Lawyer vs Actuary Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Lawyer
$128,445/yr median(+$6,921 · 5.7% more)
Higher pay
Lawyer
Median$128,445
Mean$154,726
10th %ile$68,609
25th %ile$92,192
75th %ile$171,865
90th %ile$208,836
Employed740K+
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
Lawyer
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $68,609 |
| 25th percentile | $92,192 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $128,445 |
| 75th percentile | $171,865 |
| 90th percentile | $208,836 |
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
Lawyer
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $197,790 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $191,880 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $179,050 |
| 4 | New York | $177,210 |
| 5 | Delaware | $172,710 |
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, Lawyer or Actuary?
- Lawyer pays more with a median salary of $128,445/year, which is 5.7% more than Actuary at $121,524/year.
- What is the salary difference between Lawyer and Actuary?
- The median salary difference is $6,921/year (5.7%).