Actuaries analyze financial risk and uncertainty using mathematics, statistics, and data. They work in insurance, pensions, and investment firms. The role requires a bachelor's degree and strong analytical skills. It is in demand and offers solid earning potential.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
Actuaries analyze data and information to assess financial risk and uncertainty for businesses and individuals. They process complex information using computers and mathematical models to make decisions about pricing, reserves, and benefits. You will spend time getting information from stakeholders, communicating findings to supervisors and peers, and solving problems that affect pricing strategies, pension plans, and insurance products. The work is detail-oriented and requires you to stay current with economic trends and regulatory changes.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Actuaries earn a median of $130,000 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is strong. Employment is projected to grow 22 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average for all occupations, with about 2,400 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
You will need a bachelor's degree in mathematics, actuarial science, economics, or a related field. During your studies, you will build knowledge in mathematics, computers and electronics, economics and accounting, and law and government. Most actuaries pursue professional credentials after entering the field. Your preparation should include strong coursework in mathematics and critical thinking skills. Entry-level positions typically require a bachelor's degree and readiness to develop specialized expertise on the job.
Most actuaries start with a bachelor's degree and then pursue professional credentials while working. The path depends on your background and career goals, so if you are planning your next steps, Pathly can map the actuary path that fits you and turn it into a step-by-step plan with your counselor in the loop.
Many actuarys must be licensed, and professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You are drawn to work that is systematic, analytical, and detail-focused. You like working with data, following established processes, and solving problems through logic and precision.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).