Health Actuary Salary in 2026
Health actuaries analyze financial risks in healthcare, designing insurance products, setting premiums, and forecasting medical costs. They ensure the financial sustainability of health plans.
Median Salary
$130,000
$10,833/mo
Entry Level
$79,600
starting pay
Senior Level
$178,200
experienced
Job Growth
+24%
10-yr outlook
BLS OEWS May 2025 · official national figures
BLS reports Actuaries (SOC 15-2011, the closest published occupation to Health Actuary) at a national median of $130,000 per year (mean $141,480), or $62.50 per hour, with 26,670 people employed nationwide. The median above is this BLS figure; the entry, senior and top tiers are Salario estimates calibrated to it. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Health Actuary Overview
Health actuaries analyze financial risks in healthcare, designing insurance products, setting premiums, and forecasting medical costs. They ensure the financial sustainability of health plans.
Education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
3-5 years
Industry
Finance
Total Jobs (US)
27K
5-Year Growth
+20%
Category
Finance
Hourly Rate
$62.50/hr
Monthly Pay
$10,833
Reviewed May 18, 2026
2026 Health Actuary Salary Market Notes
Market context
Health actuary compensation is driven by insurance carriers, consulting firms, healthcare analytics teams, Medicare/Medicaid work, ACA pricing, employer benefits, and value-based-care risk modeling.
What drives higher pay
The strongest salary drivers are actuarial exam progress, ASA/FSA credentials, pricing, reserving, healthcare claims analytics, risk adjustment, SQL/SAS/R/Python, and communication with finance, product, and regulatory teams.
Location note
Hartford, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, and Minneapolis show strong demand because they cluster insurers, benefits consultants, managed-care organizations, and actuarial consulting practices.
Career move
A practical salary move is to combine exam progress with healthcare data engineering or risk-adjustment specialization. Fully credentialed actuaries with strong modeling and stakeholder communication can command a much wider range.
Use BLS actuary wage data as the baseline, then compare against health-specific actuarial postings because healthcare credentials and exam progress materially change pay.
Health Actuary Salary Calculator
Adjust your state and experience level to see the estimated Health Actuary salary in your area.
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
Estimated Health Actuary Salary
$145,000
$12,083/month · $5,577/biweekly · $69.71/hr
Health Actuary Salary Range
Salary distribution from entry-level to top earners in the Health Actuary field.
Entry-level Health Actuarys earn around $79,600, while the top 10% earn $211,800 or more.
Top Paying States for Health Actuarys
| State | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $150,000 | +$20,000 |
| Connecticut | $143,000 | +$13,000 |
| Illinois | $135,000 | +$5,000 |
| Minnesota | $133,000 | +$3,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $130,000 | $0 |
Top Paying Cities for Health Actuarys
| City | Est. Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $153,000 | +$23,000 |
| Hartford | $138,000 | +$8,000 |
| Chicago | $137,000 | +$7,000 |
| Minneapolis | $134,000 | +$4,000 |
| Philadelphia | $133,000 | +$3,000 |
City figures are Salario estimates that scale the national median by a city cost-of-labor multiplier; BLS does not publish a metro-level series for this title.
Required Skills & Certifications
Key Skills
Certifications
Health Actuary Career Progression
Typical salary growth path for a Health Actuary from entry level to expert.
$79,600
0-2 years
$129,000
3-7 years
$178,200
8-14 years
$245,400
15+ years
Related Finance Jobs
Health Actuary Salary FAQ
How much does a Health Actuary make in 2026?
The median salary for a Health Actuary in the United States is $130,000 per year, the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median for Actuaries (SOC 15-2011); the mean is $141,480. Salario's calibrated tiers put entry-level positions around $79,600, senior professionals around $178,200, and top earners at $245,400 or more annually.
What education is needed to become a Health Actuary?
A Health Actuary typically requires a Bachelor's Degree with 3-5 years of experience. Key skills include Healthcare Analytics, Risk Modeling, Pricing. Relevant certifications such as ASA or FSA can boost earning potential and career advancement.
What is the job outlook for Health Actuarys?
The job market for Health Actuarys is projected to grow by 24% over the next decade. There are currently approximately 27K Health Actuary positions in the US. Salary growth over the past 5 years has been approximately 20%, reflecting strong demand for this role.
Which states pay Health Actuarys the most?
The highest-paying states for Health Actuarys include Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania. In Connecticut, the median salary is approximately $143,000. However, cost of living varies significantly, so adjusted purchasing power should be considered when comparing salaries across states.
How can I increase my Health Actuary salary?
To increase your Health Actuary salary, focus on gaining expertise in high-demand skills like Healthcare Analytics and Risk Modeling. Pursue certifications such as ASA. Consider relocating to higher-paying markets like Hartford. With 3-5 years of experience, you can progress from $79,600 to $178,200 or more.
Methodology & Data Sources: Health Actuary Salary
How we calculate Health Actuary salary data: The national median is the official BLS OEWS May 2025 annual median wage for Actuaries (SOC 15-2011), retrieved from the BLS Public Data API. The entry, senior and top tiers are a Salario model: the shape of the distribution is Salario's, rescaled so that its median equals the BLS median. State and most city figures are Salario estimates that apply cost-of-labor multipliers to that median.
- National median salary: $130,000, BLS OEWS May 2025 annual median for Actuaries; BLS mean $141,480; BLS hourly median $62.50.
- Entry-level ($79,600) and senior-level ($178,200) are Salario tiers calibrated to the BLS median; they are not BLS percentiles. BLS publishes P10/P25/P75/P90 wages for this occupation in its OEWS tables.
- Job outlook: +24% projected growth is Salario's outlook figure; compare with the BLS Employment Projections program. BLS OEWS May 2025 counts 26,670 Actuaries jobs nationwide.
- 5-year salary growth: 20% is a Salario estimate of past 5-year wage growth for the Finance sector, informed by the BLS Employment Cost Index.
- Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree, per BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entry for this occupation.
- State and city estimates apply Salario cost-of-labor multipliers to the national median of $130,000; city rows marked "BLS metro" are real OEWS metropolitan-area medians instead.
Authoritative US data sources for Health Actuary compensation:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), national and metro-area salary data
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Health Actuary job projections, education, and career outlook
- BLS Employment Projections, 10-year occupation growth and decline data
- BLS Employment Cost Index, quarterly compensation trend data for Finance
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation for cost-of-living wage adjustments
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary, 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
Disclaimer: Health Actuary salary figures are statistical estimates for general guidance. Actual compensation depends on employer, location, negotiation, specific skills (Healthcare Analytics, Risk Modeling, Pricing), certifications, and industry conditions. Always verify with multiple sources including current job listings, recruiter data, and direct employer offers before making career decisions.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated May 17, 2026 · BLS figures: OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026), retrieved from the BLS API on September 17, 2026
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