Actuary Hourly Pay in San Francisco, CA: $86.99 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a actuary working in San Francisco, CA runs $86.99 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $180,941 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-2011). Weighted against San Francisco's regional price level (BEA RPP 115.6, 16% above national), each hour of work buys what $75.24 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $108,560 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
With a median hourly pay of $86.99, actuaries in San Francisco can expect significantly higher compensation compared to the national median of $64.50. This rate supports not only full-time professionals but also those opting for part-time roles or per-diem arrangements. For instance, a part-time actuary working three days a week, or approximately 24 hours, can expect to earn an annual income reflective of the high hourly rate. The hourly earnings for actuaries in the city range from $46.57 at the entry level, up to $115.22 for seasoned experts, clearly illustrating the lucrative opportunities available in various actuarial environments, including insurance companies, consulting firms, and remote modeling roles. The data cited is sourced from projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data.
Actuary Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46.57 | $372.59 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $60.74 | $485.95 |
| Median (P50) | $86.99 | $695.90 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $106.31 | $850.45 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $115.22 | $921.78 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in San Francisco
Based on $86.99/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $86.99/hr, a actuary working full-time (40 hr/wk) in San Francisco, CA can expect to earn approximately $180,934 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $104,385. With a cost-of-living index of 115.61 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in San Francisco.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in San Francisco
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $3,479.49 | $15,078 | $180,934 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $2,087.69 | $9,047 | $108,560 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,391.80 | $6,031 | $72,373 |
Compare ASA, FSA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Actuary (San Francisco) | $86.99 |
| Statistician (National Avg) | $51.53 |
| Mathematician (National Avg) | $56.16 |
| Financial Analyst (National Avg) | $47.61 |
| Data Scientist (National Avg) | $54.40 |
Actuarys in San Francisco, CA earn a median of $180,941 per year (2026 est.), which is 34.87% higher than the national median of $134,160 and 39.10% above the California state average of $130,079.
Actuary Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $86.99/hr = $108,560/year (purchasing power: $93,900).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $180,934/year (purchasing power: $156,499).
CoL index: 115.613 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$52.17/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$84.29/hr
2026 Current Est.
$86.99/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+72.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Actuaries in San Francisco (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $52.17/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $52.49/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $60.31/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $69.05/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $50.45/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $65.58/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $84.29/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $86.99/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $89.77/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for actuaries in San Francisco grew 61.6% from $52.17/hr (2019) to $84.29/hr (2025). At a 3.20% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $89.77/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 San Francisco 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 San Francisco
When considering earnings potential, part-time actuaries contributing 24 hours a week could generate over $68,000 annually, providing a substantial income even without full-time hours. For some, pursuing per-diem contracts or temporary roles could lead to earning opportunities that extend beyond the standard hourly rate—particularly for individuals in specialized fields such as expert witness testimony, which can command $400 to $800 per hour. The hourly rates for actuaries can also vary widely depending on the employer; life insurance companies tend to offer competitive rates, while consulting firms frequently pay more for FSAs and FCAS due to their specialization. However, actuaries often face the choice of balancing benefits against higher hourly pay; while a lower rate may come with health insurance in traditional roles, some professionals prefer higher rates when operating as independent contractors. For those negotiating hourly pay in San Francisco, understanding regional salary trends and the specific demands of different employer types is crucial, especially given the competitive nature of the actuarial market in the city.
More salary data for San Francisco, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 San Francisco. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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