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Average Financial Actuary Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

A financial actuary in United Kingdom earns about 79,500 GBP a year. That's 14% above the national average of 69,700 GBP.

Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in United Kingdom sit around 35,600 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 130,500 GBP. Everything on this page is in British pound (GBP, symbol £), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.

The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in United Kingdom, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.

To turn a gross salary in United Kingdom into a take-home figure, use our United Kingdom salary after tax calculator, which works the latest tax brackets and contributions through the math for you.

How much does a financial actuary make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
79,500 GBP
6,625 GBP per month
Lowest reported
35,600 GBP
2,966 GBP per month
Highest reported
130,500 GBP
10,875 GBP per month

A typical financial actuary working in United Kingdom brings home around 6,625 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 35,600 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 130,500 GBP for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.

The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior financial actuary working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around. For a cross-country comparison, see the financial actuary salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How financial actuary pay ranges in United Kingdom

A good way to think about salary in United Kingdom is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all financial actuaries in United Kingdom earn less than 85,800 GBP a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".

Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 57,000 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 115,600 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of financial actuaries sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 35,600 GBP. The highest stretch to 130,500 GBP, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.

35,600
Low
85,800
Median
130,500
High
57,000
25th
115,600
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

Financial actuary pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for a financial actuary in United Kingdom, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical financial actuary salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    41,500 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +38% from previous
    57,100 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +45% from previous
    83,000 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +25% from previous
    103,600 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +8% from previous
    111,700 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    +7% from previous
    119,700 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 2 - 5 Years to 5 - 10 Years, where pay rises by about 45%. That is the point at which a financial actuary typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.

Financial actuary pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving financial actuary pay in United Kingdom. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.

Below is the average financial actuary salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • High School
    51,300 GBP
  • Certificate or Diploma
    +22% from previous
    62,500 GBP
  • Bachelor's Degree
    +44% from previous
    90,000 GBP
  • Master's Degree
    +27% from previous
    114,300 GBP

Financial actuary gender pay gap in United Kingdom

The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and United Kingdom is no exception. Male financial actuaries in United Kingdom earn an average of 81,300 GBP a year, while female financial actuaries earn around 78,700 GBP. That works out to a 3% gap in favour of men, even when comparing people doing the same work.

A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.

Financial Actuary gender pay gap

3%

Men earn this much more than women on average in United Kingdom.

Men 81,300 GBP
Women 78,700 GBP

Pay raises for a financial actuary in United Kingdom

Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.

A typical worker doing this role in United Kingdom sees a raise of about 12% every 15 months, which works out to roughly 10% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.

Across all jobs in United Kingdom, the national average raise is around 9% every 15 months.

By industry

Industries with the highest pay raises in United Kingdom:

  • Banking
  • Energy
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Travel
  • Construction
  • Education

By experience level

Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.

  • Junior Level
    3% - 5%
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior Level
  • Top Management

Financial actuary bonus rates in United Kingdom

Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.

62%

62% of financial actuaries in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes a financial actuary a moderate-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.

Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 2% to 7% of base salary. The remaining 38% of financial actuaries reported no bonus at all over the same period.

Which careers pay bonuses in United Kingdom

Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.

  • Finance
  • Architecture
  • Sales
  • Business Development
  • Marketing / Advertising
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Customer Service
  • Human Resources
  • Construction
  • Transport
  • Hospitality

Financial actuary: public vs private sector pay

Public-sector pay in United Kingdom is about 7% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.

Public vs private pay gap

6%

Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in United Kingdom on average.

Public sector 72,700 GBP
Private sector 68,200 GBP

Financial actuary salary by city and region in United Kingdom

Financial actuary pay is not even across United Kingdom. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities and regions in the dataset, followed by the full location table.

