Federal Government Actuarial Positions
An overview of actuarial career opportunities in federal agencies like CMS, SSA, and the VA.
Where Federal Actuaries Work
The federal government employs actuaries across several agencies. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hires actuaries to project healthcare costs and evaluate policy proposals. The Social Security Administration (SSA) employs actuaries who produce the annual Trustees Report, projecting the long-term financial status of Social Security and Medicare. The Department of Veterans Affairs, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) also have actuarial teams working on pension, insurance, and policy analysis.
Career Path and Compensation
Federal actuarial positions follow the General Schedule (GS) pay scale, with most actuaries hired between GS-9 and GS-15 levels depending on experience and credentials. Benefits include the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), Thrift Savings Plan with employer matching, and comprehensive health insurance options. Federal actuaries often work on policy questions with national impact, which can be deeply rewarding for those motivated by public service. The work also provides exposure to large-scale modeling and long-term projection techniques.