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Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Actuaries

Part of Finance, in the Insurance pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 4: considerable preparationO*NET 15-2011.00

What the work is

Analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. May ascertain insurance rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.

On a typical day

  • Ascertain premium rates required and cash reserves and liabilities necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.
  • Analyze statistical information to estimate mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates.
  • Design, review, and help administer insurance, annuity and pension plans, determining financial soundness and calculating premiums.
  • Collaborate with programmers, underwriters, accounts, claims experts, and senior management to help companies develop plans for new lines of business or improvements to existing business.
  • Determine, or help determine, company policy, and explain complex technical matters to company executives, government officials, shareholders, policyholders, or the public.
  • Testify before public agencies on proposed legislation affecting businesses.

What it pays

$102,560
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $77,870
Experienced workers reach $172,580
  1. $78k10th
  2. $84k25th
  3. $103kMedian
  4. $134k75th
  5. $173k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $77,870, 25th $83,990, Median $102,560, 75th $133,690, 90th $172,580

About 120 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

U.S. projection, 2024 to 2034.

+22%

U.S. employment change

2,400

openings a year nationwide, from growth and people leaving

33,600

employed nationwide in 2024

Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree · Training: Long-term on-the-job training

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Mathematics5.0
  2. Reading Comprehension4.8
  3. Critical Thinking4.8
  4. Judgment and Decision Making4.6
  5. Complex Problem Solving4.6
  6. Systems Evaluation4.6
  7. Active Listening4.1
  8. Systems Analysis4.6

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. Bachelor's degree89%
  2. Doctoral or professional11%

Job zone 4, considerable preparation: Usually a bachelor's degree, sometimes a strong associate plus experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

  • Northeast Lakeview
  • Northwest Vista
  • St. Philip's
  • San Antonio
  1. Mathematics

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

  2. Mathematics

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

  3. Mathematics

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

  4. Mathematics

    Transfer pre-major · Science & Technology

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