Financial Analyst vs Actuary Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Actuary
$121,524/yr median(+$27,261 · 28.9% more)
Financial Analyst
Median$94,263
Mean$106,489
10th %ile$60,884
25th %ile$74,088
75th %ile$119,953
90th %ile$160,817
Employed340K+
Higher pay
Actuary
Median$121,524
Mean$128,392
10th %ile$73,842
25th %ile$89,890
75th %ile$156,664
90th %ile$186,419
Employed27K+
Salary Distribution Comparison
Financial Analyst
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,884 |
| 25th percentile | $74,088 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $94,263 |
| 75th percentile | $119,953 |
| 90th percentile | $160,817 |
Actuary
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $73,842 |
| 25th percentile | $89,890 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $121,524 |
| 75th percentile | $156,664 |
| 90th percentile | $186,419 |
Top Paying States
Financial Analyst
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $213,940 |
| 2 | New York | $126,580 |
| 3 | California | $111,100 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $109,380 |
| 5 | Oregon | $107,680 |
Actuary
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $153,340 |
| 2 | Washington | $153,260 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $148,220 |
| 4 | Alabama | $143,230 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $137,330 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Financial Analyst or Actuary?
- Actuary pays more with a median salary of $121,524/year, which is 28.9% more than Financial Analyst at $94,263/year.
- What is the salary difference between Financial Analyst and Actuary?
- The median salary difference is $27,261/year (28.9%).