Career comparison
Actuary vs Data Scientist
A side-by-side read on pay, outlook, and — the part that actually decides it — which one fits the way you work.
Actuary
$115,000median
$72K – $245K
Actuary rewards strength in execution discipline and analytical thinking.
Data Scientist
$145,000median
$100K – $265K
Data Scientist rewards strength in analytical thinking and technical depth.
Head to head
MetricActuaryData Scientist
Median salary$115k$145k✓
5-year growth64/10084/100✓
Future-proof78/10076/100
Remote potential68/10078/100✓
Stress level50/100✓58/100
Entry difficulty78/10078/100
Figures from the Work Fit IQ catalog, calibrated to public 2024-2026 US labor signals (BLS OEWS/OOH, O*NET, Levels.fyi). A highlighted side means a meaningful edge on that metric, not a verdict on the whole career.
The key differences in the work itself
- Data Scientist leans noticeably more on creative output (76/100 vs 42/100), so if that's your strength it points toward Data Scientist over Actuary.
- Data Scientist leans noticeably more on technical depth (84/100 vs 60/100), so if that's your strength it points toward Data Scientist over Actuary.
- Actuary leans noticeably more on execution discipline (88/100 vs 72/100), so if that's your strength it points toward Actuary over Data Scientist.
Read the full guides
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