Actuaries pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $209,260 or more. The middle half of actuaries in Chicago earn between $95,970 and $163,690.
- $80K10th
- $96K25th
- $114KMedian
- $164K75th
- $209K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $129,500 | $10,792 | $62.26 |
| Median | $113,730 | $9,478 | $54.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $95,970 | $7,998 | $46.14 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $163,690 | $13,641 | $78.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Actuaries pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Actuaries in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($129,580) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($141,480). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $130,000.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $129,500 | $113,730 | $79,640 | $209,260 | 1,560 |
| Illinois | $129,580 | $115,430 | $77,790 | $202,160 | 2,280 |
| United States | $141,480 | $130,000 | $78,570 | $215,100 | 26,670 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Actuaries salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $129,500, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $93,510 a year, or $7,793 a month and $3,597 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $95,924 | $7,994 |
| Working in IL | $93,510 | $7,793 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for actuaries? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $129,500 buys what about $125,006 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Actuaries salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 2 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$129,500
- Springfield$117,910
Highest-paying cities for actuaries
Bridgeport, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($176,120).
- Bridgeport, CT$176,120
- San Francisco, CA$168,260
- New York, NY$166,660
- Hartford, CT$163,460
- New Haven, CT$159,070
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Actuaries salary in Chicago: questions
How much do actuaries make an hour in Chicago?
$62.26 an hour on average, and $54.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level actuaries salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $95,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the actuaries take-home pay in Chicago?
About $93,510 a year ($7,793 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $129,500.
Do actuaries earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($141,480).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-2011; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.01, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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