Actuary Hourly Pay in Council Bluffs, IA: $56.31 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a actuary working in Council Bluffs, IA runs $56.31 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $117,124 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-2011). Weighted against Council Bluffs's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.4, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $62.29 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $70,270 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Council Bluffs, IA, actuaries can expect to earn a median hourly rate of $56.31, which is notably lower than the national median hourly rate of $64.50. This hourly pay reflects the profession's traditional settings, such as insurance company actuarial pricing departments or consulting firm client engagement rooms, making it a practical option for part-time workers or per-diem actuaries. For those who might work three days a week, the income can still be substantial, given the hourly range extends from $34.05 at the entry-level to $87.28 for top earners. These figures, pulled from the projected data based on 2025 BLS data, reveal that the actuarial field allows for diverse arrangements, whether it's full-time, part-time, or contract work as remote or hybrid models gain traction.
About the Council Bluffs Market
Salary estimated from Iowa average ($120,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Actuary Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $34.05 | $272.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $42.07 | $336.60 |
| Median (P50) | $56.31 | $450.45 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $72.07 | $576.60 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $87.28 | $698.21 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Council Bluffs
Based on $56.31/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $56.31/hr, a actuary working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Council Bluffs, IA can expect to earn approximately $117,116 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $67,567. With a cost-of-living index of 90.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Council Bluffs.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Council Bluffs
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,252.24 | $9,760 | $117,116 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,351.34 | $5,856 | $70,270 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $900.89 | $3,904 | $46,847 |
Compare ASA, FSA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Actuary (Council Bluffs) | $56.31 |
| Statistician (National Avg) | $51.53 |
| Mathematician (National Avg) | $56.16 |
| Financial Analyst (National Avg) | $47.61 |
| Data Scientist (National Avg) | $54.40 |
Actuarys in Council Bluffs, IA earn a median of $117,124 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.70% lower than the national median of $134,160 and 3.40% below the Iowa state average of $121,246.
Actuary Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $56.31/hr = $70,270/year (purchasing power: $77,732).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $117,116/year (purchasing power: $129,553).
CoL index: 90.4 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$45.47/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$54.56/hr
2026 Current Est.
$56.31/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+27.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Actuaries in Council Bluffs (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $45.47/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $46.60/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $44.45/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $47.84/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $50.36/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $50.37/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $54.56/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $56.31/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $58.11/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for actuaries in Council Bluffs grew 20.0% from $45.47/hr (2019) to $54.56/hr (2025). At a 3.20% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $58.11/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 Council Bluffs 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 Council Bluffs
Exploring the financial landscape for actuaries in Council Bluffs involves examining the nuances of part-time and per-diem work. An actuary working three days a week for 24 hours would realistically earn around $70,748 annually, significantly less than their full-time counterparts. While per-diem work is less common at junior levels, experienced actuaries holding FSA or FCAS credentials can command rates between $250 and $500 per hour, particularly in consulting roles. Firms such as UnitedHealth, Prudential, and Mercer contribute to varied hourly rates influenced by factors like company type, with actuarial roles in health insurance yielding different compensation structures than those in pension consulting. Actuaries may weigh the trade-off between lower hourly rates for jobs with benefits and higher pay for freelance engagements. Those negotiating hourly contracts should emphasize their exam progress and specialized skills to leverage better offers, especially in a tight market like Council Bluffs.
More salary data for Council Bluffs, IA:
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 Council Bluffs. 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 Council Bluffs 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