Actuary vs Airline Pilot Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Airline Pilot
$214,428/yr median(+$89,647 · 71.8% more)
Actuary
Median$124,781
Mean$132,599
10th %ile$78,523
25th %ile$96,053
75th %ile$159,870
90th %ile$199,213
Employed24K+
Higher pay
Airline Pilot
Median$214,428
Mean$221,734
10th %ile$111,059
25th %ile$145,757
75th %ile$288,442
90th %ile$335,372
Employed87K+
Salary Distribution Comparison
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 |
Airline Pilot
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $111,059 |
| 25th percentile | $145,757 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $214,428 |
| 75th percentile | $288,442 |
| 90th percentile | $335,372 |
Top Paying States
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 |
Airline Pilot
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | $618,090 |
| 2 | Idaho | $507,640 |
| 3 | Michigan | $428,570 |
| 4 | California | $353,900 |
| 5 | Kentucky | $350,950 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Actuary or Airline Pilot?
- Airline Pilot pays more with a median salary of $214,428/year, which is 71.8% more than Actuary at $124,781/year.
- What is the salary difference between Actuary and Airline Pilot?
- The median salary difference is $89,647/year (71.8%).