Mathematicians
Science, Technology, Engineering and MathematicsO*NET 15-2021.00United States
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.
- Median annual earnings
- $126,714
- Projected change
- +1.6%
- Typical education
- Doctoral degree or more
- Employment
- 2.88K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
55% of the workforce
Growing to 2.92K by 2035
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The work
What mathematicians do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Mentor others on mathematical techniques.
- Maintain knowledge in the field by reading professional journals, talking with other mathematicians, and attending professional conferences.
- Develop new principles and new relationships between existing mathematical principles to advance mathematical science.
- Disseminate research by writing reports, publishing papers, or presenting at professional conferences.
- Assemble sets of assumptions, and explore the consequences of each set.
- Perform computations and apply methods of numerical analysis to data.
- Address the relationships of quantities, magnitudes, and forms through the use of numbers and symbols.
- Conduct research to extend mathematical knowledge in traditional areas, such as algebra, geometry, probability, and logic.
- Apply mathematical theories and techniques to the solution of practical problems in business, engineering, the sciences, or other fields.
- Develop mathematical or statistical models of phenomena to be used for analysis or for computational simulation.
- Develop computational methods for solving problems that occur in areas of science and engineering or that come from applications in business or industry.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $69,243
- 25th percentile
- $88,566
- 50th percentile
- $126,714
- 75th percentile
- $157,019
- 90th percentile
- $195,187
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $126,714 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
+1.6%average or slower
20252,875 jobs
2035 projected2,922 jobs
47 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Doctoral degree or more
- 55%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 35%
- Bachelor's degree
- 10%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Mathematics
- Using mathematics to solve problems.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Science
- Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Systems Analysis
- Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Persuasion
- Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Programming
- Writing computer programs for various purposes.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Mathematics Specialists181 postings
- 02Mathematics Editors110 postings
- 03Mathematicians51 postings
- 04Research Aerospace Engineers51 postings
- 05Applied Mathematicians49 postings
- 06Game Designers11 postings
- 07Simulation Engineers11 postings
- 08Navigators8 postings
- 09Postdoctoral Research Fellows7 postings
- 10Postdoctoral Associates6 postings
- 11Basketball Managers5 postings
- 12MEMS Engineers5 postings
- 13Arch Experts4 postings
- 14Baseball Coaches4 postings
- 15Computational Scientists4 postings
- 16GNC Engineers4 postings
- 17Modeling and Simulation Engineers4 postings
- 18Postdoctoral Fellows4 postings
- 19Quantitative Researchers4 postings
- 20Quantum Computing Research Scientists4 postings
Top employers
- 01Turing285 postings
- 02Analytical Mechanics Associates53 postings
- 03MITRE Corporation20 postings
- 04Garland Independent School District11 postings
- 05Data Machines Corp.10 postings
- 06Modern Technology Solutions10 postings
- 07International Game Technology9 postings
- 08LNW Gaming and Systems6 postings
- 09Light & Wonder6 postings
- 10NIST6 postings
- 11Boeing5 postings
- 12Dayton Public Schools5 postings
- 13Mercor S.A.5 postings
- 14Clearancejobs4 postings
- 15Dorchester School District 24 postings
- 16Frazer-Nash Research Ltd4 postings
- 17Indiana University-Bloomington4 postings
- 18Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab4 postings
- 19Moseley Technical Services4 postings
- 20National Security Agency4 postings
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