Actuary Hourly Pay in Cornelius, NC: $59.58 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a actuary working in Cornelius, NC runs $59.58 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $123,916 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-2011). Weighted against Cornelius's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.6, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $63.65 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $74,353 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

In 2026, the median hourly pay for actuaries in Cornelius, North Carolina, is projected at $59.58, which is noticeably lower than the national median hourly rate of $64.50. This figure is relevant not just for full-time positions but also for part-time and per-diem actuaries who might work three days a week or on a project basis. The hourly rates span from $39.46 for entry-level actuaries to $92.34 for the more experienced professionals in the field. Practitioners typically find themselves employed by various companies, including insurance firms, consulting agencies, and pension management entities, where they can leverage their actuarial skills in environments such as pricing departments and client engagement rooms.
About the Cornelius Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($125,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Actuary Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39.46 | $315.71 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $46.91 | $375.32 |
| Median (P50) | $59.58 | $476.62 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $75.92 | $607.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $92.34 | $738.75 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Cornelius
Based on $59.58/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $59.58/hr, a actuary working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Cornelius, NC can expect to earn approximately $123,921 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $71,493. With a cost-of-living index of 93.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Cornelius.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Cornelius
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,383.09 | $10,327 | $123,921 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,429.86 | $6,196 | $74,353 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $953.24 | $4,131 | $49,568 |
Compare ASA, FSA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Actuary (Cornelius) | $59.58 |
| Statistician (National Avg) | $51.53 |
| Mathematician (National Avg) | $56.16 |
| Financial Analyst (National Avg) | $47.61 |
| Data Scientist (National Avg) | $54.40 |
Actuarys in Cornelius, NC earn a median of $123,916 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.64% lower than the national median of $134,160 and 1.30% below the North Carolina state average of $125,548.
Actuary Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $59.58/hr = $74,353/year (purchasing power: $79,436).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $123,921/year (purchasing power: $132,394).
CoL index: 93.6 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$48.12/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$57.73/hr
2026 Current Est.
$59.58/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+27.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Actuaries in Cornelius (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $48.12/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $49.31/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $47.03/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $50.62/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $53.29/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $55.51/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $57.73/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $59.58/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $61.48/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for actuaries in Cornelius grew 20.0% from $48.12/hr (2019) to $57.73/hr (2025). At a 3.20% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $61.48/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 Cornelius 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 Cornelius
Focusing on part-time opportunities, an actuary working three days a week for a total of 24 hours would earn a gross income of approximately $74,347 annually, which highlights the disparity in total earnings compared to full-time positions. Per-diem actuaries rarely engage at junior levels; those with Fellowship designations like FSA or FCAS can secure consulting roles that bill $250 to $500 per hour, while expert witness roles can command fees of $400 to $800 per hour. Employers in Cornelius, such as Prudential and UnitedHealth, often offer lower hourly rates at the expense of benefits, while consulting firms typically provide higher pay but without the safety net of employer-sponsored health insurance. Actuaries considering compensation negotiations would do well to weigh the benefits associated with lower hourly pay against the flexibility and potentially higher earnings available in consulting roles, which are increasingly competitive as firms seek candidates with advanced data analytics skills.
More salary data for Cornelius, NC:
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 Cornelius. 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 Cornelius 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