Actuary Pay

St. Louis vs Wildwood: Actuary Salary (2026)

Compare actuary salaries between St. Louis, MO and Wildwood, MO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

St. Louis, MO
$133,500
$64.18/hr
Wildwood, MO
$119,253
$57.34/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSt. Louis, MOWildwood, MO
Median Salary$133,500$119,253
Hourly Rate$64.18$57.34
Entry Level (P10)$81,507$74,185
25th Percentile$104,862$90,082
75th Percentile$181,849$152,643
Top Earner (P90)$209,785$184,842
Total Employed2505
Side-by-side bar chart comparing St. Louis ($133,500) and Wildwood ($119,253) actuary salaries.St. LouisWildwoodMedian Salary$133,500$119,253Entry Level (P10)$81,507$74,185Top Earner (P90)$209,785$184,842US Median $134,160

Verdict

St. Louis, MO offers better overall compensation for actuaries, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Wildwood.

The salary gap between St. Louis and Wildwood is $14,247 (11.95%). St. Louis's median is -0.49% compared to the US national median of $134,160.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in St. Louis spans $128,278,Wildwood spans $110,657. St. Louis has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

St. Louis
P10 (Entry)$81,507
P25$104,862
Median$133,500
P75$181,849
P90 (Top)$209,785
Wildwood
P10 (Entry)$74,185
P25$90,082
Median$119,253
P75$152,643
P90 (Top)$184,842

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, St. Louis ($140,396 effective) pays 5.49% more than Wildwood ($133,095 effective).

St. Louis
Nominal: $133,500
CoL Index: 95.088
Adjusted: $140,396
Wildwood
Nominal: $119,253
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $133,095

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose St. Louis if…

  • Higher median salary ($133,500/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($209,785)
  • Larger job market (250 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $140,396)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Choose Wildwood if…

  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, actuary salaries in St. Louis grew 31.5% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 10.2% growth in Wildwood over the same period.

St. Louis, MO

+31.5%

$98,360 (2019) → $129,360 (2025)

Wildwood, MO

+10.2%

$104,888 (2024) → $115,555 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays actuarys more: St. Louis or Wildwood?

St. Louis has a higher median actuary salary at $133,500/year, compared to Wildwood at $119,253/year — a difference of $14,247 (11.95%).

What is the hourly rate difference between St. Louis and Wildwood?

St. Louis actuarys earn $64.18/hr while Wildwood hygienists earn $57.34/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from St. Louis to Wildwood as a actuary?

Consider more than just salary when comparing St. Louis and Wildwood. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: St. Louis = $140,396, Wildwood = $133,095), job availability (250 vs 5 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level actuarys earn in St. Louis vs Wildwood?

Entry-level (10th percentile) actuarys earn $81,507 in St. Louis and $74,185 in Wildwood. The St. Louis 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