Entry-Level Actuary Salary in Janesville, WI: $74,016 (2026)
Quick Answer:New actuaries entering the Janesville, WI job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $74,016 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 15-2011, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Janesville's local price level (BEA RPP 93.4 — 7% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $79,246 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($121,169) within a few years of clinical practice.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Starting salaries for new actuaries in Janesville, Wisconsin, are projected to be around $74,016 in 2026. This entry-level compensation is noticeably lower than the city's median annual salary of $121,169, indicating a significant gap in earnings for those beginning their careers in this field. However, over the first few years, entry-level actuaries in Janesville can expect their salaries to gradually increase, with potential earnings reaching approximately $90,725 after gaining some experience and additional qualifications. Given the projected 3.20% growth rate, Janesville remains a reasonable market for recent graduates looking to enter the profession, especially when weighing cost of living advantages against the robust support for continuing education and credentialing in the area.
About the Janesville Market
Salary estimated from Wisconsin average ($122,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Career Earnings Timeline in Janesville
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Janesville
Entry-level actuarys in Janesville, WI typically start between $74,016 and $90,725 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $113,797 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $121,169 — 9.68% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average actuarial science program cost in Wisconsin of $48,000 represents just 64.85% of the starting actuary pay ($74,016/year) in Janesville. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates cover bachelor's degree tuition at public and private universities, plus estimated actuarial exam fees and study materials. Employers often cover exam costs once employed.
ASA, FSA Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Janesville
- 1Research the Janesville market: entry-level actuary pay ranges from $74,016 to $90,725, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the actuarial science field — employers in WI often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Janesville, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Janesville for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Janesville's below-average cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Actuary Compensation Range
The actuary wage spread in Janesville is $113,797 ( 153.75%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $74,016, experienced hygienists can earn up to $187,813.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$59,206
2025 BLS Actual
$71,721
2026 Current Est.
$74,016
2019–2027 Growth
+29.0%
Salary Trajectory for Actuaries in Janesville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $59,206 | Actual |
| 2020 | $60,274 | Actual |
| 2021 | $57,746 | Actual |
| 2022 | $65,505 | Actual |
| 2023 | $68,809 | Actual |
| 2024 | $66,630 | Actual |
| 2025 | $71,721 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $74,016 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $76,385 | Projected |
Entry-level actuary compensation (10th percentile) in Janesville, WI grew 21.1% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $59,206 in 2019 to $71,721 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $76,385. New graduates entering the Janesville job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Janesville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.20% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Your actuarial science Career in Janesville
Employment opportunities for new actuarial graduates in Janesville primarily lie within large life insurance companies such as Prudential, MetLife, and Northwestern Mutual, all of which actively recruit from relevant academic programs. Health insurance firms also hire entry-level actuaries, creating additional avenues for employment. Consulting firms like Milliman, Mercer, Aon, and WTW are known to offer competitive salaries for analysts working towards their ASA credentials, making them attractive options for early-career professionals. To boost starting pay in Wisconsin, candidates should focus on obtaining a degree in mathematics, statistics, or actuarial science, as well as passing key actuarial exams set by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) or the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS). Specifically, each completed exam typically yields a salary increase ranging from $3,000 to $8,000, emphasizing that a strategic approach to exam progression can significantly impact an actuary's earnings trajectory in their first few years.
More salary data for Janesville, WI:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Maria Chen, FSA, MAAA
Career Analyst
Maria has 10 years of experience in life insurance. She specializes in risk assessment and pricing strategies.
Methodology & Data Source
Entry-level salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new actuarial science graduates. A 3.20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Janesville. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Janesville is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.20%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for actuarys (SOC 15-2011).
Compiled and verified by Maria Chen, FSA, MAAA, a licensed actuary with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov