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MODELED MONTHLY SURPLUS

Top 20 cities for Actuaries

This ranking uses a modeled monthly surplus, not salary alone. It estimates take-home pay, housing, and local standard expenses so you can compare the same defined measure across cities.

Direct BLS match to SOC 15-2011 Actuaries.

What the modeled surplus includes

Modeled 2026 monthly surplus = modeled monthly take-home pay - estimated mortgage - fixed standard expenses ($2,200/month in every metro). It is a comparison model, not your personal cash-after-rent result.

#1

Hartford, CT

MSA Pop: 1.2M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$6,184
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$170,970
BEA 2024 RPP
102.7
Est. Mortgage
$1,573/mo
#2

Las Vegas, NV

MSA Pop: 2.2M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$6,074
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$167,434
BEA 2024 RPP
100.2
Est. Mortgage
$2,202/mo
#3

Birmingham, AL

MSA Pop: 1.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,872
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$136,161
BEA 2024 RPP
91.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,075/mo
#4

Jacksonville, FL

MSA Pop: 1.5M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,764
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$136,151
BEA 2024 RPP
99.5
Est. Mortgage
$1,730/mo
#5

New Haven, CT

MSA Pop: 0.9M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,762
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$144,546
BEA 2024 RPP
104.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,625/mo
#6

Rochester, NY

MSA Pop: 1.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,739
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$133,476
BEA 2024 RPP
97.0
Est. Mortgage
$1,022/mo
#7

St. Louis, MO

MSA Pop: 2.8M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,608
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$132,594
BEA 2024 RPP
95.1
Est. Mortgage
$1,153/mo
#8

Milwaukee, WI

MSA Pop: 1.6M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,538
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$135,310
BEA 2024 RPP
96.9
Est. Mortgage
$1,363/mo
#9

Kansas City, MO

MSA Pop: 2.2M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,470
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$134,972
BEA 2024 RPP
92.5
Est. Mortgage
$1,415/mo
#10

Miami, FL

MSA Pop: 6.1M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,411
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$143,305
BEA 2024 RPP
114.2
Est. Mortgage
$2,490/mo
#11

Raleigh, NC

MSA Pop: 1.4M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,363
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$145,735
BEA 2024 RPP
98.2
Est. Mortgage
$2,149/mo
#12

Dallas, TX

MSA Pop: 7.6M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,281
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$130,882
BEA 2024 RPP
103.1
Est. Mortgage
$1,913/mo
#13

Philadelphia, PA

MSA Pop: 6.2M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,251
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$130,964
BEA 2024 RPP
102.6
Est. Mortgage
$1,625/mo
#14

Pittsburgh, PA

MSA Pop: 2.3M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,206
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$120,540
BEA 2024 RPP
94.7
Est. Mortgage
$1,101/mo
#15

Akron, OH

MSA Pop: 0.7M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,201
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$120,366
BEA 2024 RPP
93.4
Est. Mortgage
$917/mo
#16

Richmond, VA

MSA Pop: 1.3M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,160
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$135,198
BEA 2024 RPP
97.9
Est. Mortgage
$1,677/mo
#17

Madison, WI

MSA Pop: 0.7M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,088
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$138,713
BEA 2024 RPP
97.3
Est. Mortgage
$1,992/mo
#18

Phoenix, AZ

MSA Pop: 4.9M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$4,053
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$142,034
BEA 2024 RPP
103.3
Est. Mortgage
$2,202/mo
#19

Charlotte, NC

MSA Pop: 2.7M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$3,865
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$131,948
BEA 2024 RPP
97.3
Est. Mortgage
$1,913/mo
#20

New York, NY

MSA Pop: 20.0M
Modeled 2026 monthly surplus
$3,860
Modeled 2026 Gross Salary
$165,497
BEA 2024 RPP
112.6
Est. Mortgage
$3,565/mo