Actuary Salary in California

Median Salary

$165,000

Middle 50% Range

$117,500 – $190,612

P25 – P75

Job Postings

411

with salary data

Latest Data

Aug 2026

Salary Distribution

Under $50k
(1%)
$50k–$75k
(4%)
$75k–$100k
(9%)
$100k–$125k
(17%)
$125k–$150k
(14%)
$150k–$175k
(9%)
$175k–$200k
(22%)
$200k–$250k
(16%)
$250k–$300k
(8%)
$300k+
(0%)

Based on 411 job postings with salary data.

Salary by Experience Level

SegmentMedianPostings
Vice President$235,00019
Director$226,40057
Senior Manager$186,30033
Manager$181,80061
Individual Contributor$131,218222
Intern$67,08014

Salary by Practice Area

SegmentMedianPostings
Life$186,300117
Retirement$181,80015
Health$148,995171
P&C$138,25096

Actuary salary summary for California

Acturhire currently tracks 411 actuarial job postings with disclosed salary data in California. The median salary is $165,000. The middle 50% of postings fall between $117,500 to $190,612, which is often a more useful planning range than a single average.

What affects actuary pay in California

Compensation in California depends on seniority, practice area, credential path, employer type, and whether the role is tied to a local office or broader national pay band. Senior leadership roles and specialized technical positions usually sit above analyst and associate roles.

How to use this salary benchmark

Within the available data, Life has the highest median compensation at $186,300. Compare the state-level tables with city, practice area, and experience-level pages to understand whether the benchmark reflects the roles you are actually targeting.

Relevant job postings

Open a role to review the full requirements and compensation details.

Top Cities in California for Actuary Salaries

City-level compensation can differ from the statewide benchmark when hiring is concentrated around insurers, consulting offices, or headquarters markets. Compare these California city salary pages before using the state median as your only benchmark.

Related Salary Data

Filter by practice area, experience level, and more for California roles.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average or median actuary salary in California?

Based on 411 actuarial job postings on Acturhire, the median actuary salary in California is $165,000. Median is often the better benchmark because senior executive roles can pull averages upward. The middle 50% of roles pay between $117,500 and $190,612.

Which actuarial specialty pays the most in California?

Among practice areas with sufficient data, Life actuaries in California report the highest median salary at $186,300.

How does California compare to the national actuary salary?

The median actuary salary in California is $165,000, compared to a national median of $140,000 across all Acturhire job postings.

What experience level earns the most for actuaries in California?

Senior roles such as Director, VP, and C-Suite consistently command higher median salaries. Use the Acturhire salary tool to filter by org level within California for a detailed breakdown.

How many actuarial jobs with salary data are in California?

Acturhire currently tracks 411 actuarial job postings with salary data in California.

How much do entry-level actuaries make in California?

Entry-level actuary pay in California depends on exam progress, internship experience, technical skills, and whether the role is carrier-side or consulting. Use the experience-level table on this page to compare junior roles with senior actuarial positions in the same state.