Actuaries Salary
The median pay for a actuaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is $134,720/year ($64.77/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $210K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $121,227 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,501/month, or 28.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $135K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Actuaries pay in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue tracks closely to the national median, $135K locally vs. $130K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $2,501/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for actuaries in metros near Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $129K | $122K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level actuaries (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $210K or more, a $125K 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a actuary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 29.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for actuaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new actuaries typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,125/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $135K locally vs. $130K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for actuaries?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $130K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $121K — below the national median.
How much do actuaries make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $134,720 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,420, and experienced actuaries can clear $209,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,570/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 29.2% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (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 $121,227 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.