Skip to content
AffordMap
COL-adjusted ranking

Best Cities for Actuariess by Take-Home Pay

The cities that pay Actuariess the most on paper aren't usually the best deals once rent and prices are factored in. Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas ranks first with a COL-adjusted equivalent of $158,411/year, better purchasing power than Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas's higher nominal pay of $158,760. The table below uses BLS OEWS May 2024 salary data and BEA Regional Price Parities.

Highest nominal pay

#1 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas$158,760
#2 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$152,650
#3 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin$146,130

Best purchasing power

#1 Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas$158,411
#2 Birmingham$156,296
#3 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin$151,682

Top 25 metros by purchasing power

Ranked by COL-adjusted salary. Metros with fewer than 100 employed actuariess excluded.

Rank
Metro
Nominal
COL-adj.
#1
$158,760
$158,411
#2
Birmingham
11% rent burden
$143,230
$156,296
#3
$146,130
$151,682
#4
$131,460
$143,359
#5
$139,950
$139,531
#6
Salt Lake City-Murray
11% rent burden
$140,290
$139,080
#7
$135,050
$138,726
#8
Milwaukee-Waukesha
12% rent burden
$134,230
$138,467
#9
$152,650
$138,245
#10
Kansas City
13% rent burden
$127,550
$137,832
#11
$138,280
$134,579
#12
St. Louis
11% rent burden
$127,800
$134,399
#13
Richmond
15% rent burden
$130,360
$133,211
#14
Jacksonville
15% rent burden
$128,710
$129,383
#15
Cleveland
13% rent burden
$120,870
$128,695
#16
$130,750
$127,499
#17
$137,610
$126,387
#18
$140,640
$124,947
#19
$129,360
$123,801
#20
Tallahassee
14% rent burden
$116,250
$123,776
#21
$135,280
$121,731
#22
$126,040
$121,672
#23
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
18% rent burden
$124,410
$120,412
#24
Worcester
20% rent burden
$122,200
$119,196
#25
$136,410
$117,992

COL-adjusted = nominal salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). Rent burden = annual 2BR FMR as % of nominal salary. Sources: BLS OEWS May 2024, BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents.

Common questions

What does "COL-adjusted pay" mean for Actuariess?

COL-adjusted pay divides the BLS median salary by the BEA Regional Price Parity index (100 = national average). A salary of $158,760 in a city with RPP 120 has the same purchasing power as $132,300 at national average prices.

Why doesn't New York or San Francisco top this list?

Both cities pay above-average salaries, but rent and everyday costs eat most of that premium. A actuaries in New York might earn 30% more but pay 60-80% more in rent. The net result is often less purchasing power than mid-cost metros.

How is purchasing power calculated?

Purchasing power equals nominal median salary divided by (BEA RPP divided by 100). BEA's Regional Price Parities measure relative price levels across metro areas, updated annually from the National Income and Product Accounts.

What's the most affordable metro for Actuariess?

Birmingham has one of the lowest rent burdens for Actuariess in this dataset. HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom is $1,266/month, with a median salary of $143,230.

Where do Actuariess get paid the most in nominal terms?

Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas pays the highest nominal median salary at $158,760/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. But check the COL-adjusted column before accepting any relocation offer.

National salary breakdown for ActuariessView →How to become a actuariesGuide →Compare two cities side by sideCompare →