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Birmingham
  • Leeds
  • London
  • Bristol
  • Liverpool
  • Edinburgh
  • Cardiff
  • Leicester
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion150,100 GBP160,600 GBP68,900-236,700 GBP
ScotlandRegion107,300 GBP114,900 GBP49,700-167,100 GBP
BirminghamCity92,100 GBP99,700 GBP41,500-146,900 GBP
LeedsCity91,600 GBP97,300 GBP42,700-147,900 GBP
LondonCity90,000 GBP94,000 GBP38,900-142,100 GBP
BristolCity88,700 GBP99,100 GBP40,300-142,300 GBP
LiverpoolCity88,500 GBP97,100 GBP41,000-142,300 GBP
EdinburghCity87,700 GBP92,500 GBP38,700-138,700 GBP
CardiffCity87,600 GBP95,100 GBP39,500-141,000 GBP
LeicesterCity87,300 GBP92,100 GBP40,900-137,100 GBP
GlasgowCity87,200 GBP93,200 GBP38,000-137,100 GBP
PlymouthCity86,400 GBP92,200 GBP39,800-134,700 GBP
NottinghamCity86,100 GBP96,000 GBP40,300-141,000 GBP
SomersetCity84,800 GBP91,900 GBP37,900-134,100 GBP
CoventryCity84,500 GBP89,400 GBP37,800-132,000 GBP
SouthamptonCity84,200 GBP89,900 GBP36,900-130,500 GBP
SwanseaCity84,200 GBP89,900 GBP36,900-130,500 GBP
ManchesterCity83,800 GBP91,000 GBP36,500-130,400 GBP
BradfordCity83,700 GBP91,600 GBP39,600-134,700 GBP
WolverhamptonCity83,300 GBP92,300 GBP39,600-134,700 GBP
BelfastCity83,300 GBP91,900 GBP37,900-134,100 GBP
SheffieldCity83,200 GBP90,300 GBP37,800-132,000 GBP
NewcastleCity83,000 GBP92,200 GBP39,800-134,700 GBP
OxfordCity81,200 GBP86,600 GBP35,000-127,700 GBP
BrightonCity80,800 GBP87,500 GBP36,800-128,200 GBP
DundeeCity80,800 GBP86,100 GBP35,400-127,600 GBP
ArmaghCity80,500 GBP90,600 GBP36,700-130,500 GBP
DerbyCity79,700 GBP83,100 GBP35,000-123,800 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity79,600 GBP89,300 GBP38,100-128,400 GBP
YorkCity79,000 GBP84,300 GBP37,100-128,200 GBP
PortsmouthCity78,500 GBP84,500 GBP35,500-124,500 GBP
AberdeenCity78,100 GBP85,500 GBP36,000-125,400 GBP
GloucesterCity77,100 GBP83,700 GBP35,600-123,800 GBP
PeterboroughCity76,900 GBP83,200 GBP36,600-124,500 GBP
NewportCity76,900 GBP83,000 GBP35,500-124,500 GBP
ChesterCity76,000 GBP81,000 GBP33,000-118,900 GBP
PooleCity75,800 GBP84,900 GBP36,600-124,500 GBP
WalesRegion75,800 GBP83,800 GBP37,200-123,000 GBP
CambridgeCity75,500 GBP79,500 GBP35,100-118,900 GBP
HartlepoolCity75,000 GBP79,800 GBP35,300-117,100 GBP
DurhamCity74,500 GBP78,400 GBP33,500-115,600 GBP
ExeterCity74,100 GBP79,600 GBP34,000-118,900 GBP
LisburnCity73,800 GBP81,000 GBP35,100-118,900 GBP
DerryCity73,500 GBP79,000 GBP34,000-114,300 GBP
NewryCity73,300 GBP80,000 GBP33,000-118,900 GBP
NorwichCity73,300 GBP80,000 GBP33,000-118,900 GBP
InvernessCity72,700 GBP79,800 GBP34,000-116,400 GBP
LincolnCity72,400 GBP80,700 GBP35,300-117,100 GBP
RiponCity71,600 GBP75,800 GBP33,600-114,600 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion71,400 GBP79,600 GBP33,500-114,300 GBP
AbingdonCity71,000 GBP74,900 GBP34,100-112,700 GBP
StromnessCity69,800 GBP73,800 GBP30,200-108,200 GBP
StirlingCity69,600 GBP76,600 GBP30,700-112,700 GBP
SalisburyCity69,200 GBP75,100 GBP32,300-114,600 GBP
WakefieldCity68,800 GBP75,500 GBP31,400-108,200 GBP
WellsCity68,800 GBP76,000 GBP31,400-108,200 GBP
TruroCity68,400 GBP74,100 GBP30,200-108,200 GBP
WinchesterCity68,300 GBP77,400 GBP30,300-111,700 GBP
CanterburyCity67,300 GBP71,400 GBP29,600-109,000 GBP
BangorCity67,200 GBP71,400 GBP30,000-107,300 GBP
KirkwallCity66,200 GBP71,400 GBP29,600-109,000 GBP
StrontianCity65,900 GBP72,400 GBP28,900-105,200 GBP
St DavidsCity63,400 GBP68,300 GBP31,200-102,700 GBP

Financial Actuary in United Kingdom: FAQs

  • How much does a financial actuary make per month in United Kingdom?

    A financial actuary in United Kingdom earns about 6,625 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 79,500 GBP.

  • What's the salary range for a financial actuary in United Kingdom?

    Entry-level financial actuaries in United Kingdom start near 35,600 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 130,500 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 57,000 and 115,600 GBP.

  • Is the median financial actuary salary in United Kingdom higher or lower than the average?

    The median is 85,800 GBP, higher than the average of 79,500 GBP. Half of financial actuaries in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

  • What's the gender pay gap for financial actuaries in United Kingdom?

    Men working as a financial actuary in United Kingdom earn around 3% more than women on average (81,300 vs 78,700 GBP a year).

  • Do financial actuaries in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 62% of financial actuaries in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 2% to 7% of base salary.

  • Do financial actuaries earn more in the public or private sector in United Kingdom?

    In United Kingdom, the public sector pays a financial actuary about 7% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.

  • How often do financial actuaries in United Kingdom get a pay raise?

    A financial actuary in United Kingdom sees a raise of around 12% every 15 months, equivalent to roughly 10% a year.