Actuary Hourly Pay in Tupelo, MS: $54.74 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a actuary working in Tupelo, MS runs $54.74 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $113,858 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-2011). Weighted against Tupelo's regional price level (BEA RPP 85.7, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $63.87 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $68,312 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In Tupelo, Mississippi, actuaries earn a median hourly pay of $54.74, which reflects a 15.13% decrease compared to the national median of $64.50. This hourly rate allows for diverse working arrangements, such as part-time schedules typical in actuaries' roles within insurance companies and consulting firms. For instance, a part-time actuary working three days a week could still command significant pay, given the hourly range of $32.30 to $84.85 based on experience and specialization. The presence of major insurance firms and consulting services in Tupelo means various work environments, from reinsurance pricing teams to pension plan client interactions, each influencing potential earnings based on the demands and complexity of tasks executed.
About the Tupelo Market
Salary estimated from Mississippi average ($95,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Actuary Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $32.30 | $258.41 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $43.34 | $346.75 |
| Median (P50) | $54.74 | $437.90 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $69.99 | $559.92 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $84.85 | $678.81 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Tupelo
Based on $54.74/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $54.74/hr, a actuary working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Tupelo, MS can expect to earn approximately $113,854 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $65,685. With a cost-of-living index of 85.70 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Tupelo.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Tupelo
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,189.49 | $9,488 | $113,854 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,313.69 | $5,693 | $68,312 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $875.80 | $3,795 | $45,541 |
Compare ASA, FSA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Actuary (Tupelo) | $54.74 |
| Statistician (National Avg) | $51.53 |
| Mathematician (National Avg) | $56.16 |
| Financial Analyst (National Avg) | $47.61 |
| Data Scientist (National Avg) | $54.40 |
Actuarys in Tupelo, MS earn a median of $113,858 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.13% lower than the national median of $134,160 and 1.00% below the Mississippi state average of $115,009.
Actuary Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $54.74/hr = $68,312/year (purchasing power: $79,711).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $113,854/year (purchasing power: $132,851).
CoL index: 85.7 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$44.21/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$53.04/hr
2026 Current Est.
$54.74/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+27.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Actuaries in Tupelo (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $44.21/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $45.30/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $43.21/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $46.51/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $48.96/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $38.76/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $53.04/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $54.74/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $56.49/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for actuaries in Tupelo grew 20.0% from $44.21/hr (2019) to $53.04/hr (2025). At a 3.20% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $56.49/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 Tupelo 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 Tupelo
Earning potential for part-time actuaries in Tupelo varies notably. A three-day workweek, totaling around 24 hours, can yield a substantial income, accumulating up to approximately $68,000 annually, contrasting with a full-time salary. While traditional per-diem actuary pay in Tupelo generally remains limited at the junior levels, high-demand areas for experienced professionals include consulting engagements, where firms may charge clients $250-$500 per hour for FSA or FCAS professionals, or even higher rates for expert testimony in legal settings. The disparity between employer types is evident: actuaries in life insurance, such as those at Prudential or MetLife, might earn less per hour compared to those at consulting firms like Mercer or Aon, which tend to provide higher rates, albeit often with fewer benefits. As such, it’s vital for actuaries to balance immediate hourly pay against long-term benefits; negotiating terms that align with personal and professional goals is key in making decisions that affect both quality of life and career trajectory.
More salary data for Tupelo, MS:
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 Tupelo. 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 Tupelo 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