Actuary Hourly Pay in Wilkes-Barre, PA: $61.83 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a actuary working in Wilkes-Barre, PA runs $61.83 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $128,592 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-2011). Weighted against Wilkes-Barre's regional price level (BEA RPP 97.4, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $63.48 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $77,160 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the actuary hourly pay sits at a median rate of $61.83, slightly lower than the national hourly median of $64.50. This hourly compensation is reflective of the region's cost of living index, which is below the national average at 97.4. For actuaries working part-time—let's say three days a week—this translates to a substantial earning potential, especially given the varied environments where they operate, including insurance company actuarial pricing departments and remote actuarial modeling work. With an hourly range from $37.42 at the entry-level to $95.82 for top earners, the profession provides a pathway for newer actuaries to gain experience, while seasoned professionals can secure lucrative hourly roles, particularly in consulting or specialized areas of practice.
About the Wilkes-Barre Market
Salary estimated from Pennsylvania average ($128,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Actuary Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37.42 | $299.36 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $46.08 | $368.63 |
| Median (P50) | $61.83 | $494.62 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $79.13 | $633.07 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $95.82 | $766.57 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Wilkes-Barre
Based on $61.83/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $61.83/hr, a actuary working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Wilkes-Barre, PA can expect to earn approximately $128,600 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $74,193. With a cost-of-living index of 97.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Wilkes-Barre.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Wilkes-Barre
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,473.08 | $10,717 | $128,600 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,483.85 | $6,430 | $77,160 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $989.23 | $4,287 | $51,440 |
Compare ASA, FSA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Actuary (Wilkes-Barre) | $61.83 |
| Statistician (National Avg) | $51.53 |
| Mathematician (National Avg) | $56.16 |
| Financial Analyst (National Avg) | $47.61 |
| Data Scientist (National Avg) | $54.40 |
Actuarys in Wilkes-Barre, PA earn a median of $128,592 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.15% lower than the national median of $134,160 and 1.60% below the Pennsylvania state average of $130,683.
Actuary Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $61.83/hr = $77,160/year (purchasing power: $79,220).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $128,600/year (purchasing power: $132,033).
CoL index: 97.4 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$49.93/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$59.91/hr
2026 Current Est.
$61.83/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+27.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Actuaries in Wilkes-Barre (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $49.93/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $51.17/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $48.80/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $52.53/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $55.30/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $58.98/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $59.91/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61.83/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $63.81/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for actuaries in Wilkes-Barre grew 20.0% from $49.93/hr (2019) to $59.91/hr (2025). At a 3.20% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $63.81/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 Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre
Calculating an actuary's annual earnings based on part-time work reveals interesting financial dynamics. A part-time actuary working 24 hours a week could earn approximately $77,500 annually in Wilkes-Barre, a stark contrast to a full-time professional taking home wages from continuous engagement. While per-diem actuaries are less common among junior roles, seasoned professionals often engage in consulting roles that command significant hourly rates, sometimes billed between $250-$500; for expert testimony, these rates can rise to as much as $800. Additionally, pay can differ widely depending on the sector—whether it’s life insurance, health insurance, or consulting firms. Actuaries should consider what trade-offs they are willing to accept, such as lower hourly rates for stable benefits, and carefully negotiate their compensation based on experience, specific skill sets, and the overall employment climate in Wilkes-Barre.
More salary data for Wilkes-Barre, PA:
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 Wilkes-Barre. 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 Wilkes-Barre 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