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Mathematician

Overview and Key Facts

mathmetician
Education
Education
Master's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$121,680
Job Growth
Job Growth
-0.70%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
2,400

What Do They Do?

A mathematician could...

 
code
Design and decipher codes to help our military and intelligence agencies securely transmit and retrieve sensitive information.
people looking at computer
Predict how fast tumors will grow and how well chemotherapy can shrink them, using a mathematical model.
wwatering hole
Mathematically model interactions between different animals to understand how the extinction of one species will impact the food chain.
tsunami
Develop a mathematical model to predict tsunamis that develop after underwater sediment avalanches.
 
code people looking at computer wwatering hole tsunami

Overview Listen to this section

Mathematicians are part of an ancient tradition of searching for patterns, conjecturing, and figuring out truths based on rigorous deduction. Some mathematicians focus on purely theoretical problems, with no obvious or immediate applications, except to advance our understanding of mathematics, while others focus on applied mathematics, where they try to solve problems in economics, business, science, physics, or engineering.
Watch this video to see how mathematicians create the animated characters and amazing graphics in movies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxZLnCc1hkM

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Mathematician?


  1. Mathematics: ?
  2. Critical Thinking: ?
  3. Complex Problem Solving: ?
  4. Active Learning: ?
  5. Reading Comprehension: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Mathematician might do:
  • Address the relationships of quantities, magnitudes, and forms through the use of numbers and symbols.
  • Disseminate research by writing reports, publishing papers, or presenting at professional conferences.
  • Maintain knowledge in the field by reading professional journals, talking with other mathematicians, and attending professional conferences.
  • Apply mathematical theories and techniques to the solution of practical problems in business, engineering, the sciences, or other fields.
  • Conduct research to extend mathematical knowledge in traditional areas, such as algebra, geometry, probability, and logic.
  • Develop mathematical or statistical models of phenomena to be used for analysis or for computational simulation.
  • Perform computations and apply methods of numerical analysis to data.
  • Assemble sets of assumptions, and explore the consequences of each set.
  • Develop new principles and new relationships between existing mathematical principles to advance mathematical science.
  • Develop computational methods for solving problems that occur in areas of science and engineering or that come from applications in business or industry.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state
No data available for some states (white on the map)

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Mathematician Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Mathematician jobs (-0.70%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Mathematician

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

A PhD degree in mathematics usually is the minimum educational requirement for prospective mathematicians, except in the federal government.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Master's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

In the federal government, entry-level job candidates usually must have at least a bachelor's degree with a major in mathematics, or 24 semester hours of mathematics courses. Outside the federal government, bachelor's degree holders in mathematics usually are not qualified for most jobs, and many seek advanced degrees in mathematics or a related discipline.

Most colleges and universities offer a bachelor's degree in mathematics. Courses usually required for this degree include calculus, differential equations, and linear and abstract algebra. Additional courses might include probability theory and statistics, mathematical analysis, numerical analysis, topology, discrete mathematics, and mathematical logic. Many colleges and universities advise or require students majoring in mathematics to take courses in a closely related field, such as computer science, engineering, life science, physical science, or economics. A double major in mathematics and another related discipline is particularly desirable to many employers. High school students who are prospective college mathematics majors should take as many mathematics courses as possible while in high school.

In private industry, candidates for mathematician jobs typically need a PhD, although there may be opportunities for those with a master's degree. Most of the positions designated for mathematicians are in research and development laboratories, as part of technical teams.

In 2007, there were more than 300 graduate programs, offering both master's and doctoral degrees, in pure or applied mathematics around the country. In graduate school, students conduct research and take advanced courses, usually specializing in a subfield of mathematics.

Companies That Hire Mathematicians

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

MIT professor Kiran Kedlaya is a mathematician, a juggler, a singer, a bicyclist, and a photographer, but most of all, he is a puzzler.
Mathematics isimportant and practical in many ways, but it’salso very beautiful. 
Kiran Sridhara Kedlaya, Ph.D.
Meet Sir Andrew Wiles, the man who solved Fermat's Last Theorem.
I loved doing problems in school. I'd take them home and make up new ones of my own.  
Sir Andrew Wiles, Ph.D.

Nature of the Work

Mathematics is one of the oldest and most fundamental sciences. Mathematicians use mathematical theory, computational techniques, algorithms, and the latest computer technology to solve economic, scientific, engineering, physics, and business problems. The work of mathematicians falls into two broad classes—theoretical (pure) mathematics and applied mathematics. These classes, however, are not sharply defined and often overlap.

Theoretical mathematicians advance mathematical knowledge by developing new principles and recognizing previously unknown relationships between existing principles of mathematics. Although these workers seek to increase basic knowledge without necessarily considering its practical use, such pure and abstract knowledge has been instrumental in producing or furthering many scientific and engineering achievements. Many theoretical mathematicians are employed as university faculty, dividing their time between teaching and conducting research.

Applied mathematicians, on the other hand, use theories and techniques, such as mathematical modeling and computational methods, to formulate and solve practical problems in business, government, engineering, and the physical, life, and social sciences. For example, they may analyze the most efficient way to schedule airline routes between cities, the effects and safety of new drugs, the aerodynamic characteristics of an experimental automobile, or the cost-effectiveness of alternative manufacturing processes.

Applied mathematicians working in industrial research and development may develop or enhance mathematical methods when solving a difficult problem. Some mathematicians, called cryptanalysts, analyze and decipher encryption systems—codes—designed to transmit military, political, financial, or law enforcement-related information. Applied mathematicians start with a practical problem, envision its separate elements, and then reduce the elements to mathematical variables. They often use computers to analyze relationships among the variables and solve complex problems by developing models with alternative solutions.

Individuals with titles other than mathematician do much of the work in applied mathematics. In fact, because mathematics is the foundation on which so many other academic disciplines are built, the number of workers using mathematical techniques is much greater than the number formally called mathematicians. For example, engineers, computer scientists, physicists, and economists are among those who use mathematics extensively. Some professionals, including statisticians, actuaries, and operations research analysts, are actually specialists in a particular branch of mathematics. Applied mathematicians are frequently required to collaborate with other workers in their organizations to find common solutions to problems.

Work Environment

Mathematicians usually work in comfortable offices. They often are part of interdisciplinary teams that may include economists, engineers, computer scientists, physicists, technicians, and others. Deadlines, overtime work, special requests for information or analysis, and prolonged travel to attend seminars or conferences may be part of their jobs.

Mathematicians who work in academia usually have a mix of teaching and research responsibilities. These mathematicians may conduct research alone or in close collaboration with other mathematicians. Collaborators may work together at the same institution or from different locations, using technology such as email to communicate. Mathematicians in academia also may be aided by graduate students.

More Information

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