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Actuaries vs. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers: Who Earns More?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers out-earn Actuaries by $102K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Actuaries land at $130,000 and Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers at $232,140. The education gap is real: actuary programs typically require bachelor's degree, while airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Actuaries is Connecticut ($166,800); for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers it's Georgia ($618,090).

Actuaries
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Median salary
$130,000
$232,140
Hourly rate
$62.5/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$78,570
$106,710
Senior level (90th %)
$215,100
$463,830
Education required
Bachelor's degree
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
26,670
103,560
Job growth (10-year)
21.8%
3.9%
Category
Technology
Transportation
Top-paying state
Connecticut
Georgia

Pay by state

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

State
Actuaries
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Connecticut
$166,800
$199,870
New York
$156,480
$255,240
Arizona
$135,870
$227,870
Washington
$134,720
$229,900
Utah
$132,720
$174,590
Nevada
$132,370
$192,460
Florida
$132,110
$225,020
California
$130,510
$353,900
Minnesota
$128,100
$211,470
Colorado
$120,440
$307,490
Kentucky
$120,400
$350,950
Illinois
$115,430
$293,490
Ohio
$110,980
$204,170
Texas
$105,020
$215,150
Michigan
$100,640
$428,570

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Actuaries or Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers earn more nationally. The median is $130,000 for Actuaries versus $232,140 for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers, a difference of $102K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Actuaries or Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

Actuaries has the better 10-year outlook at 21.8% projected growth, compared to 3.9% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Actuaries or Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

Actuaries typically requires bachelor's degree. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers 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. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Connecticut, Actuaries earn $166,800 vs. $199,870 for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Actuaries salary breakdownView →Full Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Actuaries by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers by take-home payExplore →How to become a actuariesGuide →How to become a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineersGuide →