Actuary.
Chicago.
$140,000
median salary, 11% above the national average
$101,000 to $184,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Chicago is 7% more expensive than the national average. For Actuarys, that shakes out to a median of $140,000, with the full range spanning $101,000 to $184,000. Exam progress is the single most predictive salary factor for actuaries. Know the range before you walk in. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Actuary in Chicago, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $113,730 for Actuaries (SOC 15-2011) in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area, based on 1,560 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$79,640
25th percentile
$95,970
Median
$113,730
75th percentile
$163,690
90th percentile
$209,260
Workers surveyed
1,560
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Actuaries (SOC 15-2011) rather than Actuary specifically. The Chicagorange at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 15-2011Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $126,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$91,000
to $112,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$119,000
to $147,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$154,000
to $182,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$175,000
to $217,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $39,000 to the total package.
Base
$140,000
Equity
$22,000
Bonus
$14,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $179,000
How Chicago compares.
Chicago, IL
$140,000
Cost of living: 7% above average
National Average
$126,000
Chicago is $14,000 above
Actuary salary by city.
Salary by role in Chicago.
What you should know.
The Actuary landscape in Chicago is not what most salary sites will tell you. Chicago's economy is anchored by finance, manufacturing, and a rapidly expanding tech sector. The city has become a major hub for fintech, enterprise SaaS, and e-commerce. With lower living costs than coastal cities and a deep talent pool from top universities, Chicago offers strong salary to cost of living ratios for professionals across industries. Exam progress is the single most predictive salary factor for actuaries. Each passed SOA or CAS exam adds approximately $5,000 to $15,000 in base salary. Fully credentialed fellows earn 40 to 60% more than entry-level associates. Consulting actuaries typically earn more than insurance company actuaries at equivalent experience levels.
Entry-level actuarial analysts with zero to two exams earn $65,000 to $85,000. Associates (ASA) earn $90,000 to $120,000. Fellows (FSA/FCAS) reach $130,000 to $180,000. Chief actuaries and actuarial directors earn $175,000 to $280,000. Consulting principals can exceed $350,000. In Chicago, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Exam bonuses of $2,000 to $5,000 per passed exam are standard, plus paid study time (typically 100 to 200 hours). Annual bonuses of 10 to 20% are common. Consulting firms offer higher variable pay. Many employers cover exam fees, study materials, and raise base salary with each credential milestone. And on the tax side: illinois has a flat 4.95% state income tax. Chicago does not levy a separate city income tax, making the overall burden moderate compared to coastal metros. When someone quotes you $140,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference the Bay Area or NYC salary band for your role, then negotiate a modest discount. Chicago employers routinely offer 85 to 90% of coastal pay. The range for Actuarys in Chicago runs from $101,000 to $184,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
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