Actuary salary in Iowa
Actuaries in Iowa earn a median of $128,690 a year ($61.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 530 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,480 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $130,000. Iowa ranks 17th of 36 states for actuaries pay. There are 0.34 actuaries per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $125,370, close to the median.
Pay range for actuaries in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,610 | $39.23 |
| 25th percentile | $99,680 | $47.92 |
| Median | $128,690 | $61.87 |
| 75th percentile | $154,270 | $74.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,480 | $83.40 |
| Average (mean) | $125,370 | $60.27 |
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 | $10,724.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,362.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,949.62 |
| Weekly | $2,474.81 |
| Hourly | $61.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Actuary salary in cities in Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $130,540 | 400 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $107,130 | 140 |
| 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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | $95,830 | $46.07 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $80,580 | $38.74 |
| Statistician | $80,150 | $38.54 |
| Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other | $49,020 | $23.57 |
| Software Developer | $114,890 | $55.24 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $58,810 | $28.27 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $95,920 | $46.11 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $107,340 | $51.61 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $84,500 | $40.62 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $64,600 | $31.06 |
| Computer Network Architect | $103,050 | $49.54 |
| Information Security Analyst | $119,710 | $57.55 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $88,590 | $42.59 |
| Computer Programmer | $79,180 | $38.07 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for actuaries in Iowa is $128,690 a year, or $61.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid actuaries make in Iowa?
The top 10% of actuaries in Iowa earn at least $173,480 a year. The top 25% earn $154,270 or more.
What is the starting pay for actuaries in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,610 a year, and a quarter of actuaries earn $99,680 or less.
How many actuaries work in Iowa?
About 530 actuaries are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.