If you have a degree in actuarial science or you’re thinking about getting one, you’re probably wondering:
"What jobs can I get with an actuary degree?"
The good news? It’s not just about being an actuary. An actuarial degree opens the door to a wide range of jobs in insurance, consulting, risk management, finance, and even tech.
This guide will break down the top jobs you can get with an actuarial degree, the skills you’ll need, and how to position yourself to land these roles.
An actuarial degree gives you a unique mix of math, statistics, risk analysis, and technical skills—and those skills are in high demand across several industries. Here’s a list of the best jobs you can get with an actuary degree:
What They Do:
Actuaries use math, statistics, and financial theory to predict risk and uncertainty for insurance companies, pension funds, and financial institutions.
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Why It’s a Good Fit:
If you want a stable, high-paying, and future-proof career, becoming an actuary is a no-brainer. Plus, with a 22% projected job growth rate from 2023 to 2033, demand is only increasing.
What They Do:
Risk analysts identify and evaluate risks for companies. They recommend strategies to reduce potential financial losses from things like investments, loans, and operations.
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Why It’s a Good Fit:
If you love the risk-management side of being an actuary but want more variety, this role is for you. Companies are hungry for risk analysts in sectors like finance, tech, and energy.
What They Do:
Financial analysts guide investment decisions, evaluate company financials, and track market trends. While this job has a finance focus, the data-driven mindset of actuaries is a perfect match.
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Why It’s a Good Fit:
Your background in quantitative analysis makes you a perfect fit for financial analyst roles. If you’re good at Excel, financial modeling, and love working with large datasets, you’ll crush this role.
What They Do:
Data scientists analyze large data sets, spot trends, and build predictive models. Sound familiar? These are basically actuarial skills on steroids. The main difference is that data scientists often work with non-financial data too (like customer behavior).
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Why It’s a Good Fit:
If you want to work in big tech or use your statistical skills in broader fields, this is the move. Data science roles also tend to pay more than traditional actuarial jobs. Just make sure you brush up on Python, SQL, and machine learning.
What They Do:
Business consultants analyze problems within a company and offer strategic solutions. Actuarial science gives you an edge here since you’re trained to think in terms of risk, forecasting, and data-driven strategy.
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Why It’s a Good Fit:
This is a great role if you love problem-solving but want more variety. As a consultant, you’ll work on new projects regularly, advising companies on everything from strategy and pricing to operations and risk.
What They Do:
Quants work in finance, creating models that predict price movements in the stock market. Their work is critical to high-frequency trading and hedge fund strategies.
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Why It’s a Good Fit:
If you love intense math, fast-paced trading, and huge paydays, this is the role for you. Your training in probability, modeling, and data analysis makes you a strong candidate for quant jobs. Just be prepared to work long hours.
What They Do:
Underwriters assess the risk of insuring individuals and businesses. While not as quantitative as an actuary, this role still leans heavily on risk analysis and critical thinking.
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Why It’s a Good Fit:
Underwriting is a natural fit for actuarial grads who want to stay in insurance but don’t want to spend years passing actuarial exams. Less math, less stress—but still good pay.
What They Do:
Pension analysts review the financial health of pension funds and ensure retirees receive promised payments. They work with actuaries to forecast future liabilities.
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Why It’s a Good Fit:
If you want to work in public service or with large-scale corporate pension plans, this is the role for you. It’s a stable, impactful career with great work-life balance.
What They Do:
Investment analysts research and evaluate potential investments for firms and individual clients. While similar to financial analysts, this role is more focused on stocks, bonds, and alternative investments.
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Why It’s a Good Fit:
If you have a passion for investing, markets, and portfolio management, this is your lane. Your actuarial skills in forecasting and probability are extremely useful here.
What They Do:
Insurance analysts review claims, premium pricing, and industry data to improve profitability for insurers. While not as quantitative as actuary roles, you’ll still analyze risk daily.
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Why It’s a Good Fit:
If you want a role in insurance but don’t want to pass a ton of exams, this is a great option. You’ll analyze industry trends, pricing, and profitability.
An actuarial degree opens doors beyond the traditional "actuary" role. You can become a data scientist, risk manager, financial analyst, or even a quant. Each job takes advantage of your statistical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
If you’re ready to find a job, start with Acturhire, the best job board for actuarial roles. Whether you want to be an actuary, risk analyst, or consultant, Acturhire has jobs waiting for you.
