Actuary · Salary Comparison · 2026
Actuary Salary: Washington, DC vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Actuarys in Washington, DC and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$134,000 vs $154,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Washington, DC
$88,158 vs $82,796
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Washington, DC
$76,163 vs $69,388
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $134,000 | $154,000▲ | -$20,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $103,180 | $118,580▲ | -$15,400 |
| 75th Percentile | $171,520 | $197,120▲ | -$25,600 |
| 90th Percentile | $214,400 | $246,400▲ | -$32,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 152 | 186 | -34 |
| State Income Tax | 6.5%▲ | 9.3% | -2.8000000000000007% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $88,158▲ | $82,796 | +$5,362 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $115,768 | $129,062▲ | -$13,294 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $76,163▲ | $69,388 | +$6,775 |
| Total Employment | 36,000 | 41,600 | -5,600 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Washington, DC minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $20,000 more (median: $134,000 vs $154,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 152 vs 186), Washington, DC provides better purchasing power ($88,158 vs $82,796 equivalent). Washington, DC has the lower state tax rate (6.5% vs 9.3%).
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.