isworthit

Is an Actuary a Good Career in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania · 2026 BLS salary data

an Actuary pay in Pennsylvania

The median wage is $125,040/yr — 4% below the national median. Among U.S. states, Pennsylvaniaranks #21 of 36 states by median pay.

The numbers in Pennsylvania

Real BLS state-level figures for Actuary.

Median salary
$125,040/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$96,990 – $161,090
National median
$130,000/yr
Employed in Pennsylvania
1,710

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Pennsylvania

Salary alone can mislead — Pennsylvania costs 2% less than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
97.6
Nominal median
$125,040
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $128,115
State income tax
Up to 3.07%

Because Pennsylvania costs 2% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #17 of 36 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #21 on raw salary.

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions; some localities also levy income tax.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Actuary nationally — Pennsylvania pay is 4% below the national median. See the full an Actuary career guide →

The verdict

Yes — actuarial work offers high pay, excellent job security, strong projected growth, and a debt-light path via professional exams rather than expensive grad school. The trade-off is a demanding, years-long exam gauntlet and detail-heavy, quantitative work.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • High pay with excellent job security
  • Much-faster-than-average projected growth
  • Exam-based entry — no expensive grad degree needed
  • Pay rises with each exam passed
  • Strong work-life balance once credentialed

Cons

  • Long, demanding series of professional exams
  • Years of self-study alongside full-time work
  • Detail-heavy, quantitative day-to-day
  • Narrow field concentrated in insurance/finance
  • Slow start until early exams are passed

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • Strong math and statistics people
  • Disciplined self-studiers
  • Those wanting high pay without grad-school debt

✗ Probably not if…

  • People who dislike heavy math
  • Those unwilling to grind years of exams

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Actuary is worth it — titles link to the original threads.