Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Actuaries vs. Aircraft Service Attendants: Who Earns More?

Actuaries out-earn Aircraft Service Attendants by $90K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Actuaries land at $130,000 and Aircraft Service Attendants at $40,450. The education gap is real: actuary programs typically require bachelor's degree, while aircraft service attendant programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Actuaries is Connecticut ($166,800); for Aircraft Service Attendants it's Maryland ($71,740).

Actuaries
Aircraft Service Attendants
Median salary
$130,000
$40,450
Hourly rate
$62.5/hr
$19.45/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$78,570
$33,830
Senior level (90th %)
$215,100
$57,610
Education required
Bachelor's degree
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
26,670
31,300
Job growth (10-year)
21.8%
5.1%
Category
Technology
Transportation
Top-paying state
Connecticut
Maryland

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Actuaries median pay.

State
Actuaries
Aircraft Service Attendants
New York
$156,480
$44,600
New Jersey
$142,800
$46,210
Alabama
$136,950
$43,090
Arizona
$135,870
$43,780
Washington
$134,720
$50,520
Utah
$132,720
$46,900
California
$130,510
$46,800
Minnesota
$128,100
$46,930
Maryland
$126,950
$71,740
Massachusetts
$126,040
$44,190
Kansas
$125,010
$45,960
Colorado
$120,440
$44,500
Ohio
$110,980
$43,310
Tennessee
$108,930
$56,620
Louisiana
$80,860
$42,930

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Actuaries or Aircraft Service Attendants?

Actuaries earn more nationally. The median is $130,000 for Actuaries versus $40,450 for Aircraft Service Attendants, a difference of $90K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Actuaries or Aircraft Service Attendants?

Actuaries has the better 10-year outlook at 21.8% projected growth, compared to 5.1% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Actuaries or Aircraft Service Attendants?

Actuaries typically requires bachelor's degree. Aircraft Service Attendants requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Actuaries get paid the most?

Connecticut is the top-paying state for Actuaries at $166,800/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Actuaries vs. Aircraft Service Attendants pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Actuaries earn $156,480 vs. $44,600 for Aircraft Service Attendants. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Actuaries salary breakdownView →Full Aircraft Service Attendants salary breakdownView →Best cities for Actuaries by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Aircraft Service Attendants by take-home payExplore →How to become a actuariesGuide →How to become a aircraft service attendantsGuide →