Actuary salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Actuaries in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $131,040 a year ($63.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $86,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $259,850 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $130,000. Pay here is about the same as the California statewide median of $130,510. There are 0.10 actuaries per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.59). The average (mean) salary is $154,360, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for actuaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $86,670 | $41.67 |
| 25th percentile | $101,720 | $48.90 |
| Median | $131,040 | $63.00 |
| 75th percentile | $217,950 | $104.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $259,850 | $124.93 |
| Average (mean) | $154,360 | $74.21 |
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 | $10,920 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,460 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,040 |
| Weekly | $2,520 |
| Hourly | $63.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $131,040 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $175,330 | 220 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $127,970 | 380 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $124,140 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $116,580 | 110 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $107,890 | 60 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Data Scientist | $185,080 | $88.98 |
| Operations Research Analyst | $123,360 | $59.31 |
| Statistician | $202,840 | $97.52 |
| Software Developer | $213,110 | $102.46 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $184,430 | $88.67 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $157,140 | $75.55 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $166,530 | $80.06 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $93,590 | $45.00 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $201,260 | $96.76 |
| Computer Network Architect | $186,110 | $89.47 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $133,360 | $64.12 |
| Information Security Analyst | $176,120 | $84.67 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $218,420 | $105.01 |
| Web Developer | $166,670 | $80.13 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for actuaries in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $131,040 a year, or $63.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $86,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $259,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid actuaries make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of actuaries in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $259,850 a year. The top 25% earn $217,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for actuaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $86,670 a year, and a quarter of actuaries earn $101,720 or less.
How many actuaries work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 120 actuaries are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.