Actuary jobs in the US span insurance, reinsurance and consulting, with opportunities to search in New York, Chicago, Hartford and other insurance markets. Most candidates need a quantitative bachelor鈥檚 degree and progress on professional exams. Some employers have filed H-1B paperwork for actuarial roles, but sponsorship depends on the vacancy. This guide covers US actuary salaries, where to apply, and when a US immigration lawyer, visa consultant, actuarial recruitment agency or relocation service can help.
Actuaries use data to price insurance, estimate future claims, and measure how much an insurer might lose under different scenarios. A health actuary might forecast medical costs for a health plan. A property and casualty actuary might estimate what an insurer should set aside for claims that are still being settled. Search for actuarial analyst, pricing actuary, reserving actuary, health actuary and reinsurance actuary. Try Hartford and New York for insurer roles, Chicago for consulting, and Boston, Seattle or Minneapolis to broaden the search.
US actuary salary benchmark
Annual wage
Lowest 10%
Below $78,570
National median
$130,000
Highest 10%
Above $215,100
These May 2025 figures cover the occupation across experience levels. Use the salary band on the vacancy to evaluate an entry-level offer. Compare base pay, exam raises, paid study time and relocation assistance separately. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Employers typically look for a bachelor鈥檚 degree in actuarial science, mathematics, statistics or a related quantitative field. Early-career applicants often have one or two exams passed. The Society of Actuaries (SOA) is the usual credentialing route for life, health and retirement work. The Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) focuses on property and casualty insurance. If you qualified abroad, check directly with the relevant society about recognition or exam credit. Put exams passed and credentials earned near the top of your r茅sum茅, followed by skills you can demonstrate in Excel, SQL, Python or R. BLS qualifications 路 SOA 路 CAS
Employers and actuarial recruitment agencies
These employers are leads based on historical H-1B Labor Condition Applications (LCAs). An LCA is one step in the process. It does not establish that a petition was approved, that a vacancy is open, or that the employer will sponsor your position. Search the official careers page and ask about the specific job ID.
Employer and filing evidence
Office contact and where to apply
Milliman. A 2026 H-1B LCA listed an Actuarial Analyst in Chicago.
Check employer names, worksites and job titles in the Department of Labor disclosure files. Office addresses above are company contacts. The worksite is listed on the vacancy.
International recruitment. D.W. Simpson recruits actuarial and analytics candidates from entry level through fellowship. Its Chicago office is at 1801 W Warner Ave., Suite 203, Chicago, IL 60613, +1 312 867 2300. Send your specialty, exam progress and work authorization needs through its contact form. The hiring employer decides whether to sponsor. D.W. Simpson contact
Employer-sponsored work visas and permanent residence
Route
Who it may fit
H-1B visa sponsorship
A U.S. employer hiring for a specialty occupation. The position and your degree or equivalent must qualify. Cap-subject cases normally involve registration and selection before the employer can petition.
L-1 transfer
An employee of a qualifying multinational moving to a related U.S. entity after the required employment abroad. L-1B requires specialized knowledge.
O-1A
A candidate with documented extraordinary ability in a qualifying field. A U.S. employer or agent petitions.
E-3 or H-1B1
Specialty occupation options for eligible Australian nationals (E-3) or Chilean and Singaporean nationals (H-1B1).
For an employment-based green card, EB-3 Professional can fit a permanent role requiring a U.S. bachelor鈥檚 degree or foreign equivalent. EB-2 may fit an advanced-degree role or an eligible exceptional-ability case. The usual employer-sponsored process involves PERM labor certification, Form I-140 and, when eligible and a visa number is available, adjustment of status or immigrant visa processing. EB-2 National Interest Waiver can allow self-petitioning if you meet its separate criteria. A green card generally lets you live and work permanently in the U.S. and can lead to naturalization if you qualify. USAGov employment-based immigration 路 Visa Bulletin 路 USCIS contact, 1-800-375-5283 within the U.S.
