Is actuarial assistant a growing job?
BLS projects a decline of 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[3][20]. About 500 openings a year are still expected[5].
What is the highest paying state for actuarial assistants?
California had the highest median among states with published data, at $82,580[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Statistical Assistants in the US was $50,330 per year and $24.20 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Statistical Assistants is projected to decline 1.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 5,100 to 5,000 jobs (a change of -100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Statistical Assistants: 10th percentile $35,990, 25th percentile $42,840, 75th percentile $63,950, 90th percentile $81,990. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 500 openings for Statistical Assistants are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Statistical Assistants: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Statistical Assistants was $55,650 per year and $26.75 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Statistical Assistants: 10th percentile $17.30, 25th percentile $20.60, 75th percentile $30.75, 90th percentile $39.42. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. 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
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 4,710 people were employed as Statistical Assistants in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Statistical Assistants in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Statistical Assistants jobs: Tennessee 390; Michigan 370; Pennsylvania 280; Indiana 270; North Carolina 250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Statistical Assistants (areas with at least 100 jobs): Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $70,570; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $63,660; Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $49,660; Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $45,660; San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $27,490. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Statistical Assistants jobs: Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN 320 (median $45,660); San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR 230 (median $27,490); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 170 (median $63,660); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 150 (median $49,660); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 140 (median $70,570); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 90 (median $59,690). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 43-9111.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET description of Statistical Assistants. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET task list for Statistical Assistants. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET 43-9111.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Actuarial Analyst, Actuarial Assistant, Actuarial Associate, Actuarial Technician (Actuarial Tech), Administrative Analyst (Admin Analyst), Data Technical Specialist, Research Assistant, Research Associate. O*NET OnLine
  20. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  21. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Statistical Assistants: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.7% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Statistical Assistants: Occupational substitution - share decreases as workers across a variety of disciplines can perform many of the tasks, such as compiling and analyzing data, once performed by statistical assistants. BLS Employment Projections
  23. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.