Actuaries pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $228,580 or more. The middle half of actuaries in Columbia earn between $96,910 and $170,760.
- $66K10th
- $97K25th
- $133KMedian
- $171K75th
- $229K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $134,520 | $11,210 | $64.67 |
| Median | $133,060 | $11,088 | $63.97 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $96,910 | $8,076 | $46.59 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $170,760 | $14,230 | $82.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Actuaries pay in Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Actuaries in Columbia earn 5% less than the U.S. average ($141,480). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $130,000.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $134,520 | $133,060 | $65,640 | $228,580 | 80 |
| United States | $141,480 | $130,000 | $78,570 | $215,100 | 26,670 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Actuaries salary after taxes in Columbia
On the average salary of $134,520, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $97,168 a year, or $8,097 a month and $3,737 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for actuaries? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $134,520 buys what about $143,623 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 1.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Actuaries salary in nearby metro areas
- Charlotte, NC$134,370
- Raleigh, NC$131,990
- Jacksonville, FL$137,720
- Richmond, VA$144,150
- Tallahassee, FL$123,610
- Virginia Beach, VA$118,550
Highest-paying cities for actuaries
Bridgeport, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($176,120).
- Bridgeport, CT$176,120
- San Francisco, CA$168,260
- New York, NY$166,660
- Hartford, CT$163,460
- New Haven, CT$159,070
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Actuaries salary in Columbia: questions
How much do actuaries make an hour in Columbia?
$64.67 an hour on average, and $63.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level actuaries salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $96,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the actuaries take-home pay in Columbia?
About $97,168 a year ($8,097 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $134,520.
Do actuaries earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. average for this job ($141,480).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-2011; area Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.12, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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