Mathematicians : Occupational Outlook Handbook : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Summary

Mathematicians create models to solve practical problems in fields such as business, government, engineering, and the sciences.

Quick Facts: Mathematicians
2010 Median Pay	$99,380 per year $47.78 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Master’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	3,100
Job Outlook, 2010-20	16% (About as fast as average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	500

What Mathematicians Do

Mathematicians use high-level mathematics and technology to develop new mathematical principles, understand relationships between existing principles, and solve real-world problems.

Work Environment

Mathematicians work in the federal government and in private science and engineering research. They work on teams with engineers, scientists, and other professionals.

How to Become a Mathematician

A graduate degree in mathematics is the most common educational requirement for mathematicians. However, there are positions for those with only a bachelor’s degree.

Pay

The median annual wage of mathematicians was $99,380 in May 2010.

Employment of mathematicians is expected to increase by 16 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. There will be competition for jobs because of the small number of openings in this occupation.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of mathematicians with similar occupations.

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What Mathematicians Do About this section

Mathematicians work with formulas to help solve problems in industry, academia, and government.

Mathematicians use high-level mathematics and technology to develop new mathematical principles, understand relationships between existing principles, and solve real-world problems.

Duties

Mathematicians typically do the following:

Expand mathematical knowledge by developing new principles
Recognize previously unknown relationships between known mathematical principles
Create models to resolve practical problems in fields such as business, government, engineering, and the sciences
Develop computational methods and computer codes
Compare inferences derived from models with observations or experiments

The following are examples of types of mathematicians:

Applied mathematicians use theories and techniques, such as mathematical modeling, to solve practical problems. For example, they may analyze the effectiveness of new drugs or the aerodynamic characteristics of new automobiles.

Theoretical mathematicians identify unexplained issues and seek to resolve them. Although they often strive to increase basic knowledge without considering its practical use, the knowledge they develop has been an important part of many scientific and engineering achievements.

Workers other than formal mathematicians use mathematical techniques. For example, engineers, computer scientists, physicists, and economists use mathematics extensively. Some workers, such as statisticians, actuaries, and operations research analysts, are specialists in a particular branch of mathematics. For more information, see the profiles on engineers, computer and information scientists, physicists and astronomers, economists, statisticians, actuaries, and operations research analysts.

Some people with a mathematics background become math teachers. For more information, see the profiles on middle school, high school, and postsecondary teachers.

Work Environment About this section

Mathematicians work on teams with engineers, scientists, and other professionals.

Mathematicians held about 3,100 jobs in 2010. They worked primarily in the following industries:

Federal government, excluding postal service	37%
Scientific research and development services	26
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private	16
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services	8
Architectural, engineering, and related services	6

Mathematicians work in the federal government and in private science and engineering research companies. They work on teams with engineers, scientists, and other professionals and therefore must often work around others' schedules.

Mathematicians who work in postsecondary education usually have a mix of teaching and research responsibilities. Many academic mathematicians do research by themselves or in collaboration with other mathematicians. Collaborators work together at the same institution or from different locations, communicating electronically. Mathematicians in academia often have help from graduate students.

How to Become a Mathematician About this section

Years of serious study are required to become a mathematician.

A graduate degree in mathematics is the most common educational requirement for mathematicians. However, there are positions for those whose highest level of education is a bachelor’s degree.

Education

Students who are interested in mathematics should take as many math courses as possible in high school.

For jobs as a mathematician with the federal government, candidates need at least a bachelor's degree with a major in mathematics or significant coursework in mathematics. Also, holders of bachelor's degrees who meet state certification requirements may become middle or high school mathematics teachers.

Most colleges and universities offer a bachelor's degree in mathematics. Courses usually include calculus, differential equations, and linear and abstract algebra. Many colleges and universities advise or require mathematics students to take courses in a related field, such as computer science, engineering, or physical science. Candidates who have a double major in mathematics and a related discipline are particularly desirable to many employers.

In private industry, mathematicians typically need an advanced degree, either a master's degree or a doctorate. Many universities offer master's and doctoral degrees in theoretical or applied mathematics.

A master’s degree generally takes 2 years beyond the bachelor's degree. That is often enough for many positions in applied mathematics. However, most people with a master's degree in mathematics do not work as mathematicians. Instead, they work in related fields, including computer science, where they have titles such as computer programmer, systems analyst, and systems engineer, and statistics, where they are called statisticians.

For a position as a professor of mathematics in a college or university, a doctorate is usually required. A doctoral degree usually takes at least 5 years of study beyond the bachelor's degree.

Important Qualities

Communication skills. Mathematicians must interact with and propose solutions to people who do not have extensive knowledge of mathematics.

Critical-thinking skills. Mathematicians need to identify, analyze, and apply basic principles.

Problem-solving skills. Mathematicians must devise new solutions to problems encountered by scientists or engineers.

Pay About this section

Mathematicians

Median annual wages, May 2010

Mathematicians: $99,380
Mathematical Science Occupations: $74,040
Total, All Occupations: $33,840

The median annual wage of mathematicians was $99,380 in May 2010. The median wage is the point at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $52,850, and the top 10 percent earned more than $153,620.

Median annual wages in industries employing the largest numbers of mathematicians in May 2010 were as follows:

Scientific research and development services	$108,230
Federal government, excluding postal service	106,370
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services	100,890
Architectural, engineering, and related services	76,350
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private	62,010

Job Outlook About this section

Mathematicians

Percent change in employment, projected 2010-20

Mathematical Science Occupations: 17%
Mathematicians: 16%
Total, All Occupations: 14%

Employment of mathematicians is expected to increase by 16 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Advancements in technology that allow for better collection and processing of data will lead to an expanding need for mathematicians to analyze the data.

Job Prospects

Competition for jobs is expected because there are relatively few mathematician positions.

The number of Ph.D. degrees awarded in mathematics continues to exceed the number of available university positions. Therefore, many graduates will need to find jobs in industry or government. Those with a Ph.D. and a strong background in a related discipline—such as engineering, computer science, physics, or operations research—should have the best job prospects in related occupations, because they can best apply mathematical theory to real-world problems.

Those with a master's degree should have opportunities in applied mathematics. One use for applied mathematics will be in the growing field of cloud computing, in which companies and governments buy access to data storage and computing power over the Internet. Increasing migration to cloud computing is creating many new sources of data that have to be mined and analyzed. Mathematicians who have a master’s degree will likely find opportunities in private industry.

Employment projections data for mathematicians, 2010-20
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2010	Projected Employment, 2020	Change, 2010-20		Employment by Industry
Occupational Title	SOC Code	Employment, 2010	Projected Employment, 2020	Percent	Numeric	Employment by Industry
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Mathematicians	15-2021	3,100	3,600	16	500	[XLS]

Similar Occupations About this section

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of mathematicians.

Occupation	Job Duties	ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION	2010 MEDIAN PAY
Actuaries	Actuaries analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty. They use mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to assess the risk that an event will occur and to help businesses and clients develop policies that minimize the cost of that risk.	Bachelor’s degree	$87,650
Computer Programmers	Computer programmers write code to create software programs. They turn the program designs created by software developers and engineers into instructions that a computer can follow.	Bachelor’s degree	$71,380
Computer Systems Analysts	Computer systems analysts study an organization's current computer systems and procedures and make recommendations to management to help the organization operate more efficiently and effectively. They bring business and information technology (IT) together by understanding the needs and limitations of both.	Bachelor’s degree	$77,740
Database Administrators	Database administrators use software to store and organize data, such as financial information and customer shipping records. They make sure that data are available to users and are secure from unauthorized access.	Bachelor’s degree	$73,490
Financial Analysts	Financial analysts provide guidance to businesses and individuals making investment decisions. They assess the performance of stocks, bonds, and other types of investments.	Bachelor’s degree	$74,350
Market Research Analysts	Market research analysts study market conditions in local, regional, or national areas to examine potential sales of a product or service. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price.	Bachelor’s degree	$60,570
Nuclear Engineers	Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments, and systems used to get benefits from nuclear energy and radiation. Many of these engineers find industrial and medical uses for radioactive materials—for example, in equipment used in medical diagnosis and treatment.	Bachelor’s degree	$99,920
Operations Research Analysts	Operations research analysts use advanced methods of analysis to help organizations solve problems and make better decisions.	Bachelor’s degree	$70,960
Postsecondary Teachers	Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a wide variety of academic and vocational subjects beyond the high school level. They also conduct research and publish scholarly papers and books.	Doctoral or professional degree	$62,050
Physicists and Astronomers	Physicists and astronomers study the fundamental nature of the universe, ranging from the vastness of space to the smallest of subatomic particles. They develop new technologies, methods, and theories based on the results of their research that deepen our understanding of how things work and contribute to innovative, real-world applications.	Doctoral or professional degree	$105,430
Statisticians	Statisticians use mathematical techniques to analyze and interpret data and draw conclusions.	Master’s degree	$72,830
Survey Researchers	Survey researchers design or conduct surveys and analyze survey data. Many groups use surveys to collect factual data, such as employment and salary information, or to ask questions that help them understand people's opinions, attitudes, beliefs, or desires.	Bachelor’s degree	$36,050