Senior Actuary Salary in St. Louis, MO: $209,785 (2026)
Quick Answer:The top tier of actuaries working in St. Louis, MO — those at or above the 90th percentile — pull in $209,785/year or more for 2026, based on BLS OEWS 2025 estimates for SOC 15-2011. Strip back St. Louis's price premium (BEA RPP 95.1, 5% below national) and that top-decile pay carries the same buying power as $220,622 in average-cost America. The 57% spread above city median typically rewards 7+ years of practice or specialty credentials.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Louis, Missouri, senior actuaries have access to considerable earning potential, particularly among the top earners in the field. With a projected median annual salary of $133,500 for 2026, those reaching the 90th percentile can command impressive compensation, with salaries hitting as high as $209,785. This top actuary salary in St. Louis not only reflects the high demand for seasoned professionals but also highlights the significant experience premium within the sector. To break into these upper salary tiers, actuaries typically require a robust combination of technical skills, years of experience, and advanced actuarial credentials, positioning themselves as leaders in key specialized areas.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Louis
Experienced actuarys at the top of the pay scale in St. Louis earn between $181,849 and $209,785 per year (2026 est.). This $128,278 range from 10th to 90th percentile reflects significant earnings potential growth over a career. The St. Louis median of $133,500 sits 0.49% below the US median.
Top ASA, FSA Salary Comparison
| Level | St. Louis | National |
|---|---|---|
| Median (P50) | $133,500 | $134,160 |
| 75th Percentile | $181,849 | $176,111 |
| 90th Percentile (Top 10%) | $209,785 | $221,983 |
In St. Louis, experienced actuaries (P90) earn 57.14% more than the local median — reflecting the significant value of specialization and tenure in this market.
What Drives Top Actuary Pay in St. Louis
Advanced Certifications in Missouri
MO actuaries with additional specialty certifications within the actuarial science field earn significantly above the $133,500 median. Expanded-scope credentials are increasingly valued by St. Louis employers.
Specialty Focus
Actuaries focusing on high-acuity or specialty areas within the actuarial science field in St. Louis command premium compensation, often reaching the $181,849–$209,785 range.
Large Health-System & Multi-Site Experience
Large hospital systems and multi-site employers in the St. Louis metro area often pay above-market rates for experienced actuaries who demonstrate efficiency and leadership.
Employer Loyalty & Patient Relationships
Long-tenured actuaries in St. Louis with established relationships have strong negotiating leverage. In this developing market, retention bonuses and annual raises are common for top performers.
Continuing Education & Leadership
Actuaries in Missouri who pursue advanced degrees, mentor junior staff, or lead clinical education programs position themselves for the highest compensation tiers and management roles.
Actuary Career & Wage Growth Path in St. Louis
Clinical Actuary
0-5 yearsSenior/Lead Actuary
5-10 yearsActuary Department Manager
10+ yearsEducator / Specialty Leadership
AdvancedSt. Louis ranks #2 of 33 Missouri cities for top earner actuary salary (90th percentile: $209,785).
Top 10% actuary compensation in St. Louis ($209,785) is 4.81% above the Missouri average P90 ($200,152).
2019 BLS Actual
$162,930
2025 BLS Actual
$203,280
2026 Current Est.
$209,785
2019–2027 Growth
+32.9%
Salary Trajectory for Actuaries in St. Louis (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $162,930 | Actual |
| 2020 | $202,530 | Actual |
| 2021 | $166,620 | Actual |
| 2022 | $183,050 | Actual |
| 2023 | $187,930 | Actual |
| 2024 | $191,460 | Actual |
| 2025 | $203,280 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $209,785 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $216,498 | Projected |
Top-earning actuaries (90th percentile) in St. Louis saw their compensation grow 24.8% from $162,930 in 2019 to $203,280 in 2025, based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for this metropolitan area. At a 3.20% annual growth rate, senior-level pay is projected to reach $216,498 by 2027, reflecting continued demand for clinical expertise and expanded-function credentials.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Louis 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.
Maximizing Your Actuary Earnings in St. Louis
Compensation for experienced actuaries in St. Louis varies based on specialization and employer type. Notable areas such as life and annuity, health, property & casualty (P&C), and enterprise risk management (ERM) offer opportunities for advanced earnings, often rewarding expertise with substantially higher pay. Senior actuaries who work in consulting firms like Mercer or Aon may find salary scales that exceed those of traditional insurers, given the market's demand for fellows (FSA or FCAS) proficient in predictive analytics and data science. Career advancement paths reveal that starting as an actuarial analyst often leads to becoming a managing actuary or chief actuary, with many seasoned professionals progressing from ASA to FSA status within a five-to-eight-year exam timeline. To further enhance their earning potential, actuaries often pursue varied credentials while earning non-salary benefits like study time allowances or signing bonuses, aligning compensation with mastery of the actuarial discipline and adaptability to market changes.
More salary data for St. Louis, MO:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do experienced actuaries make in St. Louis in 2026?
What drives higher actuary pay in St. Louis?
What certifications boost actuary salary in St. Louis?
Can experienced actuaries make six figures in St. Louis?
How much does actuary salary increase over time in St. Louis?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Missouri
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
Top-earner salary figures on this page are 2026 projections derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. BLS reported a 90th percentile salary of $203,280 for actuaries in the St. Louis metro area. A 3.20% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 senior-level compensation. Individual earnings depend on certifications, specialization, practice type, and years of clinical experience.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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