Actuary Pay

St. Cloud vs St. Paul: Actuary Salary (2026)

Compare actuary salaries between St. Cloud, MN and St. Paul, MN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

St. Cloud, MN
$131,176
$63.07/hr
St. Paul, MN
$128,685
$61.87/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSt. Cloud, MNSt. Paul, MN
Median Salary$131,176$128,685
Hourly Rate$63.07$61.87
Entry Level (P10)$76,082$76,950
25th Percentile$102,298$96,019
75th Percentile$167,906$164,718
Top Earner (P90)$203,324$199,462
Total Employed1280
Side-by-side bar chart comparing St. Cloud ($131,176) and St. Paul ($128,685) actuary salaries.St. CloudSt. PaulMedian Salary$131,176$128,685Entry Level (P10)$76,082$76,950Top Earner (P90)$203,324$199,462US Median $134,160

Verdict

St. Cloud, MN offers better overall compensation for actuaries, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to St. Paul.

The salary gap between St. Cloud and St. Paul is $2,491 (1.94%). St. Cloud's median is -2.22% compared to the US national median of $134,160.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in St. Cloud spans $127,242,St. Paul spans $122,512. St. Cloud has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

St. Cloud
P10 (Entry)$76,082
P25$102,298
Median$131,176
P75$167,906
P90 (Top)$203,324
St. Paul
P10 (Entry)$76,950
P25$96,019
Median$128,685
P75$164,718
P90 (Top)$199,462

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, St. Cloud ($133,174 effective) pays 1.94% more than St. Paul ($130,645 effective).

St. Cloud
Nominal: $131,176
CoL Index: 98.5
Adjusted: $133,174
St. Paul
Nominal: $128,685
CoL Index: 98.5
Adjusted: $130,645

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose St. Cloud if…

  • Higher median salary ($131,176/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($203,324)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $133,174)
  • You prefer the Minnesota area and lifestyle

Choose St. Paul if…

  • Larger job market (80 employed)
  • You prefer the Minnesota area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, actuary salaries in St. Cloud grew 1.6% from 2024 to 2025, compared to -4.9% growth in St. Paul over the same period.

St. Cloud, MN

+1.6%

$125,154 (2024) → $127,109 (2025)

St. Paul, MN

+-4.9%

$131,055 (2024) → $124,695 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays actuarys more: St. Cloud or St. Paul?

St. Cloud has a higher median actuary salary at $131,176/year, compared to St. Paul at $128,685/year — a difference of $2,491 (1.94%).

What is the hourly rate difference between St. Cloud and St. Paul?

St. Cloud actuarys earn $63.07/hr while St. Paul hygienists earn $61.87/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from St. Cloud to St. Paul as a actuary?

Consider more than just salary when comparing St. Cloud and St. Paul. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: St. Cloud = $133,174, St. Paul = $130,645), job availability (12 vs 80 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level actuarys earn in St. Cloud vs St. Paul?

Entry-level (10th percentile) actuarys earn $76,082 in St. Cloud and $76,950 in St. Paul. The St. Paul area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

MC

Written by Maria Chen, FSA, MAAA

Career Analyst

Maria has 10 years of experience in life insurance. She specializes in risk assessment and pricing strategies.

Clinically reviewed by David Patel, ASA, MAAAData verified by Aisha Khan, FSA, CERA

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.20% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Chen, FSA, MAAA, a licensed actuary with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov