How Much Does Actuarial Salary Make in India? (With Jobs)

Updated 31 July 2023

Actuaries play a significant role in risk management assessment in the finance and insurance industries. They may also assist market analysts in setting product prices and evaluating the market demand for products. By understanding what is involved in actuarial work and how much you can earn, you can make an informed decision about pursuing this career. In this article, we explain the answer to the question "How much does an actuary make in India?" and also discover what an actuary is, the actuarial work responsibilities and possible actuary jobs with salary information.

Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at the time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.

How much does an actuary make in India?

The national average actuarial salary in India is ₹7,34,695 per year. The actuary salary in India may vary according to the employer, location and job designation, and also depends on the individual actuary's skills, knowledge, experience and competence. It is a sought-after profession nationally and internationally, and qualified and experienced professionals can earn high actuarial salaries in India and abroad.

What is an actuary?

An actuary is a financial professional with an advanced educational degree in actuarial science, mathematics, statistics, economics or physics. Generally, they work in the finance, insurance and business industries to make finance-related risk assessments. They utilise mathematics, statistics, economic theories and statistical modelling software techniques in their work. They evaluate future events and determine their risk levels. With the help of this data, the actuary develops effective risk mitigation plans and policies to safeguard their clients from financial losses. Actuaries may collaborate in their work with accountants, underwriters, financial analysts and market research analysts.

What does an actuary do?

An actuary researches specific areas and gathers relevant and accurate statistical data. They analyse it and evaluate the various types of risks that could potentially arise. They then find and implement procedures to mitigate the financial impact of these risks on the organisation. When they work for insurance companies, actuaries apply their in-depth knowledge of economics, finance and statistics to analysing the available data. After identifying the risks to potential insurance beneficiaries, the actuary calculates if selling them the insurance would be financially worthwhile for the insurance company.

The actuary assists the insurance company in planning and designing insurance policies, determining the premium amounts for each policy and ensuring that the premiums prove profitable for the company. Actuaries also undertake risk evaluation and risk mitigation when they work for pension funds and various private companies. Through their recommendations, businesses can avoid making costly investments in unprofitable ventures.

What are the responsibilities of an actuary?

An actuary's responsibilities can vary depending on who they work for and the statistical data they use in their work. Some of their work responsibilities can include the following:

collecting statistical data and other relevant information from multiple sources
analysing the data with advanced statistical models and identifying patterns and trends in it
evaluating possible risks and determining the probability of their occurrence
estimating the financial costs of the risks to the organisation and the effects on beneficiaries
using charts, tables and reports to make presentations to explain their findings
devising, testing and implementing strategies to reduce risks and maximise profits
setting accurate rates for insurance premiums and ensuring availability of adequate funds to meet claims
attending meetings with management, stakeholders or officials to present their proposals
supervising and guiding a team of actuaries that are engaged in risk assessments
reviewing contracts, policies, insurance plans, pension plans and annuity plans
collaborating with financial and market analysts in pricing products and determining product demand
understanding and complying with industry and government rules and regulations
providing expert testimony during insurance-related lawsuits
offering expert advice to government officials for creating insurance-related laws
modifying existing statistical models and inventing new and more effective ones
monitoring national and international financial developments

What skills are essential for an actuary?

An actuary requires the following essential skills to thrive in their profession:

Mathematics skills: Being excellent in numeracy is a must for actuaries as they spend a considerable amount of work hours in processing numbers and using the principles of probability, statistics and calculus to quantify risks.
Research and analytical skills: These are essential for gathering complex data sets and identifying trends and factors that can affect specific types of events.
Attention to details: Minor, overlooked issues can increase the risk factor and cause financial losses to businesses, so actuaries are careful in their research and analysis and try not to miss out on anything relevant.
Problem-solving skills: After identifying potential risks, actuaries find appropriate and timely solutions to resolve them or lessen the adverse financial impact they might have.
Business knowledge: An in-depth understanding of business, economics, finance and accounting can enable actuaries to provide effective guidance and advice to businesses in different industry sectors.
Computer skills: Actuaries do a significant amount of their work on computers and use spreadsheets, databases, statistical analysis tools and programming languages, so advanced computer skills are crucial for this job.
Communication skills: Actuaries make recommendations, participate in discussions and explain complex technical matters to other finance and insurance professionals and clients, so being articulate and having excellent writing skills are helpful.
Interpersonal skills: Knowing how to get along with different people is crucial as actuaries interact with other actuaries, business professionals, company management, government officials and clients in their work.
Decision-making skills: Employers look for candidates who are motivated, confident about their abilities and decisive in formulating various risk mitigation policies and their terms and conditions.

What are some actuary specialisations?

Actuaries can specialise in different fields of insurance. Some of these are:

Life insurance actuary: The role involves estimating risk factors for individuals and groups related to their ages, genders, health conditions and lifestyle habits and using this information to develop and price life insurance policies and annuities. Since the life insurance company may have to pay out more claims for higher-risk individuals and groups, they try to offset their financial losses by charging them higher rates.
Health insurance actuary: They study healthcare trends and consider the family history, occupation and location of individuals and groups to predict their healthcare costs. They base their long-term care and health insurance policies and premiums on this research.
Enterprise risk actuary: They identify economic, financial, geopolitical and other risks that can challenge an organisation's objectives and develop strategies to minimise these risks.
Property and casualty insurance actuary: They develop insurance policies against property loss and liability arising from fires, natural disasters, accidents and other disastrous events and evaluate the expected number of claims from automobile accidents by considering factors like the insured person's age, car type and driving history.
Pension and retirement benefits actuary: In this position, the actuary helps develop retirement plans, provides pension planning advice and determines if future funds can cover future benefits payments.

What is the work environment for actuaries?

Actuaries generally work for businesses that require expert assistance in identifying and managing financial risks. That can include insurance companies, investment firms, consulting firms, banks, hospitals, large corporations with employee benefits departments and government departments. Generally, the actuarial work is in office settings and can involve teamwork with managers, accountants, underwriters and other professionals. Actuaries maintain regular office hours, though they may frequently work for longer hours when necessary. They may also travel to meet with clients, participate in meetings or attend seminars. Some employers may allow flexible hours or work-from-home opportunities. Many actuaries also work as independent consultants.

The work is demanding and can be stressful, but actuarial salaries in India can be very high.

What are some actuary jobs?

The demand for qualified and experienced actuaries is growing in the finance, insurance, business, academic and government sectors. Here are two of the positions that an actuary can hold:

1. Actuary

National average salary: ₹7,34,695 per year

Job duties: Actuaries use actuarial techniques to analyse information and determine risk factors, prepare detailed documents and financial statements and make recommendations to clients, senior management, underwriters and legal departments. Actuaries may test actuarial output with automated models and validate insurance products. They may also ensure compliance with data privacy and protection guidelines. Additionally, they may participate in industry actuarial committees and provide information and guidance to auditors and regulators.

2. Actuarial manager

National average salary: ₹7,96,461 per year

Job duties: Actuarial managers lead and supervise a team of actuaries, coordinate with other teams, discuss requirements with stakeholders and make recommendations to the company's leadership. An actuarial manager develops and modifies product pricing, handles product launches and performs actuarial valuation of liabilities. They use relevant tools and documentation to improve the quality of actuarial modelling. Additionally, they ensure compliance with the regulations of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.