Actuarial Internship (Summer 2027

What You'll Do

Are you looking for an opportunity to expand your technical skills, communication skills, and industry knowledge? If so, consider joining the Principal internship program and provide actuarial services and support to the many different lines of business we have here!

Projects and responsibilities vary based on business need, but here are a few examples of what previous interns have accomplished:

• Cluster Modeling Project – efficient method of compressing a model with the goal of improving the runtime.
• Updating experience studies – looking through our data to identify the frequency and severity of our claims across demographic groups. Findings directly affect the pricing of our products by setting assumptions based on both our internal experience and industry-wide experience.
• SAS Asset Reporting Tool - help us understand why things are changing from projection to projection, allowing us to better analyze future performance from block to block.
• Analysis of Foreign Exchange Rates – explore the impact of fluctuations in foreign currencies on Principal’s international insurance and retirement businesses. This work helps our international business to improve its strategy around how we handle the complex risks of the global marketplace.
• Other responsibilities could include: identifying model elements most likely to be impacted by the economic environment, designing and running test scenarios, analyzing results, and summarizing findings.

• Learn from and work with credentialed actuaries, including an assigned mentor.
• Meaningful and challenging work at a company that values authenticity and encourages curiosity.
• Small group meetings with Senior Actuarial Leadership.

• Current enrollment at a college/university or completed degree with focused studies in actuarial science, statistics, mathematics or related majors.
• Ability to pass actuarial exams and a dedication to pursue an FSA with the Society of Actuaries.
• Knowledge of actuarial mathematics, including probability, statistics, numerical analysis and compound interest.
• Collaborative communication skills and an eagerness for continuous learning.

• At least one actuarial exam completed and passed.
• Knowledge of Excel, database, or actuarial modeling tools.
• Informal or formal leadership experience.

Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

$24 - $29 / hour

Paid company holidays and any time off required in your state.

No

Join an established program that provides hands‑on experiences for 200+ interns each year! You'll learn new skills with dedicated teams and mentors, build your professional network and collaborate across a global Fortune 500 company. We care about offering you diverse experiences and exciting challenges that push you to reach for bigger life goals, all while enjoying our flexibility and work life balance.

Join us for events such as our Executive Speaker Series, gain career direction, and much more!

You will receive a lump sum stipend of $4,000. This amount is intended to support incidental expenses you may incur as part of your internship. The Company will provide a tax gross-up on this stipend as a financial benefit, but is not intended to compensate for all tax liabilities.

This role is located at our world headquarters in Des Moines, IA. We offer the ability for in-office, and hybrid (blending at least three office days in a typical workweek) work arrangements. You’ll work with your leader to figure out which option…