The Almanac ranks 500 jobs in the United States, from best to worst. Those who stick with the career can expect to make six figures before their tenth-year reunion. While stress level varies greatly depending on position and field of work, the actuarial profession does have a solid reputation for being a relatively low-stress occupation, particularly when it is compared to other occupations with similar salary levels. The opportunities for advancement as an actuary are almost endless. Many CEOs and CFOs, particularly for insurance corporations, are actuaries.
Some actuaries are able to do their own consulting.
Many actuaries take their talents into a new field altogether. Many actuarial departments tend to be rather young, primarily because the opportunities for advancement are so great. Every good deal has a catch, and there are two of them for actuarial science. Some people ignore the fact that being actuary is not a job but a profession. Individuals that are just running after a paycheck and who have little interest in the core actuarial sciences of applied mathematics, statistics, finance, and economics will probably have trouble enjoying a job as an actuary.