The median pay for Mathematicians is $126,710 a year ($60.92/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 0.6% through 2035, with about 100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 15-2021
- Computer and Mathematical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Mathematician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $126,710a year, or $60.92/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $69KTop 10% $195K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +0.6%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+0.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +0.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1002,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20252.2K
- Projected 20352.2K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 2.2K Projected 2035 2.2K - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Bachelor's10%
- Master's25%
- Post-master’s certificate5%
- Professional degree5%
- Doctorate45%
- Post-doctoral training10%
Highest education held by mathematicians Segment Value Bachelor's 10% Master's 25% Post-master’s certificate 5% Professional degree 5% Doctorate 45% Post-doctoral training 10%
Also advertised as: Agent-Based Modeler, Computational Mathematician, Computational Scientist, Cryptographer, Cryptographic Vulnerability Analyst, Mathematician.
Pay
How much do Mathematicians make?
Every mathematician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$126,710
Middle half earn $88,570 to $157,020
- 10th
- $69,240
- 25th
- $88,570
- 75th
- $157,020
- 90th
- $195,190
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $69,240 |
| 25th | $88,570 |
| Median | $126,710 |
| 75th | $157,020 |
| 90th | $195,190 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $126,710
- Median hourly wage
- $60.92/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $129,260
- People employed
- 2,030
Versus all US occupations
At $126,710, Mathematicians earn 149% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $75,730 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
Inside the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580, this is 9% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $195,190 or more while the bottom 10% earn $69,240, a gap of 2.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 87% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Washington pays the most at $162,280, and still leads at $151,645 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Mathematicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Washington | $162,280 | $151,645 | 100 |
| 2Virginia | $148,030 | $146,414 | 400 |
| 3Maryland | $131,810 | $125,582 | 160 |
| 4Illinois | $130,970 | $131,025 | 60 |
| 5New York | $126,950 | $117,632 | 150 |
| 6California | $126,710 | $114,442 | 250 |
| 7Rhode Island | $109,260 | $106,824 | 100 |
| 8Massachusetts | $104,190 | $98,518 | 40 |
| 9Nevada | $102,890 | $102,912 | 70 |
| 10Indiana | $88,050 | $94,344 | 40 |
Job outlook
Is Mathematician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +0.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Mathematicians | +0.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Mathematicians to change 0.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 0 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 100 openings are projected each year, 4.5% of the 2,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of mathematicians and statisticians is projected to grow 10 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of mathematicians and statisticians varies by occupation (see table).
Mathematicians will continue to be needed to analyze data, conduct research, and help to develop new products. Demand for these workers is somewhat tied to the federal government funding that is allocated for these positions.
Getting in
How to become a Mathematician
Mathematicians and statisticians typically need at least a master’s degree in mathematics or statistics. However, some positions are available to those with a bachelor’s degree.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Master's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as mathematicians.
- Doctoral Degree45%
- Master's Degree25%
- Bachelor's Degree10%
- Post-Doctoral Training10%
- Post-Master's Certificate5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 45% |
| Master's Degree | 25% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 10% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 10% |
| Post-Master's Certificate | 5% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Mathematician do?
Conduct research in fundamental mathematics or in application of mathematical techniques to science, management, and other fields. Solve problems in various fields using mathematical methods.
Mathematicians and statisticians analyze data and apply computational techniques to solve problems.
Day-to-day tasks
- Mentor others on mathematical techniques.
- Maintain knowledge in the field by reading professional journals, talking with other mathematicians, and attending professional conferences.
- Disseminate research by writing reports, publishing papers, or presenting at professional conferences.
- 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.
- Conduct research to extend mathematical knowledge in traditional areas, such as algebra, geometry, probability, and logic.
- Address the relationships of quantities, magnitudes, and forms through the use of numbers and symbols.
- Develop mathematical or statistical models of phenomena to be used for analysis or for computational simulation.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most mathematicians and statisticians work full time. Deadlines and last-minute requests for data or analysis may require overtime. In addition, these workers may travel to attend seminars and conferences.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantLittle or no dealing with customers or the public.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where mathematicians work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Federal government53%
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state12%
- Professional, scientific, and technical services12%
- Miscellaneous manufacturing3%
- Aerospace product and parts manufacturing3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Federal government | 53% |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state | 12% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 12% |
| Miscellaneous manufacturing | 3% |
| Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | 3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Mathematics5.0
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Learning4.0
- Writing3.6
- Science3.6
- Active Listening3.4
- Speaking3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 5.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.6 |
| Science | 3.6 |
| Active Listening | 3.4 |
| Speaking | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Instructing3.0
- Systems Analysis3.0
- Systems Evaluation3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Coordination2.9
- Persuasion2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Persuasion | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Content workflow software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Mathematician?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Mathematician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 7 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Investigative7.0
- Conventional5.0
- Artistic3.2
- Realistic3.2
- Social1.9
- Enterprising1.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Mathematician
O*NET related occupations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
Computer and Information Research Scientist
$140,300median a year
Most earn $82K to $231K
+21.8%Master's - Educational Instruction and Library
Mathematical Science Teacher, Postsecondary
$79,940median a year
Most earn $49K to $139K
+1.7%Doctorate - Life, Physical, and Social Science
More computer and mathematical careers
Median annual pay, with mathematicians highlighted
- Software Developer$135,980
- Actuary$130,000
- Mathematician$126,710
- Data Scientist$120,230
- Business Intelligence Analyst$120,230
- Database Administrator$104,620
- Web Designer$104,000
- Computer Programmer$100,390
- Web Developer$92,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $135,980 |
| Actuary | $130,000 |
| Mathematician | $126,710 |
| Data Scientist | $120,230 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | $120,230 |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 |
| Web Designer | $104,000 |
| Computer Programmer | $100,390 |
| Web Developer | $92,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Mathematician appears on
Questions
Mathematician: frequently asked questions
How much do Mathematicians make?
Mathematicians earn a median of $126,710 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 149% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $60.92/hr. The middle half earn between $88,570 and $157,020. The top 10% earn $195,190 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Mathematician?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Mathematicians, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 45.0% hold doctoral degree.
Is Mathematician a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 0.6% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Mathematician do?
Mathematicians and statisticians analyze data and apply computational techniques to solve problems. A core O*NET task: mentor others on mathematical techniques. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Business intelligence and data analysis software, Content workflow software.
Which states pay Mathematicians the most?
The highest state medians for Mathematicians are Washington ($162,280), Virginia ($148,030), Maryland ($131,810) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Mathematician?
O*NET scores Mathematicians highest on the Investigative, Conventional and Artistic interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with INTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.