Actuary Hourly Pay in Palatine, IL: $62.76 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a actuary working in Palatine, IL runs $62.76 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $130,529 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-2011). Weighted against Palatine's regional price level (BEA RPP 97.1, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $64.63 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $78,319 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In Palatine, Illinois, actuaries are projected to earn a median hourly rate of $62.76 in 2026, slightly below the national median of $64.50. This hourly wage reflects the compensation for both full-time positions and part-time roles, making the profession appealing for those seeking flexible work arrangements, such as 3-day work weeks in various settings, including insurance companies and consulting firms. For entry-level actuaries, hourly pay starts around $36.61, while seasoned professionals at the upper end of the scale can earn up to $97.27. These figures, drawn from annual salary estimates, provide insight into the potential earnings for both contract and remote actuarial work, where flexible schedules allow for an excellent work-life balance while maintaining steady income.
About the Palatine Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($130,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Actuary Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $36.61 | $292.84 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $45.88 | $367.06 |
| Median (P50) | $62.76 | $502.05 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $80.33 | $642.65 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $97.27 | $778.13 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Palatine
Based on $62.76/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $62.76/hr, a actuary working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Palatine, IL can expect to earn approximately $130,532 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $75,307. With a cost-of-living index of 97.10 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Palatine.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Palatine
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,510.24 | $10,878 | $130,532 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,506.14 | $6,527 | $78,319 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,004.09 | $4,351 | $52,213 |
Compare ASA, FSA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Actuary (Palatine) | $62.76 |
| Statistician (National Avg) | $51.53 |
| Mathematician (National Avg) | $56.16 |
| Financial Analyst (National Avg) | $47.61 |
| Data Scientist (National Avg) | $54.40 |
Actuarys in Palatine, IL earn a median of $130,529 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.71% lower than the national median of $134,160 and 0.20% above the Illinois state average of $130,269.
Actuary Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $62.76/hr = $78,319/year (purchasing power: $80,658).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $130,532/year (purchasing power: $134,431).
CoL index: 97.1 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$50.68/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$60.81/hr
2026 Current Est.
$62.76/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+27.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Actuaries in Palatine (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $50.68/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $51.94/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $49.54/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $53.32/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $56.13/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $60.81/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $60.81/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62.76/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $64.76/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for actuaries in Palatine grew 20.0% from $50.68/hr (2019) to $60.81/hr (2025). At a 3.20% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $64.76/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 Palatine 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 Palatine
Evaluating the earning potential for part-time actuaries reveals that a 3-day work schedule, totaling approximately 24 hours per week, would yield an annual income of around $78,073, offering a substantial income for those who prefer working fewer days. For per diem actuaries, engagements typically remain limited at junior levels, but seasoned professionals can command impressive rates. For instance, experienced consultants can bill between $250 and $500 per hour, while expert witness testimony for litigation might bring in $400 to $800 per hour. In Palatine, actual hourly rates can differ significantly based on employer type, with life insurance companies, managed care providers, and consulting firms all offering varying compensation structures. Some actuaries choose lower hourly rates for roles that include health benefits versus higher pay without such perks, illustrating the trade-offs in this profession. When negotiating hourly rates in Palatine, coming prepared with market data and understanding specific employer needs can enhance bargaining power, especially in a competitive field that increasingly values advanced skills such as predictive analytics and data science.
More salary data for Palatine, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for actuaries in Palatine in 2026?
How much do part-time actuaries make in Palatine?
Are actuaries in Palatine paid hourly or salary?
How much does a full-time actuary make per year in Palatine?
Do actuaries earn more per hour working part-time in Palatine?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Illinois
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 Palatine. 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 Palatine 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