Actuary Salary in Durham, NC — 2026
Actuary salary data for Durham, NC — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The estimated median Actuary salary in Durham, NC is $132,600 per year ($11,050/month, $64/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median) by the local cost of living index of 102, which is 2% above the national average.
All four figures are Salario estimates (national benchmark scaled by Durham's cost-of-living index); BLS does not publish a metro median for this title here.
Actuary Take-Home Pay in Durham
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $132,600 |
| Federal Tax | -$20,558 |
| State Tax (3.6% eff.) | -$4,782 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$10,144 |
| Annual Take-Home | $97,116 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $8,093 |
Living Cost Comparison
Actuary Requirements
Key Skills
Durham Job Market Overview
Durham, North Carolina has a population of 283,506 and an unemployment rate of 3.0%. The top industries are Technology, Healthcare, Education. The local job growth rate is 3.2%, and the average commute time is 23minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Actuary Salary in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown — Actuary in Durham
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Actuary in Durham, NC, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $80,988 | $39/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $106,794 | $51/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $132,600 | $64/hr | Mid-career, 2-5 years |
| 75th | $179,520 | $86/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $238,170 | $115/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles are approximations, not measured local percentiles: P10, P50, P75, and P90 map to Salario's entry, median, senior, and top salary tiers scaled by the local cost-of-living index, and P25 is interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Durham's Technology sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 23.0% salary growth for Actuarys over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Durham estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Actuary can expect a 14.2% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 6 years in Durham. Negotiation, certifications (ASA, FSA), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Durham vs National Average
The national median Actuary salary is $130,000 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Actuaries). In Durham, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $132,600 is 2.0% above the national figure. This reflects Durham's cost of living index of 102 (higher than the national average of 100).
For Actuarys, this means: rent typically consumes 17.3% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Durham costs about 3.6× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Durham.
Industry Context: Technology in Durham
Durham's economy is anchored by Technology, Healthcare, Education, with 283,506 residents and an unemployment rate of 3.0% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Actuarys can differ by sector, so compare Technology employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 3.2%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 21.0% growth outlook for Actuary roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Actuary salaries in Durham, NC:
- Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available (the national median is calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for Actuaries). For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Durham index of 102 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), NC 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 4.0%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine — occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau — Durham QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — official local unemployment rates to verify the Durham figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Actuary salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Technology vs others in Durham), specific skill set (Statistical Modeling, Risk Assessment, R), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Actuary salary in Durham, NC?
How much does a Actuary take home in Durham after taxes?
Is Durham a good city for Actuarys?
What skills are needed for a Actuary in Durham?
How does Actuary salary in Durham compare to the national average?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Actuary salary in Durham, NC?
Salario estimates the median Actuary salary in Durham, NC at $132,600 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Actuary benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 102, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $80,988, and the senior estimate is $179,520 or more.
How much does a Actuary take home in Durham after taxes?
A Actuary earning the median salary of $132,600 in Durham, NC takes home approximately $97,116 per year ($8,093/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 26.8%.
Is Durham a good city for Actuarys?
Durham, NC has a cost of living index of 102 (above national average). Actuarys here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 3.0% and top industries include Technology, Healthcare, Education.
What skills are needed for a Actuary in Durham?
Key skills for Actuarys include Statistical Modeling, Risk Assessment, R, SAS, Probability Theory. Typical education requirement is Bachelor's Degree. Valuable certifications include ASA, FSA, CERA.
How does Actuary salary in Durham compare to the national average?
Salario's national median benchmark for Actuary is $130,000 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Durham, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $132,600, which is 2.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.