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Actuary vs pricing actuary

The differences between actuaries and pricing actuaries can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an actuary has an average salary of $88,255, which is higher than the $65,091 average annual salary of a pricing actuary.

The top three skills for an actuary include risk management, VBA and GAAP. The most important skills for a pricing actuary are product development, annuities, and level changes.

Actuary vs pricing actuary overview

ActuaryPricing Actuary
Yearly salary$88,255$65,091
Hourly rate$42.43$31.29
Growth rate21%21%
Number of jobs13,56615,444
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Average age3939
Years of experience--

What does an actuary do?

An actuary specializes in performing research and analysis to assess risks and help companies prepare for any financial disadvantages or impact it may bring. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with different departments to gather accurate data, maintain records of all transactions, evaluate the data through various processes, and develop new strategies to cut down costs and risks. An actuary is also responsible for performing clerical tasks such as producing reports through graphs and charts, preparing presentations, answering inquiries and concern, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

What does a pricing actuary do?

Pricing Actuaries are statisticians who work in either the financial or insurance industries. This position uses extensive math skills to determine the price of products by analyzing data and calculating risks. Pricing actuaries' goal is to ensure the coverage of the company's expenses includes employee retirement or claims. Their job is to estimate claim payout probabilities, handle state filing requirements, and collect statistical data. Also, they contribute to policies for new products and maximize returns. These actuaries must have a bachelor's degree in statistics, math, and actuarial science.

Actuary vs pricing actuary salary

Actuaries and pricing actuaries have different pay scales, as shown below.

ActuaryPricing Actuary
Average salary$88,255$65,091
Salary rangeBetween $52,000 And $147,000Between $31,000 And $132,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYNew York, NY
Highest paying stateNew YorkNew York
Best paying companyPayPalAIG
Best paying industryProfessional-

Differences between actuary and pricing actuary education

There are a few differences between an actuary and a pricing actuary in terms of educational background:

ActuaryPricing Actuary
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 85%
Most common majorMathematicsMathematics
Most common collegeUniversity of Notre DameUniversity of Pennsylvania

Actuary vs pricing actuary demographics

Here are the differences between actuaries' and pricing actuaries' demographics:

ActuaryPricing Actuary
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 74.3% Female, 25.7%Male, 71.4% Female, 28.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 3.0% Hispanic or Latino, 5.1% Asian, 17.3% White, 71.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.0%Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 2.9% Hispanic or Latino, 3.4% Asian, 16.5% White, 74.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.0%
LGBT Percentage18%18%

Differences between actuary and pricing actuary duties and responsibilities

Actuary example responsibilities.

  • Support the development and implementation of manually-rate renewal strategies, lead by a season FSA.
  • Manage the design, implementation and oversight of all insurance and reinsurancepricing functions and processes for corporation.
  • Complete several health and group annuities projects.
  • Administer payroll, conduct accounts reconciliations, and track all A/R and A/P.
  • Update duration calculation formula to deliver more reasonable behavior of A/E ratio in Alteryx.
  • Extract and analyze data by state using SAS in order to analyze and project Medicaid costs.
  • Show more

Pricing actuary example responsibilities.

  • Project manage large work streams incorporating data and technology to support all business analytics used across the organization.
  • Support the sales team in conducting profitability analysis, analyzing options and developing customer ROI analyses
  • Manipulate select and ultimate mortality table to database formate by using VBA and producingexpect Motality base under best estimate assumption.
  • Administer payroll, conduct accounts reconciliations, and track all A/R and A/P.

Actuary vs pricing actuary skills

Common actuary skills
  • Risk Management, 13%
  • VBA, 9%
  • GAAP, 5%
  • SAS, 5%
  • Health Insurance, 5%
  • Financial Reports, 5%
Common pricing actuary skills
  • Product Development, 69%
  • Annuities, 23%
  • Level Changes, 5%
  • Auto Liability, 2%
  • Loss Ratio, 1%

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