Actuaries in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where California actuaries fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $101,600 and $188,390, with a median of $130,510.
Actuaries in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 46 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $137,904. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 11 | $89,482 |
| Level II — qualified | 10 | $121,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 12 | $150,579 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 11 | $175,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Actuaries in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| American General Life Insurance Company | ADP Assistant Actuary | 8 | $90,439 |
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | Actuaries - KBGFJG189905-13 | 2 | $160,573 |
| LYFT, Inc. | Actuarial Analyst | 2 | $118,000 |
| Mercer Health & Benefits LLC | Health Actuary-Analyst | 2 | $101,734 |
| Pacific Life Insurance Company | Actuary & Director | 2 | $157,206 |
| PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY | AVP ACTUARY | 2 | $206,750 |
| West Series of Lockton Companies, LLC | Senior Analyst, Actuary | 2 | $137,904 |
| ACE American Insurance Company | AVP & Actuary | 1 | $189,779 |
| Aetna Resources LLC | Sr Mgr, Actuarial-Cred (IC) | 1 | $141,958 |
| Airbnb, Inc. | Lead Actuary | 1 | $156,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Lead Actuary at Airbnb, Inc.$156,000San FranciscoWage Level IIIDecided Mar 26, 2026I-202-26079-717224
- AVP ACTUARY at PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY$237,400NEWPORT BEACHWage Level IVDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26075-705842
- Senior Manager Actuary at DaVita, Inc.$148,678San FranciscoWage Level IIIDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25355-500504
- VP P&C National Product Manager at Horace Mann Service Corporation$182,686Los AngelesWage Level IVDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-491942
- AVP & Actuary at ACE American Insurance Company$189,779SaratogaWage Level IVDecided Nov 6, 2025I-200-25272-340622
- Senior Actuarial Analyst at Coalition Inc.$145,000BelmontDecided Sep 9, 2025I-200-25246-282260
- Actuarial Assistant at RGA Enterprise Services Company$91,786IrvineWage Level IDecided Sep 3, 2025I-200-25238-269404
- Director, Actuarial Pricing at Next Insurance, Inc.$189,779Palo AltoWage Level IVDecided Aug 25, 2025I-203-25230-250350
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Actuaries pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Actuaries specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 24 certified offers. The most common variant is Actuarial Analyst at a median of $110,500.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actuarial Analyst | LYFT, Inc. | 8 | $110,500 |
| Associate Actuary | American General Life Insurance Company | 7 | $156,000 |
| ADP Assistant Actuary | American General Life Insurance Company | 3 | $89,482 |
| Senior Analyst, Actuary | West Series of Lockton Companies, LLC | 3 | $137,904 |
| Associate Director | Aon Re, Inc. | 3 | $186,230 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Actuaries in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 46 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Finance and insurance leads with a median of $137,904.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance and insurance | American General Life Insurance Company | 31 | $137,904 |
| Professional services | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 9 | $125,000 |
| Technology and software | LYFT, Inc. | 5 | $128,000 |
| Healthcare | DaVita, Inc. | 1 | $148,678 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Long-term on-the-job training
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Mathematical Reasoning
Ability
- 4.3 / 5
Judgment and Decision Making
Technical
- 4.3 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.3 / 5
Mathematics
Basic skill
- 4.3 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.1 / 5
Inductive Reasoning
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Number Facility
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Ascertain premium rates required and cash reserves and liabilities necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.
- 02
Collaborate with programmers, underwriters, accounts, claims experts, and senior management to help companies develop plans for new lines of business or improvements to existing business.
- 03
Analyze statistical information to estimate mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates.
- 04
Design, review, and help administer insurance, annuity and pension plans, determining financial soundness and calculating premiums.
- 05
Determine, or help determine, company policy, and explain complex technical matters to company executives, government officials, shareholders, policyholders, or the public.
- 06
Construct probability tables for events such as fires, natural disasters, and unemployment, based on analysis of statistical data and other pertinent information.
- 07
Provide advice to clients on a contract basis, working as a consultant.
- 08
Determine equitable basis for distributing surplus earnings under participating insurance and annuity contracts in mutual companies.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+21.7%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing much faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for actuaries in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Francisco$175,330
- San Jose$131,040
- Los Angeles$127,970
- Riverside$124,140
- Sacramento$116,580
- San Diego$107,890
Compare Actuaries pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Actuaries in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Actuaries in California is $130,510.
- How does California compare to the national median for Actuaries?
- The California median is +8.2% versus the BLS national figure of $120,584.
- What is the salary range for Actuaries in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $83,510 and the 90th-percentile at $219,490, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Actuaries a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 21.7% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Actuaries?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.