Accountant vs Actuary Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Actuary
$124,781/yr median(+$42,184 · 51.1% more)
Accountant
Median$82,597
Mean$90,112
10th %ile$55,126
25th %ile$66,613
75th %ile$106,014
90th %ile$134,991
Employed1.4M+
Higher pay
Actuary
Median$124,781
Mean$132,599
10th %ile$78,523
25th %ile$96,053
75th %ile$159,870
90th %ile$199,213
Employed24K+
Salary Distribution Comparison
Accountant
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $55,126 |
| 25th percentile | $66,613 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $82,597 |
| 75th percentile | $106,014 |
| 90th percentile | $134,991 |
Actuary
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $78,523 |
| 25th percentile | $96,053 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $124,781 |
| 75th percentile | $159,870 |
| 90th percentile | $199,213 |
Top Paying States
Accountant
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $111,530 |
| 2 | New York | $102,640 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $100,830 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $99,460 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $97,550 |
Actuary
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $166,800 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $166,230 |
| 3 | New York | $156,480 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $142,800 |
| 5 | Alabama | $136,950 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Accountant or Actuary?
- Actuary pays more with a median salary of $124,781/year, which is 51.1% more than Accountant at $82,597/year.
- What is the salary difference between Accountant and Actuary?
- The median salary difference is $42,184/year (51.1%).