Software Developer vs Actuary Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Actuary
$121,524/yr median(+$172 · 0.1% more)
Software Developer
Median$121,352
Mean$127,085
10th %ile$74,572
25th %ile$94,378
75th %ile$151,381
90th %ile$178,009
Employed1.7M+
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
Software Developer
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $74,572 |
| 25th percentile | $94,378 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $121,352 |
| 75th percentile | $151,381 |
| 90th percentile | $178,009 |
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
Software Developer
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $170,910 |
| 2 | Washington | $166,910 |
| 3 | New York | $161,260 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $150,520 |
| 5 | Maryland | $137,890 |
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, Software Developer or Actuary?
- Actuary pays more with a median salary of $121,524/year, which is 0.1% more than Software Developer at $121,352/year.
- What is the salary difference between Software Developer and Actuary?
- The median salary difference is $172/year (0.1%).