A degree in mathematics can provide you with an array of job options. This branch of knowledge provides essential data and actionable insight through mathematical modeling and analysis to tackle real-world problems. Almost every field and industry rely on mathematical theory and data, but insurance companies, financial institutions, technology and engineering firms demand workers with extensive knowledge of mathematics.
If you’re wondering what employment opportunities you should target with a math degree, look no further than this article. You’ll discover some common math careers and tips to find a career fit for your analytical skills. If you’re ready to improve your knowledge of the math discipline, especially in terms of annual salary and the math skills needed for different math jobs, read on.
What Is Math?
Math is the short form of mathematics. Mathematics is the branch of science concerned with numbers and the logic behind structure, space, change, shape, motion, quality, and quantity. Mathematics goes beyond analytical knowledge of objects to explain the abstract and situational behavior, application, and relationship between two or more values through investigation and computation.
The field of mathematics covers geometry, algebra, statistics, probability, and calculus. Geometry is concerned with the study of properties, shapes, and relations of surface objects. Algebra covers the symbolic representation of numbers. Statistics is the science of data handling and analysis. Probability uses numbers to explain the likelihood of events and calculus is known as the science of constant change and fluidity of numbers.
Is Math in High Demand?
There is and always will be in high demand for math professions. Based on the 2020 job growth analysis by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for math occupations, this field won’t lose its relevance anytime soon. It reports that the math industry is projected to grow by 33 percent from 2020 to 2030.
Types of Math Jobs
A math career is both a rewarding and engaging one. These professionals help define economic trends and find it easy to utilize diverse career advancement opportunities. Based on the levels of education and mathematical skills involved, below are some of the popular types of jobs for math majors and enthusiasts.
Financial Analysis Jobs
Financial analysts, actuaries, and investment analyst positions are jobs for people excelling in mathematics. Business fields rely on financial math, advanced math principles, and analytical methods in developing actionable strategies and policies.
A degree in math can enable you to take advantage of lucrative employment opportunities in the financial industry. Financial analysts go through financial statements from the company and guide them on innovative fiscal endeavors.
Engineering Jobs
You cannot achieve any of your engineering career goals without a deep understanding of mathematics as a discipline. As a professional in this category, you can work as an aerospace engineer, mechanical engineer, or civil engineer. You’ll utilize different branches of mathematics in measuring, analyzing, and building physical and virtual objects.
Math Education Jobs
The list isn’t complete without mentioning math teaching careers. Those who venture into this career path help others discover better approaches for implementing mathematical knowledge.
Through research, they discover, recommend, and teach math students and math users the right way to apply basic and complex formulas and mathematical methods in their daily lives. .
How to Establish a Career in Math
More than anything, a career in maths requires intentionality. You have to be intentional about grooming and applying your math skills if you want to add value to the field. But of course, you don’t have to work the road alone. Below are the steps you can take to build a successful math career.
- Build an analytical mindset. You shouldn’t consider a math-based career if you’re not ready to think about numbers and logic. This field demands more than a grasp of math foundations. You have to get comfortable with solving problems through mathematical computations. As a beginner, you can build your critical thinking skills and math communication skills through beginner math projects.
- Get the right educational qualifications. Some math careers require advanced degrees. You’ll most likely need to obtain a master’s and, in some cases, a doctoral degree to achieve a well-rounded career. Even if you don’t enroll in a pure math program, the course program you choose should contain major math principles, models, and methods before qualifying as a math professional.
- Choose a suitable industry. Since math-based graduates have a wide range of industries to choose from, it can be confusing to decide which industry to break into. As such, you need to conduct in-depth research on your most preferred industries by considering your career ambitions, your expected median salary, ease of advancement, industry outlook, and the possibility of building transferable skills.
- Gain industry knowledge. If you’ve settled on a math-related industry to break into, the next step is to consider how you can apply your skills in your daily life and utilize job boards in applying to relevant math positions. The extensive knowledge you’ve gained won’t matter if you can’t use it in solving real-world problems. If you need to, consult a career coach to help you build a professional resume and cover letter suited to your job search.
- Keep up with the latest trends and breakthroughs in the math discipline. Math is a field that’s constantly changing. There are always new applications, formulas, research discoveries, and theories that you need to know as a participant in the field. You’ll constantly need to upscale in your field to keep up with the competition. Luckily for you, keeping up with trends has never been as easy as in our present IT world. Finding advanced math courses can easily be done with the click of a button.
The 15 Best Jobs That Use Math
Most science and business professions prioritize candidates with degrees in math or strong math skills. If you’re interested in studying math but can’t seem to decide what jobs are best suited to math majors, find out below, along with the associated median salary and industry relevance.
| Job Title | Average Salary | Job Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Cryptographer | $145,356 | 33% |
| Actuary | $122,402 | 24% |
| Algorithm Engineer | $121,555 | 22% |
| Data Scientist | $119,413 | 22%* |
| Physicists | $120,239 | 9% |
| Quantitative Analyst | $118,652 | 6% |
| Aeronautical Engineer | $107,435 | 8% |
| Mathematician | $100,479 | 3% |
| Statistician | $97,643 | 35% |
| Robotics Engineer | $91,531 | 7% |
| Operations Research Analyst | $87,744 | 25% |
| Economist | $86,100 | 13% |
| Systems Analyst | $82,901 | 7% |
| Business Analyst | $82,343 | 14% |
| Math professor | $59,570 | 12% |
*Job outlook for algorithm engineers and data scientists have been sourced from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics report on computer and information research scientists.
