Actuary Hourly Pay in West Des Moines, IA: $63.93 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a actuary working in West Des Moines, IA runs $63.93 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $132,976 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 15-2011). Weighted against West Des Moines's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.4, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $70.72 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $79,788 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In West Des Moines, the actuary hourly pay is projected to be $63.93 in 2026, slightly below the national median of $64.50. This figure holds significant implications for actuaries considering part-time or per-diem work in various settings such as insurance pricing departments, consulting firms, and remote actuarial modeling projects. For instance, a part-time actuary working three days a week might earn around $61,000 annually, while the hourly pay spectrum ranges from $40.10 for entry-level positions to $99.09 for highly experienced professionals. These hourly rates, based on estimates derived from annual salaries, reflect a growing recognition of the field's value, especially in a city like West Des Moines, where the cost of living aligns favorably with income opportunities.
About the West Des Moines Market
Salary estimated from Iowa average ($120,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Actuary Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $40.10 | $320.83 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $47.26 | $378.04 |
| Median (P50) | $63.93 | $511.46 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $81.83 | $654.62 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $99.09 | $792.74 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in West Des Moines
Based on $63.93/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $63.93/hr, a actuary working full-time (40 hr/wk) in West Des Moines, IA can expect to earn approximately $132,979 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $76,719. With a cost-of-living index of 90.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in West Des Moines.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in West Des Moines
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,557.30 | $11,082 | $132,979 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,534.38 | $6,649 | $79,788 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,022.92 | $4,433 | $53,192 |
Compare ASA, FSA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Actuary (West Des Moines) | $63.93 |
| Statistician (National Avg) | $51.53 |
| Mathematician (National Avg) | $56.16 |
| Financial Analyst (National Avg) | $47.61 |
| Data Scientist (National Avg) | $54.40 |
Actuarys in West Des Moines, IA earn a median of $132,976 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.88% lower than the national median of $134,160 and 9.60% above the Iowa state average of $121,329.
Actuary Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $63.93/hr = $79,788/year (purchasing power: $88,261).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $132,979/year (purchasing power: $147,101).
CoL index: 90.4 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$51.63/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$61.95/hr
2026 Current Est.
$63.93/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+27.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Actuaries in West Des Moines (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.20% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $51.63/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $52.91/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $50.47/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $54.32/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $57.18/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $50.97/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $61.95/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $63.93/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65.98/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for actuaries in West Des Moines grew 20.0% from $51.63/hr (2019) to $61.95/hr (2025). At a 3.20% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $65.98/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 West Des Moines 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 West Des Moines
Examining part-time options further reveals that a 3-day work week could yield a substantial income, though full-time positions typically provide greater overall earnings and benefits. For those in per-diem roles or consulting, hourly rates can significantly escalate, particularly for FSA or FCAS credentialed actuaries who may command rates between $250 to $500 per hour, especially in specialized engagements such as expert witness testimony, which can reach $400 to $800 per hour. The variety of employer types in West Des Moines, ranging from life and health insurers like Prudential and UnitedHealth to consulting firms like Mercer and Aon, creates a nuanced pay structure. Actuaries must weigh the benefits of stable employment with benefits against higher hourly rates without such perks, making negotiation skills key in securing favorable terms, especially in this evolving market where expertise in predictive analytics and data science is increasingly in demand.
More salary data for West Des Moines, IA:
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 West Des Moines. 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 West Des Moines 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