Also called: Credentialed Actuary (FSA/FCAS)
Uses math and statistics to measure risk and put a price on uncertain future events.
You build models that predict how many car crashes, hospital visits, or deaths an insurer will pay for, then help set prices so the company stays healthy. A lot of the day is spreadsheets, code, and explaining numbers to executives.
BLS median (May 2024); pay rises sharply with each exam passed.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in math, actuarial science, or statistics, plus a series of professional exams (SOA or CAS) taken while working; full credentials take about 7-10 years. Employers usually pay for exam study.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Actuarial Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics.
Growing much faster than average (about 22% over 10 years). One of the fastest-growing math jobs.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI builds pricing models and reports faster; credentialed actuaries who sign off and explain risk to executives stay needed.
Classes: AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Microeconomics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 15-2011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.