# Actuaries

> Analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. May ascertain insurance rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/actuaries
- SOC code: 15-2011.00
- Career family: Computers and math
- Median annual pay: $130,000 (10th percentile $78,570, 90th percentile $215,100)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +9.2%
- Openings a year: 1,500
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CIE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 13 |
| Investigative (I) | 58 |
| Artistic (A) | 2 |
| Social (S) | 25 |
| Enterprising (E) | 39 |
| Conventional (C) | 88 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 95/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 94/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 93/100)
- Processing Information (importance 92/100)
- Getting Information (importance 88/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 83/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 82/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 81/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 71/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 70/100)

## Skills

Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Speaking, Systems Evaluation, Writing, Systems Analysis

## Knowledge

Mathematics, Economics and Accounting, Computers and Electronics, English Language, Administration and Management, Law and Government, Administrative, Customer and Personal Service, Sales and Marketing, Personnel and Human Resources

## Also called

Actuarial Analyst, Actuarial Associate, Actuarial Consultant, Actuarial Mathematician, Actuarial Specialist, Actuary, Annuity Analyst, Consulting Actuary, Enrolled Actuary, Health Actuary

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Business Administration, Management and Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5202) (CIP 5202, 2,372 colleges)
- [Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5213) (CIP 5213, 631 colleges)
- [Applied Mathematics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2703) (CIP 2703, 426 colleges)
- [Statistics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2705) (CIP 2705, 290 colleges)
- Applied Statistics (CIP 2706, 39 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Statistics | not reported | $230,876 | not reported |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $97,419 | $160,783 | $19,000 |
| [New York University NYU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-york-university-nyu-1866) | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $111,101 | $158,559 | $13,250 |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Applied Mathematics | $135,449 | $157,822 | $8,125 |
| [Stevens Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stevens-institute-of-technology-2604) | Applied Mathematics | $105,295 | $156,419 | $23,250 |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $125,147 | $153,279 | $11,250 |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Statistics | $131,046 | $152,782 | $13,500 |
| [Northwestern University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwestern-university-illinois-1966) | Applied Mathematics | not reported | $148,740 | $17,250 |

## Related careers

- [Personal Financial Advisors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/personal-financial-advisors): $105,070 median pay
- [Financial Risk Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/financial-risk-specialists): $117,330 median pay
- [Financial and Investment Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/financial-and-investment-analysts): $102,740 median pay
- [Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compensation-benefits-and-job-analysis-specialists): $78,210 median pay
- [Accountants and Auditors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/accountants-and-auditors): $83,680 median pay
- [Economists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/economists): $124,720 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.