Actuary salary in Illinois
Actuaries in Illinois earn a median of $115,430 a year ($55.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $202,160 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $130,000. Illinois ranks 26th of 36 states for actuaries pay. There are 0.37 actuaries per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $129,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for actuaries in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,790 | $37.40 |
| 25th percentile | $95,940 | $46.12 |
| Median | $115,430 | $55.50 |
| 75th percentile | $158,540 | $76.22 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $202,160 | $97.19 |
| Average (mean) | $129,580 | $62.30 |
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 | $9,619.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,809.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,439.62 |
| Weekly | $2,219.81 |
| Hourly | $55.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Actuary salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $129,360 | 250 |
| Springfield, IL | $117,590 | 30 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $113,730 | 1,560 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $104,210 | 50 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | $106,560 | $51.23 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $89,800 | $43.17 |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | $81,090 | $38.99 |
| Statistician | $119,760 | $57.58 |
| Mathematician | $130,970 | $62.97 |
| Software Developer | $132,110 | $63.52 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $59,860 | $28.78 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $101,570 | $48.83 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $99,360 | $47.77 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $100,080 | $48.12 |
| Computer Network Architect | $132,790 | $63.84 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $68,530 | $32.95 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $104,910 | $50.44 |
| Information Security Analyst | $124,180 | $59.70 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for actuaries in Illinois is $115,430 a year, or $55.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,790 for the lowest-paid 10% to $202,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid actuaries make in Illinois?
The top 10% of actuaries in Illinois earn at least $202,160 a year. The top 25% earn $158,540 or more.
What is the starting pay for actuaries in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,790 a year, and a quarter of actuaries earn $95,940 or less.
How many actuaries work in Illinois?
About 2,280 actuaries are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.