Financial Analyst vs Actuary Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Actuary
$124,781/yr median(+$27,609 · 28.4% more)
Financial Analyst
Median$97,172
Mean$107,936
10th %ile$61,852
25th %ile$75,190
75th %ile$127,938
90th %ile$166,095
Employed355K+
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
Financial Analyst
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $61,852 |
| 25th percentile | $75,190 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $97,172 |
| 75th percentile | $127,938 |
| 90th percentile | $166,095 |
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
Financial Analyst
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $187,090 |
| 2 | New York | $127,930 |
| 3 | Oregon | $120,590 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $111,040 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $109,500 |
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, Financial Analyst or Actuary?
- Actuary pays more with a median salary of $124,781/year, which is 28.4% more than Financial Analyst at $97,172/year.
- What is the salary difference between Financial Analyst and Actuary?
- The median salary difference is $27,609/year (28.4%).