Actuary Pay

St. Louis vs St. Joseph: Actuary Salary (2026)

Compare actuary salaries between St. Louis, MO and St. Joseph, MO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

St. Louis, MO
$133,500
$64.18/hr
St. Joseph, MO
$120,552
$57.96/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSt. Louis, MOSt. Joseph, MO
Median Salary$133,500$120,552
Hourly Rate$64.18$57.96
Entry Level (P10)$81,507$70,861
25th Percentile$104,862$88,272
75th Percentile$181,849$154,307
Top Earner (P90)$209,785$186,856
Total Employed25018
Side-by-side bar chart comparing St. Louis ($133,500) and St. Joseph ($120,552) actuary salaries.St. LouisSt. JosephMedian Salary$133,500$120,552Entry Level (P10)$81,507$70,861Top Earner (P90)$209,785$186,856US Median $134,160

Verdict

St. Louis, MO offers better overall compensation for actuaries, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to St. Joseph.

The salary gap between St. Louis and St. Joseph is $12,948 (10.74%). St. Louis's median is -0.49% compared to the US national median of $134,160.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in St. Louis spans $128,278,St. Joseph spans $115,995. St. Louis has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

St. Louis
P10 (Entry)$81,507
P25$104,862
Median$133,500
P75$181,849
P90 (Top)$209,785
St. Joseph
P10 (Entry)$70,861
P25$88,272
Median$120,552
P75$154,307
P90 (Top)$186,856

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, St. Louis ($140,396 effective) pays 4.35% more than St. Joseph ($134,545 effective).

St. Louis
Nominal: $133,500
CoL Index: 95.088
Adjusted: $140,396
St. Joseph
Nominal: $120,552
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $134,545

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose St. Louis if…

  • Higher median salary ($133,500/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($209,785)
  • Larger job market (250 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $140,396)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Choose St. Joseph if…

  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, actuary salaries in St. Louis grew 31.5% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 10.2% growth in St. Joseph over the same period.

St. Louis, MO

+31.5%

$98,360 (2019) → $129,360 (2025)

St. Joseph, MO

+10.2%

$106,031 (2024) → $116,814 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays actuarys more: St. Louis or St. Joseph?

St. Louis has a higher median actuary salary at $133,500/year, compared to St. Joseph at $120,552/year — a difference of $12,948 (10.74%).

What is the hourly rate difference between St. Louis and St. Joseph?

St. Louis actuarys earn $64.18/hr while St. Joseph hygienists earn $57.96/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from St. Louis to St. Joseph as a actuary?

Consider more than just salary when comparing St. Louis and St. Joseph. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: St. Louis = $140,396, St. Joseph = $134,545), job availability (250 vs 18 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level actuarys earn in St. Louis vs St. Joseph?

Entry-level (10th percentile) actuarys earn $81,507 in St. Louis and $70,861 in St. Joseph. The St. Louis area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

MC

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.

Clinically reviewed by David Patel, ASA, MAAAData verified by Aisha Khan, FSA, CERA

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.20% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Maria Chen, FSA, MAAA, a licensed actuary with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov