Mathematicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $69,240 | $33.29 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $126,710 | $60.92 |
| Mean (average) | $129,260 | $62.15 |
| 90th percentile | $195,190 | $93.84 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Mathematicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 13 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $126,710 | $81,230 | $182,020 | 250 | 1.04 |
| Colorado | $86,020 | $63,820 | $195,190 | 60 | 1.57 |
| Illinois | $130,970 | $49,190 | $170,010 | 60 | 0.81 |
| Indiana | $88,050 | $77,420 | $136,990 | 40 | 1.07 |
| Maryland | $131,810 | $73,590 | $195,190 | 160 | 4.38 |
| Massachusetts | $104,190 | $72,030 | $149,520 | 40 | 0.93 |
| Michigan | $65,510 | $65,510 | $132,530 | 90 | 1.65 |
| Nevada | $102,890 | $78,810 | $162,990 | 70 | 3.5 |
| New Jersey | Data unavailable | 70 | 1.22 | ||
| New York | $126,950 | $79,110 | $261,670 | 150 | 1.2 |
| Rhode Island | $109,260 | $72,470 | $155,150 | 100 | 14.58 |
| Virginia | $148,030 | $92,520 | $195,190 | 400 | 7.45 |
| Washington | $162,280 | $102,050 | $239,960 | 100 | 2.14 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for mathematicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for mathematicians
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Other CIP 26.1199
- Mathematics, General CIP 27.0101
- Algebra and Number Theory CIP 27.0102
- Analysis and Functional Analysis CIP 27.0103
- Geometry/Geometric Analysis CIP 27.0104
- Topology and Foundations CIP 27.0105
- Mathematics, Other CIP 27.0199
- Applied Mathematics, General CIP 27.0301
- Computational Mathematics CIP 27.0303
- Computational and Applied Mathematics CIP 27.0304
- Financial Mathematics CIP 27.0305
- Mathematical Biology CIP 27.0306
- Applied Mathematics, Other CIP 27.0399
- Mathematical Statistics and Probability CIP 27.0502
- Mathematics and Statistics CIP 27.0503
- Mathematics and Statistics, Other CIP 27.9999
- Mathematics and Computer Science CIP 30.0801
- Mathematical Economics CIP 30.4901
- Mathematics and Atmospheric/Oceanic Science CIP 30.5001
- Logic CIP 38.0102
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
Technology skills
- Atlassian JIRA (in demand)
- C (in demand)
- C# (in demand)
- C++ (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Python (in demand)
- R (in demand)
- The MathWorks MATLAB (in demand)
- Chatbot software (in demand)
- Perforce software (in demand)
- Version control software (in demand)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Bash (hot technology)
- Cascading style sheets CSS (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Instructing, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Agent-Based Modeler, Computational Mathematician, Computational Scientist, Cryptographer, Cryptographic Vulnerability Analyst, Mathematician, Research Computing Specialist, Research Scientist, Researcher.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do mathematicians make?
The national median annual wage for mathematicians was $126,710 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $69,240 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $195,190. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do mathematicians need?
BLS lists master's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is mathematicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of mathematicians to change +0.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay mathematicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($162,280), Virginia ($148,030), Maryland ($131,810). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.