What Careers Use Math? An In-Depth List
Cryptographer
Cryptographers are math professionals who use logic to digitally encrypt data in a public key, such that only those with the digital signature can access the cryptosystem. To succeed as a cryptographer, you need a thorough knowledge of applied mathematics. You should understand logarithms, probability theory, number theory, and algebra.
Actuary
An actuarial analyst is a financial professional who relies on statistical models and methods in attributing quantifiable values to the possibility of financial risks. These professionals are skilled in financial mathematics, statistics, abstract algebra, mathematical modeling, geometry, and probability theory. They also have critical thinking and analytical skills.
Algorithms Engineer
Algorithms engineers are software professionals who build, analyze, and implement computer algorithms to develop software applications and systems. These professionals utilize mathematical models, tools, and theories to make software development algorithms. These professionals understand linear algebra, mathematical algorithms, and number theory.
Data Scientist
Data scientists are computer professionals who rely on mathematical and scientific methods, processes, systems, and models to analyze and extract valuable insights from complex data sets. Advanced knowledge of applied mathematics is an essential requirement for data scientists. Data scientists should have deep knowledge of statistics, arithmetics, algebra, geometry, and calculus.
Physicist
All physicists must have a strong background in mathematics because of how essential mathematical theories and methods are to their field. They use mathematics to attribute logicality and rationality to their discoveries and deductions. Subjects like calculus, mathematical logic, linear algebra, geometry, differentiation, vector, and set theory are considered common knowledge for physicists.
Quantitative Analyst
Quantitative analysts are professionals who combine mathematics and statistics in collecting, researching, analyzing, understanding, and attributing values to data computations. The data obtained from this analysis enables users to properly make rational decisions. Quantitative analysts use mathematics theory, algebra, probability, and calculus to understand the behavior of objects.
Aeronautical Engineer
Aeronautical engineers work on airplane and aircraft engines. They combine their problem-solving skills and extensive knowledge of mathematics in researching, designing, building, testing, and maintaining flight engines. These professionals understand mathematical models, numerical analysis, calculus, and linear algebra because the mechanics and control of flight are found in math.
Mathematician
Mathematicians are the major users of all the branches of mathematics. These professionals research, develop, and implement mathematical theories, methods, and models to solve real-world problems across fields like engineering, education, economics, and science. These professionals have quantitative skills, practical communication skills, problem-solving skills, and mathematical analysis skills.
Statistician
Statisticians are also significant users of mathematics. However, these professionals focus more on using mathematical and statistical methods and models in analyzing and drawing insight from survey samples to solve real-world problems. It’s normal for statisticians to also be mathematicians because of how interwoven their disciplines are in practice.
Robotics Engineer
Robotics engineers are professionals in artificial intelligence who design, create, operate, and maintain robots and robotic systems to assist humans in carrying out tasks by applying mathematical and scientific principles and techniques. These professionals must be knowledgeable about mathematical subjects such as calculus, linear algebra, and probability.
Operations Research Analyst
Operations research analysts are professionals who use market research, advanced mathematical methods, and statistical analysis to devise strategies and solutions for business owners. These experts provide data for companies to solve operation-related problems and develop better operational procedures for the organization. They are skilled in communication and quantitative analysis.
Economist
Economists are also major users of mathematics. These professionals try to apply mathematical models, theories, equations, and graphs to propose solutions and their applications to businesses and governments. They should understand mathematical topics like calculus, probability, linear algebra, and statistics.
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Systems Analyst
Most of your daily tasks as a systems analyst will require you to think logically and analytically, and that’s the basis of mathematics. Systems analysts use mathematical models, cost accounting, structured analysis, engineering principles, statistics, and data modeling to provide helpful insight to business owners and managers on the research carried out on software and hardware systems.
Business Analyst
Business analysts are familiar with the mathematics discipline because they use it regularly in carrying out their daily tasks. You need to know how to perform basic algebraic and arithmetic computations. You need to understand how to use mathematical and statistical models to conduct research and analysis on the business’s historical performance and processes before you can advise on investment opportunities.
Mathematics Professor
Math professors teach advanced math topics like combinatorics, algebra, calculus, geometry, mathematical physics, theoretical mathematics, number theory, differential equations, and logic to onsite and online students in universities and colleges. As a math teacher, you should be able to easily communicate complex math equations, theories, and models to your students.
Should You Get a Job in Math?
Yes, you should get a math-related job if you can. Individuals knowledgeable about this discipline earn high median incomes and can apply their skills to virtually any field in the industry, including all aspects of artificial intelligence. Math has economic importance, social importance, so it isn’t becoming obsolete anytime soon.
Jobs That Use Math FAQ
Math majors learn to apply math principles and methods to solve real-world problems. They also work in different fields in business, science, law, government, and technologies. Their job tasks mainly focus on conducting research and building mathematical models to solve theoretical and practical issues.
Yes, a math degree is helpful to math enthusiasts and math professionals who see it as a way to solve several of the world’s problems. Owning a math degree can open you up to several career opportunities. This field has low chances of losing its value because of math’s critical uses and values to companies. Most of the inventions and productions made wouldn’t have been possible without mathematicians.
It is for some people. More accurately, it is a challenging and demanding major. It is considered interesting and stimulating to those ready for the advanced training this field demands. Problem solvers see it as a means to devise practical solutions. To find this major more approachable, you should take advantage of beginner math courses, tutorials, and forums.
Yes, you can get several jobs with a math degree. Mathematics as a discipline cuts across several fields. Almost every industry hires math professionals. You won’t have to limit your career options or goals with this degree. To find out some of the common math careers most suited to your math degree, check out each job description listed in this article.
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