Software Developer vs Actuary Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Software Developer
$127,401/yr median(+$2,620 · 2.1% more)
Higher pay
Software Developer
Median$127,401
Mean$131,906
10th %ile$78,900
25th %ile$99,989
75th %ile$157,880
90th %ile$187,436
Employed1.7M+
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
Software Developer
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $78,900 |
| 25th percentile | $99,989 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $127,401 |
| 75th percentile | $157,880 |
| 90th percentile | $187,436 |
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
Software Developer
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $174,410 |
| 2 | Washington | $166,540 |
| 3 | New York | $166,180 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| 5 | Oregon | $142,720 |
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, Software Developer or Actuary?
- Software Developer pays more with a median salary of $127,401/year, which is 2.1% more than Actuary at $124,781/year.
- What is the salary difference between Software Developer and Actuary?
- The median salary difference is $2,620/year (2.1%).