Overview
Actuaries are the mathematical backbone of the insurance and risk management industry. They build models to quantify uncertainty — from the likelihood of natural disasters to life expectancy tables — and translate those models into pricing strategies, reserves, and capital requirements. The career path involves passing a rigorous series of professional exams alongside on-the-job training.
A Day in the Life
Review mortality table updates and regulatory changes
Build reserve calculation model in Excel/R
Client meeting on pension liability projections
Study for upcoming Exam MFE after lunch
Peer review of pricing assumptions for new product line
Draft report on experience study results
∞ Growth Outlook
BLS projects actuary employment to grow 22% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average, with demand in insurance, enterprise risk, and climate risk modeling.
Source: BLS 2024-34 projectionRecommended Courses
Required Skills
Top Employers
- Milliman
- Aon
- Mercer
- MetLife
- Allstate
- Social Security Administration