Male SPIA Rates, October 2026

Why Men Receive Higher Annuity Rates

If you've compared male and female annuity rates, you've noticed that men receive higher monthly payments for the same investment. This isn't arbitrary — it's based on actuarial math.

According to Social Security Administration data, a 65-year-old man has an average life expectancy of about 84, while a 65-year-old woman can expect to live to about 87. Because the insurance company expects to make fewer payments to a male annuitant, each payment is larger.

In our October 2026 tables, the best men's figure at 65 is $693 a month per $100,000, against $658 for a woman of the same age. That is $35 more a month, or $420 more a year. Across ages 55 to 80, the best women's figure is 2% to 6% below the best men's figure. All women's figures are derived from each carrier's own ratio to its men's quote at surveyed ages, then repriced. Treat the gap as a guide.

How Age Affects Male Annuity Rates

Age is the single biggest factor in your annuity rate. Here's why:

• Ages 55 to 60: Payments are lower because the carrier expects to pay you for 25 to 30 years. The best figures in the table above are $616 a month at 55 (interpolated between surveyed ages) and $649 at 60 (read at a surveyed age), per $100,000.
• Ages 60 to 65: The years around retirement. The best figure rises from $649 at 60 to $693 at 65, and you may still have decades of guaranteed income ahead.
• Ages 65 to 70: Payments climb further. In the table above, the best figure at 70 ($767) is 18% higher than the best figure at 60 ($649) for the same premium.
• Ages 75 to 80: The highest payments, reflecting shorter expected payout periods. The best figure at 80 is $1,046 a month per $100,000.

Tips for Getting the Best Male Annuity Rate

1. Compare multiple carriers. At age 65, the best of the 8 carriers in the table above pays $693 a month and the lowest pays $573 on the same $100,000 with the same guarantee. The lowest pays about 17% less than the best, for life.
2. Consider timing. Annuity rates are influenced by interest rates. When Treasury yields rise, annuity payouts tend to increase. If rates are trending up, waiting a few months could help — but don't try to time the market perfectly.
3. Choose the right payout option. The table above is single life with a 5-year period certain. A life-only contract pays more per month. A longer guarantee or a joint-and-survivor option pays less, but protects a spouse. See joint rates to compare.
4. Right-size your investment. You don't need to annuitize all your savings. Many advisors suggest converting enough to cover essential expenses (alongside Social Security), keeping the rest liquid.
5. Check the carrier's financial strength. A slightly lower rate from an A++ rated carrier may be worth more than the highest rate from a lower-rated company. Compare carrier ratings.

Male Rates vs. Female and Joint Rates

For a complete picture, compare across all rate categories:

• Male rates (this page): the highest monthly payments
• Female rates: 2% to 6% below the best male figures in the current tables
• Joint rates: the lowest, because the annuity covers two lifetimes

If you're married, be sure to consider a joint-and-survivor annuity to ensure your spouse continues receiving income after you pass.

Source: LifeAnnuities.us quote surveys run for real clients. The figures start from quotes our agent runs for real clients, not advertised rates or illustrations. For the base tables we received 54 survey runs covering 30 client scenarios, prepared July 14 to September 14, 2026, and used 52 of them for pricing (2 runs used annual payments and were left out of pricing). 17 carriers were quoted. On October 1, 2026 we checked the tables against 7 new survey runs (4 client scenarios, prepared September 18 to 29, 2026). 11 runs were received and 4 were not used (4 runs were for a 41-year-old, well below our table ages; two of them were at $5,000,000). We repriced 1 of the 8 carriers we publish (Athene, up about 1.8%) and held the other 7 at their earlier figures. A repriced carrier has its whole table moved by its own measured change on quotes for the same age and sex. New York Life: readings were mixed, so we held its figures until the next round. Two direct comparisons with mid-September quotes came in 0.7% and 1.6% higher once premium size is allowed for. A third, measured through August, came in 0.6% lower. How each figure is built. Men: 60, 65 and 80 read at surveyed ages; 55, 70 and 75 interpolated between surveyed ages. Women: all ages derived by ratio. Joint: 55, 60, 75 and 80 derived by ratio; 65 and 70 calibrated to a direct same-age joint quote. None of the figures in our tables is a direct quote from the latest survey round. They are built from earlier rounds (read at surveyed ages, interpolated or derived from carrier ratios) and checked carrier by carrier against the latest one. Joint figures at ages 65 and 70 are calibrated to a direct joint quote (same-age joint quote, both spouses 66, 100% to the survivor, 5-year period certain, prepared September 18, 2026). That corrects an estimate. It is not a market move. Basis: single life or joint (100% to survivor), 5-year period certain, income starting next month, per $100,000. Full method and known limits. Free to cite with attribution to LifeAnnuities.us.