Registered Nurse vs Actuary Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Actuary
$124,781/yr median(+$30,683 · 32.6% more)
Registered Nurse
Median$94,098
Mean$96,306
10th %ile$72,082
25th %ile$81,810
75th %ile$107,731
90th %ile$123,341
Employed3.4M+
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
Registered Nurse
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $72,082 |
| 25th percentile | $81,810 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $94,098 |
| 75th percentile | $107,731 |
| 90th percentile | $123,341 |
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
Registered Nurse
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $140,270 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $136,320 |
| 3 | Oregon | $129,010 |
| 4 | Washington | $124,200 |
| 5 | Alaska | $109,480 |
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, Registered Nurse or Actuary?
- Actuary pays more with a median salary of $124,781/year, which is 32.6% more than Registered Nurse at $94,098/year.
- What is the salary difference between Registered Nurse and Actuary?
- The median salary difference is $30,683/year (32.6%).