Actuary salary in California
Actuaries in California earn a median of $130,510 a year ($62.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $219,490 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $130,000. California ranks 13th of 36 states for actuaries pay. There are 0.07 actuaries per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.41). The average (mean) salary is $145,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for actuaries in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,510 | $40.15 |
| 25th percentile | $101,600 | $48.85 |
| Median | $130,510 | $62.75 |
| 75th percentile | $188,390 | $90.57 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $219,490 | $105.53 |
| Average (mean) | $145,330 | $69.87 |
Half of actuaries earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,875.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,437.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,019.62 |
| Weekly | $2,509.81 |
| Hourly | $62.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Actuary salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $175,330 | 220 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $131,040 | 120 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $127,970 | 380 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $124,140 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $116,580 | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $107,890 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for actuaries
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $166,800 |
| District of Columbia | $166,230 |
| New York | $156,480 |
| New Jersey | $142,800 |
| Alabama | $136,950 |
| Arizona | $135,870 |
| Washington | $134,720 |
| Utah | $132,720 |
| Nevada | $132,370 |
| Florida | $132,110 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | $141,590 | $68.07 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $102,100 | $49.09 |
| Statistician | $135,960 | $65.36 |
| Mathematician | $126,710 | $60.92 |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | $180,500 | $86.78 |
| Software Developer | $174,410 | $83.85 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $134,440 | $64.63 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $79,570 | $38.25 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $127,720 | $61.40 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $128,740 | $61.89 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $136,110 | $65.44 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $106,440 | $51.18 |
| Information Security Analyst | $138,570 | $66.62 |
| Computer Network Architect | $158,870 | $76.38 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a actuary make in California?
The median salary for actuaries in California is $130,510 a year, or $62.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $219,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid actuaries make in California?
The top 10% of actuaries in California earn at least $219,490 a year. The top 25% earn $188,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for actuaries in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,510 a year, and a quarter of actuaries earn $101,600 or less.
How many actuaries work in California?
About 1,280 actuaries are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.