Actuaries Salary
The median pay for a actuaries in Portland-South Portland, ME is $138,220/year ($66.45/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $88K at the entry level to $166K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.86), that's roughly $135,696 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,130/month, or 26.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $138K get you in Portland-South Portland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-South Portland’s Regional Price Parity (101.86). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About actuaries
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What this looks like in Portland-South Portland
Actuaries pay in Portland-South Portland tracks closely to the national median, $138K locally vs. $130K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $2,130/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.86) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-South Portland, ME
Entry-level actuaries (10th percentile) start around $88K. Mid-career wages sit at $138K. Top earners bring in $166K or more, a $78K spread from bottom to top.
Actuaries pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Actuaries salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $167K | +28% | 1,380 |
| District of Columbia | $166K | +28% | 160 |
| New York | $156K | +20% | 2,630 |
| New Jersey | $143K | +10% | 1,260 |
| Alabama | $137K | +5% | 190 |
| Arizona | $136K | +5% | 200 |
| Washington | $135K | +4% | 360 |
| Utah | $133K | +2% | 180 |
| Nevada | $132K | +2% | 120 |
| Florida | $132K | +2% | 1,300 |
| Virginia | $132K | +1% | 440 |
| Wisconsin | $132K | +1% | 890 |
| California | $131K | +0% | 1,280 |
| Oregon | $130K | +0% | 210 |
| Missouri | $129K | -1% | 390 |
| North Carolina | $129K | -1% | 610 |
| Iowa | $129K | -1% | 530 |
| Minnesota | $128K | -1% | 1,170 |
| Maryland | $127K | -2% | 580 |
| Massachusetts | $126K | -3% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $125K | -4% | 1,710 |
| Kansas | $125K | -4% | 180 |
| Colorado | $120K | -7% | 500 |
| Kentucky | $120K | -7% | 70 |
| Maine | $120K | -8% | 80 |
| Illinois | $115K | -11% | 2,280 |
| Rhode Island | $111K | -15% | 100 |
| Ohio | $111K | -15% | 1,090 |
| Oklahoma | $110K | -16% | 70 |
| Tennessee | $109K | -16% | 300 |
| Mississippi | $106K | -18% | 40 |
| Texas | $105K | -19% | 1,750 |
| Nebraska | $103K | -21% | 270 |
| Indiana | $101K | -23% | 780 |
| Michigan | $101K | -23% | 570 |
| Louisiana | $81K | -38% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 36 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track actuaries salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Portland-South Portland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a actuary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Portland-South Portland?
Yes — at the median salary of $138K, rent takes 26.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,130/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for actuaries in Portland-South Portland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new actuaries typically earn — is $88K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,309/month. At HUD’s $2,130/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is actuary a high-paying job in Portland-South Portland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $138K locally vs. $130K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Portland-South Portland compare to the national average for actuaries?
Portland-South Portland pays $138K median vs. the U.S. average of $130K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $136K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do actuaries make in Portland-South Portland, ME?
The median is $138,220 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $88,490, and experienced actuaries can clear $166,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $138K enough to live in Portland-South Portland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,071/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,130/month, which eats 26.4% 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 Portland-South Portland?
Portland-South Portland has a Regional Price Parity of 101.86 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median actuaries salary is worth about $135,696 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.