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The differences between statisticians and actuaries can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an actuary has an average salary of $88,255, which is higher than the $84,726 average annual salary of a statistician.
The top three skills for a statistician include data analysis, statistical methods and statistical techniques. The most important skills for an actuary are risk management, VBA, and GAAP.
| Statistician | Actuary | |
| Yearly salary | $84,726 | $88,255 |
| Hourly rate | $40.73 | $42.43 |
| Growth rate | 31% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 17,782 | 13,566 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Average age | 37 | 39 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A statistician is an individual who gathers data and uses mathematical techniques to analyze and interpret data and draw conclusions. Statisticians are required to develop survey questionnaires or reporting forms so that they can collect the data they needed. Once the data are available, statisticians must analyze those data by calculating averages, reliabilities, and other specifics to identify trends and relationships. Statisticians must also write reports to explain their findings and recommend how to improve the design of future surveys or experiments.
An actuary specializes in performing research and analysis to assess risks and help companies prepare for any financial disadvantages or impact it may bring. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with different departments to gather accurate data, maintain records of all transactions, evaluate the data through various processes, and develop new strategies to cut down costs and risks. An actuary is also responsible for performing clerical tasks such as producing reports through graphs and charts, preparing presentations, answering inquiries and concern, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Statisticians and actuaries have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Statistician | Actuary | |
| Average salary | $84,726 | $88,255 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $119,000 | Between $52,000 And $147,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | PayPal |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | Professional |
There are a few differences between a statistician and an actuary in terms of educational background:
| Statistician | Actuary | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 83% |
| Most common major | Statistics | Mathematics |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Notre Dame |
Here are the differences between statisticians' and actuaries' demographics:
| Statistician | Actuary | |
| Average age | 37 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.2% Female, 36.8% | Male, 74.3% Female, 25.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 7.6% Asian, 22.7% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 3.0% Hispanic or Latino, 5.1% Asian, 17.3% White, 71.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 18% |