Actuary · Salary Comparison · 2026
Actuary Salary: Nashville, TN vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Actuarys in Nashville, TN and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$104,000 vs $154,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Nashville, TN
$94,545 vs $82,796
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Nashville, TN
$87,360 vs $69,388
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Nashville, TN | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $104,000 | $154,000▲ | -$50,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $80,080 | $118,580▲ | -$38,500 |
| 75th Percentile | $133,120 | $197,120▲ | -$64,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $166,400 | $246,400▲ | -$80,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 110 | 186 | -76 |
| State Income Tax | 0%▲ | 9.3% | -9.3% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $94,545▲ | $82,796 | +$11,749 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $96,096 | $129,062▲ | -$32,966 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $87,360▲ | $69,388 | +$17,972 |
| Total Employment | 14,400 | 41,600 | -27,200 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Nashville, TN minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $50,000 more (median: $104,000 vs $154,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 110 vs 186), Nashville, TN provides better purchasing power ($94,545 vs $82,796 equivalent). Nashville, TN has no state income tax, which is a significant advantage.
Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.