Actuaries Salary
The median pay for a actuaries in Pennsylvania is $125,040/year ($60.12/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $202K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $131,663 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 17.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $125K get you in Pennsylvania?
About actuaries
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Actuaries pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $125K locally vs. $130K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 17.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level actuaries (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $125K. Top earners bring in $202K or more, a $124K spread from bottom to top.
Actuaries salary by metro in Pennsylvania
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $128K | +2% | 780 |
| Pittsburgh | $118K | -6% | 170 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $110K | -12% | 40 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $107K | -15% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track actuaries salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a actuary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $125K, rent takes 17.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for actuaries in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new actuaries typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,683/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is actuary a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $125K locally vs. $130K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for actuaries?
Pennsylvania pays $125K median vs. the U.S. average of $130K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $132K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do actuaries make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $125,040 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,050, and experienced actuaries can clear $201,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $125K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,698/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 17.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a actuaries salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median actuaries salary is worth about $131,663 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do actuaries get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.