Actuary Hourly Pay in Garden Grove, CA: $63.96 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a actuary working in Garden Grove, CA runs $63.96 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $133,035 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-2011). Weighted against Garden Grove's regional price level (BEA RPP 113.1, 13% above national), each hour of work buys what $56.55 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $79,826 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Garden Grove, California, the actuary hourly pay is projected at $63.96, which is slightly lower than the national hourly median of $64.50. This figure suggests a favorable earning potential for both part-time actuaries and those working on a per-diem basis. For example, an actuary working three days a week, approximately 24 hours, would earn around $36,000 annually if they billed at the median rate. Entry-level actuaries in this region can expect to earn about $37.10 per hour, while top earners can command up to $99.13 per hour. Such hourly rates reflect the variability seen within different fields of actuarial practice, including insurance company actuarial pricing departments, consulting firms, and remote actuarial modeling roles.
About the Garden Grove Market
Salary estimated from California average ($148,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Actuary Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37.10 | $296.80 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $46.34 | $370.69 |
| Median (P50) | $63.96 | $511.71 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $81.87 | $654.95 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $99.13 | $793.07 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Garden Grove
Based on $63.96/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $63.96/hr, a actuary working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Garden Grove, CA can expect to earn approximately $133,044 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $76,756. With a cost-of-living index of 113.10 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Garden Grove.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Garden Grove
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,558.53 | $11,087 | $133,044 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,535.12 | $6,652 | $79,826 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,023.41 | $4,435 | $53,218 |
Compare ASA, FSA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Actuary (Garden Grove) | $63.96 |
| Statistician (National Avg) | $51.53 |
| Mathematician (National Avg) | $56.16 |
| Financial Analyst (National Avg) | $47.61 |
| Data Scientist (National Avg) | $54.40 |
Actuarys in Garden Grove, CA earn a median of $133,035 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.84% lower than the national median of $134,160 and 2.30% above the California state average of $130,044.
Actuary Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $63.96/hr = $79,826/year (purchasing power: $70,580).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $133,044/year (purchasing power: $117,634).
CoL index: 113.1 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$51.66/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$61.98/hr
2026 Current Est.
$63.96/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+27.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Actuaries in Garden Grove (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $51.66/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $52.94/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $50.49/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $54.35/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $57.21/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $82.30/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $61.98/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $63.96/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $66.01/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for actuaries in Garden Grove grew 20.0% from $51.66/hr (2019) to $61.98/hr (2025). At a 3.20% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $66.01/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem actuaries can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Garden Grove metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.20% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Actuary in Garden Grove
Beyond the surface of hourly wages in Garden Grove lies a diverse landscape of earning potentials for actuaries. Those taking on part-time roles may face significantly different financial realities compared to full-time employees. Working three days a week could yield a take-home pay that is half of a typical full-time actuary, leaving many to weigh the benefits of work-life balance against financial stability. Per-diem actuaries often find opportunities in advanced roles, as entry-level positions generally do not feature casual per-diem engagements. For seasoned professionals, consulting roles can command rates between $250 and $500 per hour, while expert witness engagements can range from $400 to $800 per hour. The hourly rates also fluctuate depending on the employer, with health insurance companies like UnitedHealth and Cigna typically offering health benefits that may justify lower hourly rates compared to firms focusing solely on higher fee-paying contracts. For those working hourly, knowing the nuances of negotiating pay, especially within Garden Grove’s local firms, can greatly affect overall compensation.
More salary data for Garden Grove, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for actuaries in Garden Grove in 2026?
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for actuaries in Garden Grove. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Garden Grove is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.20%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for actuarys (SOC 15-2011).
Compiled and verified by Maria Chen, FSA, MAAA, a licensed actuary with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov