National average salary: $113,382 per year

Primary duties: An actuary analyzes the future risk of financial activities in the insurance industry by calculating how certain events would affect a company’s profit. They often consult with market research analysts to gather information on market demand for insurance. Actuaries use the data they find to create scenarios that demonstrate how much an insurance company would pay under specific circumstances, such as illnesses or accidents. Then, they create insurance policies and establish premiums based on what they determine to be the least risky approach.