Actuary salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Actuaries in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $130,540 a year ($62.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 400 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,480 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $130,000. Pay here is 1% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $128,690. There are 0.99 actuaries per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 5.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $125,300, close to the median.
Pay range for actuaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,980 | $39.41 |
| 25th percentile | $99,680 | $47.92 |
| Median | $130,540 | $62.76 |
| 75th percentile | $154,270 | $74.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,480 | $83.40 |
| Average (mean) | $125,300 | $60.24 |
Half of actuaries earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,878.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,439.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,020.77 |
| Weekly | $2,510.38 |
| Hourly | $62.76 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $130,540 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Actuary salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE-IA | $107,130 | 140 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $104,210 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for actuaries
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $166,800 |
| District of Columbia | $166,230 |
| New York | $156,480 |
| New Jersey | $142,800 |
| Alabama | $136,950 |
| Arizona | $135,870 |
| Washington | $134,720 |
| Utah | $132,720 |
| Nevada | $132,370 |
| Florida | $132,110 |
See Actuary pay in every state or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | $103,030 | $49.53 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $83,410 | $40.10 |
| Statistician | $58,840 | $28.29 |
| Software Developer | $126,460 | $60.80 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $102,070 | $49.07 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $59,450 | $28.58 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $109,490 | $52.64 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $89,800 | $43.17 |
| Information Security Analyst | $123,740 | $59.49 |
| Computer Network Architect | $108,280 | $52.06 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $62,050 | $29.83 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $98,190 | $47.21 |
| Computer Programmer | $79,200 | $38.08 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $75,680 | $36.38 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a actuary make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for actuaries in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $130,540 a year, or $62.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid actuaries make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of actuaries in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $173,480 a year. The top 25% earn $154,270 or more.
What is the starting pay for actuaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,980 a year, and a quarter of actuaries earn $99,680 or less.
How many actuaries work in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 400 actuaries are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.