Actuary salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Actuaries in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $113,730 a year ($54.68 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,560 workers.
Pay ranges from $79,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,260 for the top 10%. That is 13% lower than the national median of $130,000. Pay here is 1% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $115,430. There are 0.34 actuaries per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $129,500, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for actuaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,640 | $38.29 |
| 25th percentile | $95,970 | $46.14 |
| Median | $113,730 | $54.68 |
| 75th percentile | $163,690 | $78.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,260 | $100.61 |
| Average (mean) | $129,500 | $62.26 |
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 | $9,477.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,738.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,374.23 |
| Weekly | $2,187.12 |
| Hourly | $54.68 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Actuary salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $129,360 | 250 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $128,290 | 60 |
| Springfield, IL | $117,590 | 30 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $108,770 | 340 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $104,210 | 50 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $101,040 | 490 |
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 |
See Actuary pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | $107,640 | $51.75 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $86,500 | $41.59 |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | $82,230 | $39.54 |
| Statistician | $122,180 | $58.74 |
| Mathematician | $130,970 | $62.97 |
| Software Developer | $134,380 | $64.60 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $60,730 | $29.20 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $103,490 | $49.76 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $101,660 | $48.88 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $103,170 | $49.60 |
| Computer Network Architect | $143,800 | $69.14 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $105,580 | $50.76 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $73,340 | $35.26 |
| Information Security Analyst | $125,310 | $60.25 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for actuaries in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $113,730 a year, or $54.68 an hour. Pay ranges from $79,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid actuaries make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of actuaries in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $209,260 a year. The top 25% earn $163,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for actuaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $79,640 a year, and a quarter of actuaries earn $95,970 or less.
How many actuaries work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 1,560 actuaries are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.