Express Entry and the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) are Canadian permanent residence pathways. Express Entry manages applications for certain skilled-worker programs. RCIP requires an eligible offer from a designated employer and a community recommendation. Use the Canadian government鈥檚 contact directory for the applicable office and inquiry channel. Express Entry 路 RCIP 路 IRCC contact
How to apply, from job search to embassy interview
Apply to a specific vacancy. Match the practice area and level. Answer current and future sponsorship questions accurately. Ask whether the employer supports a new cap-subject H-1B, can handle a qualifying change of employer, or supports another route.
Prepare your documents. Gather your passport, r茅sum茅, degree and transcripts, exam records, employment letters and certified translations if required. Ask employer counsel whether a foreign credential evaluation is needed. Keep your written offer and job description.
Let the employer handle its filings. For a typical H-1B case the employer obtains an LCA and files Form I-129, after selection if subject to the cap. A job offer or petition receipt alone does not authorize you to start work.
Apply through official channels. If you need a petition-based visa abroad, follow the post鈥檚 instructions. Typically you complete Form DS-160, pay the applicable fee, arrange an interview and bring your passport, confirmation page and petition receipt number. Verify the employer name, job title and worksite against the paperwork. State Department temporary worker visas 路 DS-160 portal
Embassy contacts and verification for Nigeria. The U.S. Consulate General Lagos is at 2 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, +234 201 460 3400 (main line). The U.S. Embassy Abuja is at 1075 Diplomatic Drive, Central District Area, +234 209 461 4328 (main line). Use the U.S. Mission website for current appointment instructions and confirm the post before travelling. The State Department lists Nigeria under its immigrant visa issuance pause. Separate nationality-based entry and visa restrictions can also apply. Check your specific category and any exceptions with the mission and employer counsel before making relocation plans. U.S. Mission Nigeria 路 Official addresses and main lines 路 Immigrant visa pause
Conclusion
Start by deciding which kind of actuarial work you can credibly apply for today. If you have passed early exams and can explain an analysis you built, actuarial analyst jobs are a sensible starting point. If you already work on health pricing, claims reserving or reinsurance, lead with that specialty. A hiring manager should be able to tell what you worked on, what you owned and how someone used the result. A line explaining how you reconciled claims data before a pricing review is more useful than a list of five software packages. Keep the details concrete, and use anonymized or public data if you want to show a sample.
Apply where the work and the immigration route both fit. A historical H-1B filing can help you decide which careers pages to check first. The recruiter still needs to confirm whether the team can sponsor the opening you found. If you are abroad and would need a first-time cap-subject filing, say so early. If you are already in the U.S., give the recruiter your actual status and relevant dates so counsel can assess the case. A company that can hire someone with existing authorization may have a different timeline for a candidate who needs a new petition and an interview overseas.
When an offer comes through, read the compensation and relocation terms together. The national median includes experienced and credentialed actuaries, so the vacancy鈥檚 range is a better benchmark for the role in front of you. Ask which exam expenses the employer reimburses and whether study time is paid. If you are comparing relocation services, get a written quote that spells out what it covers, including temporary housing or shipping if those matter to you. Ask how any relocation repayment clause would work if the start date moves or employment ends early. Budget using the compensation and support that appear in writing.
Treat employer-sponsored work visas and a green card as separate decisions. A temporary route may solve your immediate work authorization needs, while permanent residence can depend on a separate employer policy, your eligibility and visa availability. If settlement is central to your plans, ask when the company considers PERM and who manages the case. An independent US immigration lawyer can help assess how an overseas degree, a prior refusal or a nationality-based restriction affects your options. If a visa consultant offers scheduling or document support, verify who is responsible for legal advice before you pay.
Avoid the mistakes that are hardest to undo. Answer sponsorship questions honestly, check that dates and job details match across your documents, and use the embassy鈥檚 official instructions for payments and bookings. Walk away from anyone selling a guaranteed work visa or asking you to transfer money for an interview slot outside the official process. Wait until you know when you can legally start before resigning, signing a lease or booking a one-way flight. You can make progress now by choosing a specialty, shortlisting live vacancies, tailoring your r茅sum茅 and confirming sponsorship by job ID. That gives you a job search you can act on this week and a basis for judging offers when they arrive.
