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What does a Actuaries salary really buy you in New York?
New York is 7.6% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
New York's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 107.6, meaning prices are 7.6% higher the national average. A Actuaries earning $156,480 in New York has the equivalent purchasing power of $145,427 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for New York's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $82,250 | $76,440 | $-5,809 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $106,140 | $98,643 | $-7,496 |
| Median (P50) | $156,480 | $145,427 | $-11,052 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $211,330 | $196,403 | $-14,926 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $277,800 | $258,178 | $-19,621 |
While $156,480 sounds high, New York's elevated cost of living erases 7% of that salary's purchasing power. Your real buying power is $145,427. Consider whether the higher pay offsets the higher costs.
New York's RPP of 107.6 puts it 7.6% above the national baseline cost of living. A Actuaries needs that premium in nominal pay just to maintain the same purchasing power as an average-cost state.
After applying New York's RPP, the $156,480 median salary translates to $145,428 in real terms — a 7.1% loss. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Actuaries.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Actuaries, New York places #4 of 36 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Actuaries salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
New York ranks #4 out of 36 states for Actuaries after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Actuaries take-home pay in New York after taxes →
A Actuaries in New York earns a median salary of $156,480 per year. After adjusting for New York's cost of living (RPP=107.6), the real purchasing power is $145,427 — a -7.1% difference.
New York's cost of living is 7.6% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for New York is 107.6 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Actuaries in New York: $156,480 x (100 / 107.6) = $145,427. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Actuaries's nominal salary of $156,480 in New York has 7.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $145,427. However, New York may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.
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